These Boots Are Made for Walking...on Floor Mats

By: WAXIE Editorial Staff  |  August 14, 2019

Every facility, no matter the weather, should have a matting program. When planning a mat program, high traffic areas should be pinpointed and consideration should be given to environmental exposure. Strategic placement of mats is essential for maximum effectiveness.

Entrance matting can improve air quality, protect floors and carpets, prevent slips and falls, and save you money and time. Each mat is designed to stop dirt and moisture by performing a specific job to keep your facility clean.

Types of Entrance Floor Mats

• Scraper Mats: Are your first line of defense; they have aggressive scraping action should be placed outside the entrance to remove heavy soil
• Wiper/Scraper Mat: Eliminates most dirt, dust & soil from being tracked in a building by combining scraping bristles with softer, more absorbent wiping fibers; they should be placed inside the entrance to begin to dry the shoe 
• Wiper Mat: Has incredible dust retention qualities & absorbs moisture from shoes improving your indoor air quality, plus they reduce slips and falls; these should be placed farther into the entrance

These three different mats should total 30-linear feet of matting in order to remove nearly 100% of incoming dirt and moisture.

Protect Your Floors From Damage

Nearly 70–80% of the dirt, grime and dust in your facility comes in through entrance doors damaging your floors and carpets. One square yard of carpet can accumulate one pound of dirt in a week, and twice that in inclement weather. It is estimated that the cost to remove a single pound of dirt from a facility is in excess of $750. Approximately 42% of a floor’s finish can be removed within the first six feet of an entrance after only 1,500 people have entered.

You can capture, hold and hide incoming dirt with an effective entrance matting program. Your floors and carpets will look better and will be protected from damage that comes from tracked-in soil and other debris. Maintenance time, labor costs, and slips and falls can be reduced, and your facility will be cleaner with an enhanced appearance.

The Importance of Anti-Fatigue & Safety Mats

It is reported that 83% of industrial workers suffer from foot, leg and back pain at one time or another. Anti-fatigue matting has been proven to actually change the chemistry of the lower body, reducing lactic acid buildup by keeping muscles active. This translates into less strain and pain, better employee morale and attendance, and lower workers’ compensation claims.

Slips and falls are the #1 cause of injury in almost every setting. Slip-resistant surfaces, bright colors, beveled edges and static dissipation improve safety, saving you money and trouble.

Mat Placement Makes a Difference

Improperly placed mats are almost like not having a mat at all. For instance it wouldn't make sense to have an anti-fatigue mat placed just inside the entryway of your building. They're not meant to trap the dirt like a wiper/scraper does. Plus they'd most likely become a tripping hazard as they are thicker in order to provide cushion for jobs which require someone to stand for long periods of time, like baristas in coffee shops or industrial workers on the production line.

Not sure what mat you need to place where? Check out our Mat Placement Guide. Or contact WAXIE and we'll help you evaluate your current entryway matting system, building matting system or other floor matting concerns and recommend the best combination of mats for keeping your building safe and spotless. Besides the mats that WAXIE stocks, a very large variety of different styles, colors, special cuts, and personalized custom mats are available.