Entrance Matting Be? What Size Should My · Matting will be is its size. Simply put, an Entrance...

What Size Should My

Entrance Matting Be?

What S ize Should

My Ent rance

Mat t ing Be?

The primary function of any Entrance Matting system is to effectively remove and retain soil and moisture, and prevent its ingress into a building via pedestrian and wheeled traffic. This helps ensure:

1. Underfoot safety is maintained throughout the building 2. Cleaning expenses are reduced 3. Internal floor coverings are protected & preserved 4. A welcome entrance is provided for every visitor

But this doesn’t happen automatically – and one of the most critical factors that dictates how successful the Entrance Matting will be is its size. Simply put, an Entrance Matting system will only perform when it’s walked upon – if you’re only taking 1 or 2 steps on the matting it will have limited opportunity to do its job.

So, what is a suitable size and what are the regulations that we need to consider? There are several regulations affecting Entrance Matting which we have summarised later in this whitepaper; however, none of them provide a magic answer! There are many different factors that must be considered separately for every project - we have divided this whitepaper into three sections to explore this in more detail:

1. General Guidance 2. List of Factors that affect product specification and design 3. Summary of UK Regulations / Standards 4. Design examples

www.intramatting.com | 01425 472000

Width

Matting should cover the full width of the entrance, and typically extend a minimum of 1m beyond the doors either side, or a greater distance if traffic is likely to naturally flow across the typical traffic direction – e.g. towards the reception desk or lift lobby if positioned to one side of the entrance.

Traffic Direction

The ‘Front to Back’ (traffic direction) dimension of a mat is dependent on the factors in the next section; especially the volume of traffic. A minimum of 3m is recommended in low traffic areas, and between 6-10m for optimum performance in the highest traffic areas.

Genera l Gu idance


LIST OF FACTORS

THAT AFFECT

PRODUCT

SPECIF ICATION &

DESIGN


BS7953:1999 Entrance Flooring Systems. Selection, Installation & Maintenance

Regulat ions to be

Aware of

This standard outlines why you would use Entrance Matting – for reducing ingress of soil and moisture, reduce slipping incidents, prolong life of internal floors and reduce cleaning requirements. Guidance on sizing is that ‘The objective with any entrance flooring system is to achieve the maximum number of footfalls within the space available’ and with wheeled traffic, ‘the circumference of the wheels.’ For a standard wheelchair this would require a matting system that is a minimum of 2.1m across the direction of traffic.

BS8300:2009+A1:2010 Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people

This standard picks up specific features that entrance flooring should have to confirm to DDA – such as being flush with surrounding floor finishes, providing a stable surface to walk upon, and being of suitable construction that does not impede movement of wheelchairs.

Regulat ions to be

Aware of


Building Regs 2010 Part M

Well measures the attributes of a building that impact on occupant health by looking at seven areas – air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. Coming from the US this standard may not be familiar to all – but is gathering traction with several UK projects now being designed to become ‘Well Accredited’. It specifies the critical need of Entrance Matting in helping maintain a healthy internal environment – and recommends that permanent Entrance Matting should ‘at least the width of the entrance and 3m long in the primary direction of travel’.

Further guidance on meeting the requirements set out in BS8300:2009+A1:2010.

WELL Building Standard

Regulat ions to be

Aware of


Entrance Mat t ing

Des ign Examples

(Of f ice Recept ion )

Option 1

Medium Performance

Option 2

Optimum Performance:

Utilising full Zonal System


Entrance Mat t ing

Des ign Examples

(Publ ic Bu i ld ings )


Option 1

Medium Performance

Option 2



Entrance Mat t ing

Des ign Examples

(Travel Termin i )


Option 1

Medium Performance

Option 2



Entrance Mat t ing

Des ign Examples

(Reta i l S tores )


Option 1

Medium Performance

Option 2



INTRASYSTEMS / 14 Headlands Business Park / Salisbury Road / Blashford / Ringwood / BH24 3PB

t +44(0)1425 472000 / e [email protected] / w www.intrasystems.co.uk

INTRASYSTEMS is a brand of Axis House LLP. registered number OC386709

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