Have a Good Defensive System

As people begin to approach buildings, a first line of defense (before the entrance mat) is the textured stone or brick walkway where excess dirt starts to be scraped off shoes. Many building have these and this is preferable to smooth surfaces. It is advisable to keep this area well cleaned of debris, dirt, and dust that can accumulate and end up on the mat or in the building. This can be accomplished by sweeping and by using a water hose.

The main shield of defense is the front entrance mat. Expert opinion says that the ideal mat system should have a 15’ outside mat, and a 10’ “inside the door” mat. The first mat scrapes off the heavy dirt, mud, and moisture; the second mat captures remaining soils and dries shoes. Ideally, a person should be able to take four steps on each mat to ensure maximum capture of dirt and dust on shoes. If there is a vestibule between the main entry door and the interior, a smaller mat is necessary. It is estimated that a good entrance mat system captures up to 90% of all tracked in dirt. This means a 15' entrance mat should be capable of trapping 30% of the incoming soil within the first three feet, and 90% within 15 feet. This type of heavy duty cleaning means that front entrance mats need to be frequently cleaned. In addition, the floor area just inside the building is more likely to be soiled than other areas and needs to be especially targeted for frequent cleaning.

Main Line of Defense

What is it about well-constructed entrance mats that make them such work

horses? To describe entrance mats in a visually simple way is to say they have two parts. The upper part takes all the walking on and wiping and scraping. The lower past of the mat is a storage area for dirt and water that comes off shoes. An analogy of an effective mat is like the commercial for trapping roaches – “roaches go in but they doesn’t come out.” One of the keys is the a beveled “water dam” safety feature on the mat This prevents water and dirt from seeping out and either being carried into a building or becoming a “slip and fall” hazard. If the mat does not have this dam like feature, water and dirt will escape reducing the effectiveness and purpose of the mat. Another problem with seepage is that the water can cause damage to floors and can ruin expensive finish on floors inside the building. Mats may also have cleats on the bottom that provides better traction, prevents mat movement, and enables moisture contained in the mat to dry more easily so the mat doesn’t lose its effectiveness.

Entrance Mat

What is the difference between a wellconstructed mat and one that is of poor quality? Mats constructed only of ribbed or square patterned face yarn will not hold up under foot pressure, and this causes more water and dirt to reattach to shoes and to be tracked into buildings. Look for a permanent rubber membrane that will support the face yarn throughout the mat’s productive life. High performance mats have a permanent rubber reinforcing membrane that will permanently support the textile face, increasing product unity and extending useful product life. Next time you step on an entrance mat, think of it as your building’s primary defensive in helping keep your building cleaner, safer, dust free, and less expensive to maintain.