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Matting: Why You Need It & Other Important Facts
Did you know that one square yard of carpet can accumulate one pound of dirt a week and twice that in inclement weather? As few as 150 people entering a building can track in one pound of dirt in a 5-day workweek, costing over $30,000 annually to clean or remove.
Up to 80% of dirt, dust, and grime in a building is tracked in from the outside on people’s shoes which is permanently damaging flooring and carpet. Mats play an important role in schools and facilities by helping to keep facilities clean, healthy, and safe.
There are many different types of mats, grouped by their use or placement.
1) Entrance mats, when placed correctly, can catch up to 90% of dirt, dust, debris, and moisture. These also help reduce wear on hard surface floors and reduce soiling of carpets while effectively minimizing slip and falls by keeping the floors clean and dry.
2) Anti-fatigue mats reduce leg and body strain from standing for long periods of time.
3) Specially designed 100% Nitrile Rubber mats reduce slips and falls in food service areas or any wet or greasy area.
4) Logo matting is available with the same soil capturing, anti-slip features of the matting listing above, but also reinforces branding throughout the facility.
When purchasing matting, it’s important to know not just how many mats are needed, but also what lengths are needed, especially for entranceways.
The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) recommends a minimum of 10 to 15 feet of matting before a person walks onto a carpeted or hard floor surface. Using 20 feet of matting can effectively capture, hold, and store up to 90% of soil and moisture.
Follow these Tips Listed Below for Proper Installation of Entrance Matting:
- Install on clean, dry surfaces and do not overlap
- Mats should have a backing to secure them to the floor
Place mats directly next to each other - gaps or spaces between mats defeat the purpose of collecting dirt and moisture and create a trip hazard- Follow the 3-Mat System - Scraper mats for outdoors (scrape off large debris/moisture), Wiper/Scraper mat for indoors (further removal of debris and moisture capture), followed by a Wiper / Finishing mat (the final line of defense)
Mat Placements Beyond Entrances:
- Transitional Areas
- In or Before Elevator (or Escalator) Entrances
- Anti-Static Mats in Areas with Large Electronic Equipment
- Under or Around Water Fountains
- Entrances and Exits of Commercial Kitchens
Matting is an important investment in the safety and cleanliness of your building or facility, so it’s necessary to properly clean and care for this investment. Be sure to regularly check mats for rippling, curling, or torn edges and remove or replace if this is found.
Keep the floors beneath matting clean and dry to protect it’s backing and prevent mold and mildew from forming. Vacuum mats frequently and clean the bottom of matting on a regular basis. Avoid rolling or folding mats for storage as this can damage or weaken the backing of the mat.
Additional Resources:
The Andersen Company: Educational Facility Mat Placement Guide
Cleaning and Maintenance Management: https://www.cmmonline.com
Carpet and Rug Institute: https://www.carpet-rug.org
We hope you found this guide helpful. To read more about our products, or about solutions to common school maintenance concerns, including replacing toilet partitions, toilet partition hardware, choosing teacher desks and more, please visit the School Fix Blog.
