Put a Greener & Cleaner Foot Forward: Entryway Matting

By: Caitlin Dimalanta  |  September 10, 2021

Part four of an ongoing series guiding you on the path to creating a cleaner, healthier, greener and safer building for re-entry and beyond.

In this blog series, we’re breaking down the process of developing a sustainable building program into eight steps, as reflected in our WAXIE GPS^® (Green Partner Support™) Program, which progresses from easier to adopt green cleaning procedures and techniques to higher level strategies and stewardship.

After tackling the three previous steps, Green Chemistry, Mechanization, and Waste Reduction, we will be honing in on a more specialized and often overlooked when developing a more sustainable facility maintenance program, the importance of entryway matting. 

Creating a successful green cleaning regimen involves thorough planning, there is no detail too small. Our valued students, patients, returning customers and building occupants begin their day by walking through the same entryway bringing with them innovative ideas, creativity and a hard-working spirit. What we don’t want them to bring into the building is dirt and bacteria from the bottom of their shoes.

Contaminants following us into the building are not only tracked onto floors, they are also circulated into the air with each step we take, inadvertently, reducing the indoor air quality. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is defined by OSHA “how inside air can affect a person's health, comfort, and ability to work.” Whether it is a workplace, school, restaurant, or any space dominated with heavy foot traffic, maintaining a healthy indoor environment promotes overall occupant wellness.

As the IAQ of a facility decreases, the risk of air pollution becomes more prevalent. When indoor air pollution is inhaled by building occupants the effects can show immediately after exposure or they can be experienced years later. The short-and-long term outcomes of air pollution include allergic reactions, respiratory and heart disease, and in some extreme cases cancer.

Strategically placed matting solutions within just the first 15-18 feet of an entrance has the ability to capture up to 80% of soil, dirt and moisture from being brought in. There are three types of mats designed eliminate dirt and improve indoor air quality:

• Scraper Mats
• Combination Scraper/Wiper Mats
• Wiper Mats

Scraper Mats

Most effective when placed outside of the entrance to a building, scraper mats are textured with an aggressive durable material that is designed to prevent large particles such as mud from trailing into a facility. 

Combination Scraper/Wiper Mats

Commonly placed on the inside doorways, combination mats contain a textured top surface that uses a multi-directional brushing action to remove smaller fragments debris and moisture. 

Wiper Mats

The third and final line of defense is the wiper mat. This mat is specially crafted to trap dust in its fibers. This step is crucial for the appearance of facility flooring and its indoor air quality.

Entryway Matting & the Environment

Using an entryway matting system is promoted by the U.S. Green Building Council in the LEED^® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) GreenBuilding Rating System and can potentially contribute to earning a credit. WAXIE-Green Eco-Mats are made from post-consumer P.E.T. plastic, which prevents bottles from entering landfills and preserves our natural resources.

WAXIE is committed to being an industry leader in promoting RESPONSIBLE business practices that support more sustainable communities. SUSTAINABILITY has emerged as a global theme of the 21st century  it is a concept which balances the interconnectedness of the environment, the economy and our quality of life.

Please contact your WAXIE Account Consultant today to schedule a consultation.

Caitlin Dimalanta is WAXIE’s eCommerce Specialist. She enjoys researching and implementing various SEO (search engine optimization) strategies to enhance WAXIE’s eCommerce platform Web@Work. Caitlin has a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from San Diego State University.