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The correct placement of entrance mats – Why it is important to get it right

There’s more to placing an entrance mat than you might think. Incorrect placement can reduce the effectiveness of the mat and create health and safety problems. So, before you chuck your mat in front of the door and walk away thinking job done, have a quick read through our blog to check you have placed it correctly and get the most out of your mat.

 

Size matters

Entrance Mat width of doorBefore you purchase your mat, you need to ensure you choose the correct size. You should aim to cover the width of the door and try to have enough length to ensure people take at least three steps on the mat with each foot.

This last point is particularly important if you want your mat to be effective at stopping dirt and water – and let’s face it, this is the main point in having an entrance mat. If they only step once on the mat, it won’t have enough of a chance to scrape and wipe the footwear and will not be so effective. The Carpet and Rug Institute recommend a minimum of 15 feet of matting to remove 90% of soil entering a property.

15 feet sounds like one big mat and in truth it is far bigger than most mats you see out there. This length doesn’t have to be made up of one mat however, you can place two, even three mats, end to end to make up this optimum length. See our blog on a ‘3 mat entrance system’ for advice on the best way to achieve this length with multiple mats.

 

Push flush to the door

Make sure you push the mat right up to the door. If you leave a gap, you will find that some people manage to plonk their foot down in the gap, which can lead to a slip or trip hazard at the edge of the mat. Eliminate this hazard by remembering to push flush to the door.

 

Don’t forget the back door

You’ve spent so much time making sure that you’ve correctly placed the entrance mat at your main door, only to come unstuck by your staff and those who don’t follow the herd sneaking in, and placing some wet, muddy footprints, through the back and side doors. Ensure you place sufficient entrance mats at all entrances to your building and don’t let these sneaky so and so’s catch you out.

 

Understand the pathway

Mat PathwayNot all people enter your building and walk in a straight line down the length of your mat as you would truly love them to do. In a world where everyone is always in a rush, they choose the shortest method to get from A to B. You will likely see people heading in all directions depending on where their headed, to the lifts, to reception, to the coffee machine for instance.

Check the flow of your visitors and place your mats accordingly. This may mean you need wider mats, or you may be better placing your mats in a landscape fashion, rather than portrait. Remember the number of steps people need to place on your matting. If they don’t, then the mat won’t be able to wipe and scrape their feet, which could lead to slip and fall issues.

 

Check the pattern of your mat

Some mats are designed to be placed a certain way in order to be effective. The pattern of some mats tends to be more effective depending on the direction of the traffic. Take a ribbed entrance mat for example. The ribs should lie horizontal to the direction of the traffic in order to provide an effective scraping action.

 

Need more help choosing?

At Mats4U we have plenty of experience helping customers choose the right entrance mats and then ensuring they place them correctly for maximum effectiveness and safety. You can choose from our selection of entrance mats here. Or call us today on 0121 313 6748 and we’ll be more than happy to give you the advice you need.

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