subject: Floor Mats Stop Dirt At The Door [print this page] Entrance floor mats are designed to provide a storage system for water and dirt. It is important that the storage be designed for maximum storage and ease of removal when the mat is cleaned. It is equally important that the mat provide a way for soil and water to be contained so they cannot spread to the surrounding floor.
Soil is everywhere. The task of managing it is a vital part of our everyday existence. Today's emphasis on green cleaning and the impact of the cleanliness of a building on health makes soil management even more important. Experts are recommending a minimum of 10-12 feet of quality entrance matting products at doorways as part of a green cleaning program.
Soil management begins with prevention. It is critical to prevent contaminants from entering a building. 85% of all soil enters a building on peoples' feet. Of this, at least, 80% is dry soil and the rest is oily. The dry soil can range from large particles to powder-like dust. Over the years, many products have been developed and sold to help keep soil at the door and out of the building.
The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) has estimated that it costs $750.00 to find and remove one pound of soil after it has been allowed to enter an average building. This cost is primarily labor. Since entrance mats stop and contain soil and water in a localized area, it is obvious that removing soil from a mat would be less expensive than removing it from an entire building.
Entrance mats may also be scraper mats that provide the first line of defense against soil. Scraper mats should always be used with other entrance mats that will provide wiping properties to remove fine soil and water from feet.
1. Stop Soil and Water at the Door
Surprisingly, not all entrance mats are designed to do this. The most effective mats provide a combination of scraping and wiping to contain the maximum amount of contaminants.
2. Contain and Hide Soil and Water for Removal
Contaminants that flow off the sides of a mat cause damage and can lead to slip/fall dangers. Mats with flat borders do not provide the necessary containment for best performance. Higher performance mats provide a dam that will hold the soil and water for removal during cleaning.
3. Minimize Tracking of Soil and Water
A high performance mat is bi-level construction that provides an upper surface for walking and a lower area where soil and water are stored until removed by cleaning. The amount of soil that an entrance mat allows to be reattached to shoes is directly related to the quality of construction of the mat. High performance mats utilize this permanent rubber reinforced bi-level construction, thereby, trapping large quantities of moisture and dirt, minimizing the effects of soil and water being tracked further into the facility. Low performance mats such as those with non-reinforced ribbed or cut pile face yarn alone will not hold up under foot pressure and will crush in a short period of time. A permanently rubber reinforced bi-level construction extends the performance life of a mat reducing the need to dispose of mats frequently.
4. Provide a Safe Slip Resistant Surface
The bottom of a mat should be slip-resistant to minimize movement on the floor when it is walked on. Water on the mat should be contained in a reservoir below the traffic surface to prevent leakage of moisture onto the floor that can cause slipping hazards. High quality rubber backed mats do not curl or suffer from edges breaking off as do some lower quality backing systems, and provide a better slip resistance than vinyl-backed mats. Rubber backed mats are available with cleated bottoms that further enhance mat stability properties and help anchor the entrance mat when placed on top of carpet.
