Benefits Of Incorporating Mats Into Floor Care Programs

What is the best way to communicate that matting systems help contribute to green cleaning initiatives in facilities?

Implementing an effective matting system can contribute to green cleaning initiatives simply by keeping the dirt outside of the facility. According to ISSA, the estimated cost of removing a single pound of dirt in a building is $600. However, the proper matting system will keep the dirt out, saving money on labor and machine time by minimizing the need to remove debris.
— Rochelle Quandt, Market Development Manager, 3M Commercial Solutions

The truth is, rental mats that are laundered are not very green at all. They use an excessive amount of energy to launder and dry them (and also chemicals) plus transporting them to and from laundering facilities. Owning mats and avoiding using the high-energy laundering process is much more environmentally friendly. A study comparing the environmental impact of using disposable adhesive backed mats versus laundered rental mats showed that the disposable adhesive backed mats had a 91 percent lower environmental footprint.
— Dan Silver, Vice President of Product Development, New Pig

There is no greener way to clean than to stop the dirt from getting in. Matting works 24/7 without labor, electricity or cleaning chemicals, improving air quality by holding dirt and dust.
— Mitchell Saltzman, President, Proform

Matting benefits often include protecting hard floors, but how can properly placed and maintained matting prolong the life of carpets inside facilities?

When placing a matting system, it’s important to consider how quickly the entrance transitions from matting to carpet. To ensure optimal protection, matting should be placed inside the facility for at least the first 10 feet to help dry and wipe off excess debris before hitting the carpet.
— Rochelle Quandt, Market Development Manager, 3M Commercial Solutions

Dust and certainly sand and dirt acts like sand paper between your foot and the floor. Removing sand, grit and dust is the best way to maximize the life and investment in flooring.
— Mitchell Saltzman, President, Proform

Installed carpeting in high-traffic areas can see excessive wear. Putting a mat on top of carpet in those areas can extend the life of the installed carpet below. However, it’s a trade-off because now your nice carpeted floor is obscured by often less attractive carpeted matting.
— Dan Silver, Vice President of Product Development, New Pig

ANSI and NFSI have standards for entrance matting. What should facility cleaning managers be aware of in regards to this standard and how might it influence purchasing decisions?

NFSI’s main concern is to prevent slips and trips and ensuring that facility managers are mindful of any hazards associated with their matting system. Understanding and being knowledgeable about who is walking in and out of the facility and the level of traffic associated with the area will often affect most purchasing decisions.
For example, if a facility has a lot of wheelchair traffic, a recessed pool matting system should be implemented. Or, if the building has heavy foot traffic, facility managers should consider a high-quality mat that will last longer than six months, not roll-up and efficiently capture debris.
— Rochelle Quandt, Market Development Manager, 3M Commercial Solutions

It’s good to read and understand the standards because they were developed by people with years of experience providing safe floors. They provide good guidelines that touch on the amount of matting needed to provide adequate walk-off, avoiding overlapping mats, understanding coefficient of friction, etc. The standards won’t tell you which mat to buy, but they will help you understand how the mats need to perform so you can find the options that have those attributes.
— Dan Silver, Vice President of Product Development, New Pig

The largest lapse that I see is inferior edging (not ADA compliant) and badly stored matting that results in wavy and dangerous matting. My grandmother used to say that cheap is dear. Purchase quality products that deliver safety, green cleaning and great first impressions.
— Mitchell Saltzman, President, Proform