If you’re currently planning to revamp the entrance to your workplace premises, you may be exploring the different entrance flooring systems available to you. When it comes to entrance matting specifically, you will have a range of options.
This might come as a surprise as it’s easy to think of doormats as rather similar, but as we’ll explore, there are more differences in their design than you might imagine.
Why is entrance matting important?
Entrance matting prevents dirt and water from being traipsed into your premises by both your employees and visitors. This does more than ensure that the flooring beyond the matting looks clean for longer.
It also prevents puddles from forming, which could be a slip hazard, and it ensures that germs and other harmful substances are less likely to be brought into your building on the soles of people’s feet.
What is a recessed door mat?
Recessed door mats are a popular option in many commercial premises and are certainly an option available to you if you are going to be replacing your flooring.
A recessed door mat sits snuggly in a tray in your entrance flooring and the top of the mat will sit level with the rest of your flooring.
The recess in which your mat sits can be customised to suit the size of your entrance and if you are undertaking a wider floor replacement, should be an easy element to include in the project if you don’t already have a suitable tray.
What are the benefits of recessed door mats?
For one, recessed door mats are non-slip in every sense of the word. Their surface is, by definition, non-slip because it is designed to clean the shoes of everyone who enters.
But the recess itself acts to prevent slipping too by holding the mat in place, making it a much safer option than a mat that you would place on top of your flooring, for example.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), slips and trips alone cost approximately £512 million every year in the UK due to lost productivity and other costs that are borne by employers.
Employers should always be on the lookout for ways to make their workplaces safer and replacing old entrance matting with a recessed door mat could be a good way to demonstrate your commitment to everyone’s safety.
The British Safety Council pointed out that employers are duty-bound to take reasonable measures to prevent slips and trips in the workplace, which includes maintaining flooring and other surfaces to a high standard.
Another benefit is that they look very stylish and blend seamlessly with the rest of your entrance flooring. This might not seem that important on the face of it, but it can help to project the right impression for anyone who visits your premises.
Recessed door mats are also very easy to keep clean and are designed to be cleaned in situ, as well as to be removed for thorough cleaning at regular intervals. The recess also helps trap more moisture and dirt, keeping the other areas of your property cleaner for longer.