Entrance matting is an important first line of defence against dirt and moisture entering your premises, whether you look after an office block, shops or a leisure centre.
Its purpose is to collect dirt and moisture from people’s shoes as they enter the building, thereby preventing it from reaching other flooring surfaces that might be more easily damaged or stained.
But how often do you need to replace your entrance matting? And what are the signs that it’s time to start shopping for new Gradus barrier matting for your premises?
How long does barrier matting typically last?
The answer to this question varies depending on how much foot traffic your entrance matting experiences and how well it’s looked after. Generally speaking, barrier matting in commercial buildings will last between one and three years.
This is highly contingent on the level of foot traffic that goes over the mat every day, as well as how much dirt and water is traipsed in by those entering your building.
For example, you would expect the entrance matting somewhere like a hospital to last for less time than barrier matting installed in an office premises. This is simply because a hospital will typically experience more foot traffic, as well as the likes of wheelchairs and stretchers.
In addition, somewhere like a hospital will see people entering and leaving constantly throughout the day, which means the matting just inside the door will be exposed to the elements frequently.
By contrast, at an office building you’d expect the doors to stay closed for much of the day and therefore the barrier matting in this setting would experience less direct contact with the weather outdoors.
What’s more, hospital entrance mats are an essential first line of defence against dirt, germs and other microorganisms that could be brought in on the soles of shoes. Therefore replacing them regularly to maintain their performance is important.
How can you tell when an entrance mat needs replacing?
One of the first signs that your entrance matting is nearing the end of its life is that it’s becoming harder to keep clean. Speak to your cleaning team if you notice that the mat looks dirty early in the morning, even if you know it’s been cleaned the evening before.
This is an indication that it’s no longer effectively picking up and storing the dirt and debris that is being brought in on people’s shoes.
Similarly, spotting an increased level of dirt and debris elsewhere in your premises is another sign that your entrance matting is not working as effectively as it should be.
Another sign to look out for is a wet floor. Once again, this is a sign that your barrier matting is not effectively retaining moisture, which indicates that it’s nearing or at the end of its life.
Given that slips and trips account for 19 per cent of workplace accidents in the UK, it’s best to replace the matting sooner rather than later. Especially as the majority of slips are as a result of a wet floor.