Entrance mats are good for the sole
April 1st 2007 Dr Eric Brown, intrepid head of Cleaning Research International, underlines the importance of first line floor defence: entrance matting Last month the importance of preventative maintenance was discussed in the context of competent carpet management. This month we will consider what is perhaps the most important item in the preventative maintenance toolbox – entrance matting. Some years ago I set up a trial at St James's Hospital in Leeds. It involved selecting two equally used vinyl floored entrances, and installing seven metres of entrance matting at one of them. At the other, the existing one metre deep loose laid mat was left in place. Over a period of several weeks visits were made at the end of each day to determine the level of soil that was present on the floor at a distance of eight metres from each door. The testing confirmed that at the entrance protected by the longer installation, the level of soil on the floor was 92 percent less than at the other entrance. Furthermore, hospital cleaning staff commented that on rainy days the long mat obviated the need to go down to the entrance regularly to mop up any water brought in underfoot that might otherwise present a slip hazard. Some months later a carpet manufacturer asked me to report on this testing during an after dinner speech. However, mid-flow, an architect (who else!) leapt up to challenge me. How could one possibly install seven metres of matting. In a high street bank, he said, the mat would finish up behind the counter. Time for some lateral thinking. There are other ways to maximise the benefits of entrance matting. In a hotel for example, put it beneath the revolving door. People tend to shuffle as they walk through, passively wiping their feet in the process. If the entrance lobby is marble or terrazzo (a two dimensional surface not much use for trapping dirt) make sure that the lift is suitably fitted out. The first time I saw entrance matting in a hotel lift was at the Holiday Inn in Singapore. The mat bore the hotel logo, and the message 'Have a nice day Tuesday'. The mat served four purposes: It reinforced the hotel brand, it carried a pleasant albeit clichéd message, it reminded you what day of the week it was (more and more important as you get farther away from home) – and it prevented dirt being carried to upper floors in the hotel. Do not do what I saw in a hotel in Chicago however. They had a seven metre mat. It led directly from the main doors to a round table bearing a large floral display. Unfortunately the reception was directly to the left of the main door and the lift lobby directly to the right. All the time I was there I never saw anyone walk through the doors and go to smell the flowers! CRI has decades of experience in solving cleaning issues. If you have a problem, the company can help, call: t: 01943 462389 cri@cleaningresearch.co.uk More articles from Cleaning Research International: | 
