Entrance barrier mats is an often overlooked yet essential component within your commercial flooring composition. It’s the first thing customers and employees will see as they step through the door, and there are several important benefits this flooring can provide.

Discover the benefits of choosing the right flooring for your business.

What are the different types of entrance barrier mats?

Before discussing the importance of entrance barrier mats and how they can benefit your business, let’s find out about the different types. The type of entrance barrier mat you choose will depend on your business needs and flooring requirements.

Aluminium

One type of entrance barrier matting that is frequently used is aluminium. These are the most widely used in commercial premises, such as hospitals, shops, and offices. Aluminium entrance barrier mats are made using an aluminium frame combined with a scraper and textile wipes.

Aluminium entrance barrier mats are usually fitted into a recess on the floor, providing excellent protection from slips and fall hazards upon entering a building. These mats are also excellent at reducing the moisture and dirt carried into a building.

Throwdown

Throwdown is another type of entrance barrier mat, consisting of a mat placed on the top of an existing flooring. These entrance barrier mats are very similar to doormats and can suffer from curling at the edges. As these mats are not fixed to the floor, it can pose a trip hazard.

Outdoor

Another type of entrance barrier matting is outdoor matting. As the name suggests, this is an entrance barrier mat placed outside before entering a doorway instead of inside. Outdoor mats are typically weatherproof, with heavy-duty alternatives available for a more robust choice.

Custom

Like bespoke furniture, custom entrance barrier matting is made specifically for your needs and requirements. Custom barrier mats can be made to fit a particular size doorway or customised with a pattern, business logo, or colour.

How are entrance barrier mats made?

Entrance barrier mats are typically made from an aluminium or plastic material with carpet, nylon, or brush inserts. Some types of entrance barrier matting may also use a rubber scraper to help remove dirt from shoes.

The type of entrance barrier mat used will affect how well it absorbs moisture and traps dirt. Different materials or laying techniques also affect scraping, brushing, and moisture retention.

The materials and manufacturing methods will also differ between interior and exterior entrance barrier matting. Exterior matting will offer more water-resistant properties to withstand the forces of nature. Most laydown interior and exterior matting will feature a sturdy rubber backing to prevent slipping.

The benefits of entrance barrier mats

Why is it important to consider entrance matting for your business?

Safety

The first significant reason to consider entrance barrier matting is its safety benefits. The Health and Safety Executive estimates that 90% of all slip accidents in public buildings result from wet and slippery floors.

Entrance barrier matting can help reduce the moisture brought into a building, decreasing the risk of slips and falls. An effective entrance barrier mat can cut down the moisture and dirt brought into a building by up to 90%, heavily reducing slip and fall hazards.

We recently completed a job at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, where we installed safety entrance barrier matting for the ambulance arrival area:

Reduce cleaning and maintenance

Another reason to consider entrance barrier matting is the reduction in cleaning and maintaining your interior floors.

With the amount of moisture and dirt reduced, your interior floors will be much better protected from scrapes or wear. It also means you can reduce the cleaning and maintenance time and cost, as most floor contaminants will be left at the door.

Durability

Durability is another reason to consider entrance barrier matting. Quality entrance barrier matting is sturdy and made to withstand the high foot traffic that a building entrance has to deal with.

Investing in a quality entrance barrier mat can also provide a solid protective barrier for your interior floors. Most of the damage caused to interior floors results from dirt or moisture brought in from outside. Your interior floors will last much longer as a result.

Cost

Not only does it help to reduce your maintenance costs, but it also lengthens the time your existing flooring will last. Cleaning costs in a commercial building can be high. Investing in an entrance barrier mat can help cut down this expense.

With moisture and dirt left at the door, your interior floors will be much better protected. Not only will this keep your floors looking better, but it will help them last longer.

Health and Safety

We already covered how entrance barrier matting can reduce slip and fall risks in a building by reducing moisture and dirt. However, choosing a quality entrance barrier mat has additional health and safety benefits.

The first of these is that it can help trap contaminants brought in from outside. Entrance matting is a great way to limit the contaminants from outside that can set off allergies and lower the air quality, helping those with asthma and respiratory conditions.

Atmosphere

The last reason entrance barrier matting is important is that it helps create the right atmosphere for your premises. Whatever commercial building, you can create a striking first impression and welcoming environment with a simple entrance barrier mat.

A quality entrance barrier mat can make a difference in people’s perception of your business. You can also improve your business image and brand through a customised entrance barrier mat showcasing your logo and colours.

Choosing the right entrance barrier mats

Choosing the right one to suit your needs can be difficult, with many different types of entrance barrier matting available. To help you decide which entrance barrier mat works best for your business, here are some considerations:

  • Location – do you require an entrance barrier inside or outside? Both weather, traffic conditions, and location (rural or urban) will affect the choice of an interior or exterior entrance mat.
  • Business image – do you want to customise and tailor your entrance mat to your business? Most entrance barrier mats can be customised for your business but with different costs and personalisation options.
  • Mat type – what type of entrance barrier mat will you need? This choice is affected by your existing interior flooring and foot traffic. Greater foot traffic or expensive flooring will require a robust and durable choice of entrance matt.
  • Existing flooring – your existing flooring will make a difference to the durability and slip-resistance of throwdown entrance matting. For example, carpets and carpet tiles will provide much greater slip resistance and benefit most from the protective properties of entrance barrier matting.

Which flooring solution is right for your business?

The importance of entrance barrier matting for your business cannot be understated. With many different options available, you can choose a mat that works for your business and flooring needs. Investing in a quality mat can also provide many benefits that will reflect positively on your business and customers.