If you’re responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of a commercial property, you already know that there’s more to entrance matting than the average person thinks! There’s a wide variety of different entrance matting products and styles, each with its own performance envelope, intended use, and construction style. Here’s a list of ten matting terms that every professional property manager should know:
- Wiper/Dryer: Wiper mats (or dryer mats) are textile mats for indoor use only. They’re placed inside building entrances to absorb remaining moisture from shoes, and are the last part of a complete matting system.
- Scraper: Scraper mats are typically placed outside a facility, and are usually made of vinyl, plastic, or a combination of the two. Scraper mats don’t absorb water, but are intended to aggressively scrape dirt and debris from shoes.
- Scraper/Dryer: A combination style mat that combines polypropylene or vinyl elements to scrape, and nylon elements to dry, inbound foot traffic. These combination mats are usually heavier-duty than strict wiper-only mats.
- Knob: Knob matting refers to the face style of a type of scraper matting, named such due to the “knobbed” appearance these mats have. These types of mats are typically made of polypropylene using a needlepunch felting process.
- Ergonomic / Anti-fatigue: These types of mats are not for entrances, but are intended for use in static positions where workers will stand for extended periods of time, like concierge desks or cashier stands. These mats are designed to reduce worker fatigue and stress on the body.
- Switchboard / Dielectric: These specialty rubber mats come in various types and different voltage ratings, and are intended for use in high-voltage areas where electric shock and conductivity is a concern.
- Nitrile: Nitrile rubber is a special type of rubber matting that is designed to be grease-resistant. Nitrile rubber mats are commonly used in commercial kitchens and in mechanical areas where grease and oil are present.
- Bubble Mats: Bubble mats are a type of anti-fatigue mat, most commonly made from rubber. They’re named for the “bubble” type dome shape of their anti-fatigue cushions.
- Fingertip: Fingertips mats are a type of lighter-duty scraper mat named for the shape of the scraper “fingers” that stand vertically from the face of the mat. Due to their rubber construction, they’re only available in fixed sized and aren’t able to be customized.
- Inlaid Logo: Inlaid logos – as opposed to printed logos – are actually made using separate pieces of material for each part of the logo, put together like a jigsaw puzzle and chemically welded together. Inlaid mats last longer than printed mats, and can be customized to fit nearly any size.
