WINTER MAINTENANCE


LAYING THE GROUNDWORK


Lee Fox, Director of Global Business Development and Key Account for Kleen-Tex, explores how FMs can adopt a proactive approach to floor maintenance by installing a combination of matting in key areas of a building.


With 70% of all dirt entering a building brought in by foot and wheeled traffic, and tracked in moisture being the prime cause of accidental slips and falls on hard floor coverings, adequate floor maintenance and protection should be the starting point for all winter maintenance plans.


Facilities managers can successfully reduce the level of dirt, dust and moisture from entering and travelling around a building by successfully installing and servicing a range of floor matting systems throughout key areas. It is recommended that five metres of continuous matting is installed to effectively reduce the amount of dirt being tracked into a building. To achieve this, FMs should undertake a three-stage approach.


The first zone that should be addressed is the outdoor entrance, as this provides a primary level of defence against rough grit and dirt. Management teams should install durable weather proof floor matting that is greater than 1.2 metres in length, so that visitors make contact with both feet when entering the building, to remove the highest possible levels of dirt and moisture.


For wheelchair traffic, the dimensions of the matting should be large enough for the wheels to turn twice before making contact with the flooring installed underneath. It’s also crucial to ensure the matting is compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and BS 8300: 2009+A1:2010, which includes having a slip-resistant surface and firm top layer.


Solid rubber-backed mats, such as Kleen-Tex’s Water- Horse, provides the most effective option, as the 100% Polypropylene surface can hold up to 4.5 litres of water per square metre for the highest standards of performance and functionality.


The second zone that should be addressed is the indoor entrance. By installing a high-performance barrier mat, the transfer of dust, dirt and moisture can be greatly


28 | TOMORROW’S FM


reduced. This includes floor matting that features durable twist pile constructions that are solution dyed to maintain a high quality appearance for extended durations.


Facilities managers should also look for mats that feature pile heights of up to 9mm, pile weights of 800 g/m2 and dirt absorption of 950g/sqm, to ensure the mat consistently maintains the same standards of performance. For enhanced maintenance and cleaning routines, professionals should also choose mats that can be easily scraped or wiped and can be washed and tumble dried up to 60C.


Whilst entrance matting may be the primary focus for facilities managers when creating winter maintenance plans, it is a common misconception that floor matting is not required throughout additional areas of a building. By installing floor matting throughout the reception area and additional spaces that present themselves as key transfer zones, such as communal spaces and landings where visitors frequently use the lift or stairs, all areas of the building are adequately protected.


Here FMs should consider mats that have a high capacity for dirt capture, whilst also offering enhanced levels of aesthetics. This includes Kleen-Tex’s durable Iron-Horse range, which features high-twist nylon fibres available in a range of colours, combined with a nitrile rubber backing for ultimate slip resistance.


With 40% of a commercial cleaning budget typically spent on floor maintenance, this winter, FMs have an opportunity to take an alternative approach to floor protection by implementing the three-stage methodology for floor matting. By installing a complementary range of systems, where the materials and construction of each mat type is purposely engineered to address a precise set of functions, FMs can achieve an optimum level of protection against dirt, dust and moisture.


www.kleen-tex.co.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsFM


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