Use of Proper Entrance Matting

Use of Proper Entrance Matting

What is the hazard?
Mats are used to provide slip-resistant walking surfaces by absorbing liquid, and by removing dirt, debris, and liquid from shoes. Mats are only effective if properly used and maintained.
Old or throw down mats mats can contribute to slips,trips, and falls.

Where does the problem occur?

  • Healthcare facility entrances
  • Mall/Retail entrances
  • Restaurant entrances
  • Hotel entrances
  • Commercial Building entrances
  • Water fountain areas

Practically every building

Prevention Strategies

  • Mats  at healthcare facility entrances should be sufficiently large so that several footsteps fall on the mat, cleaning contaminants off the shoes, before the shoes contact the flooring.
  • Place additional mats if necessary in entrances during sandy and rainy conditions. If there is water on the floor beyond the last mat, additional mats  may be necessary.
  • Use non-slip mats in areas where employees may routinely encounter wet flooring.
  • Use beveled-edge or recess mounted mats.

How Much Entrance Matting is Required ?

Research groups looked at the length of matting required for reducing water ingress and stopping floors from becoming slippery. The results suggested:

  • At low traffic areas (under 80 people per hour) 3 to 4 meters is the minimum length of matting required to adequately remove moisture.
  • At medium traffic areas (400 people per hour) that minimum length increases to 6 to 7 meters,
  • At high traffic areas (800+ people per hour) 8 to 10 meters may be required.

They suggests that entrance matting systems should be around 2.1 meters, however this study conclusively proved that 2.1 meters just isn’t enough to create a safe and clean entrance for your building.

If you are unsure of your traffic rate coming through a particular entrance, 6 meters would be a happy medium allowing for roughly 8-10 foot falls.

We would be happy to assist you choose the right system for your building please get in touch:

 

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