5 things to look out for when buying an entrance mat for your building

The ubiquitous entrance mat is not merely a decorative accessory to welcome visitors to the building; it serves several functional purposes too.

Construction Specialties - C/S lists out five important functions of entrance matting that should be considered when buying one for a building.

Safety

Ensuring safety is a very important function of entrance mats in any building. Considered the first line of defence in preventing slips and trips by visitors, an effective entrance mat will scrape, brush, capture and absorb dirt, debris and moisture, cleaning the soles of shoes before they reach the internal floor surface, and stopping the spread of dirt and moisture at the door.

Interior floor surface protection

Dirt and moisture tracked in by visitors can cause scratches, scuffs and general damage to interior floor surfaces. Repair works to return the floor to its original condition can be very expensive. Entrance matting can stop the ingress of damaging debris, helping to keep the floor looking clean, fresh and undamaged for longer.

Reduced interior maintenance costs

More than 80 per cent of dirt and debris within a building is tracked in on the bottom of shoes. However, placing an effective entrance mat of roughly 6 metres in length can remove up to 75 per cent of this dirt from the soles of shoes right at the entrance, reducing the amount of cleaning required elsewhere within the building.

First impressions

A building’s overall appearance is often the basis for first impressions; a tidy entrance can, therefore, do wonders for creating a welcoming environment for visitors. Entrance mats offer a broad range of options and can range from grid sections to textile matting. While aesthetics are an important consideration, function and performance far outweigh the visual appeal of entrance mats.

Improving indoor air quality

Environmental programs such as LEED consider the building’s indoor air quality during assessments. Entrance matting systems can actually contribute to a good assessment by removing dust and other particulates at the door and helping improve the indoor air quality of the building, making it cleaner and safer for all occupants.

Maintaining entrance mats

Entrance mats in buildings should be regularly cleaned and assessed to confirm they are indeed performing all of these functions. If more dirt and moisture are being tracked into the building despite regular cleaning and maintenance, it might be time to replace the mat before it becomes a health hazard and a safety risk.

Pedisystems, available from Construction Specialties, is an innovative and effective range of entrance flooring systems specifically designed for building entrances to stop dirt and moisture at the door.

Image: Floormations entrance matting