Anti-fatigue matting comes in many different styles and prices. To choose anti-fatigue mats correctly, the specific environment the mat is going into must be considered.
Matting can be broken down into the top 10 most common categories in no particular order:
1. Food Production Mats
2. Lab and Pharmaceutical Mats
3. Non-Conductive Mats
4. Static Control Mats
5. Entrance Mats
6. Industrial Heavy Duty Dry
7. Industrial Medium Duty Dry
8. Industrial Light Duty Dry
9. Industrial Heavy Duty Wet
10. Industrial Medium Duty Wet
Food Production Mats - are designed to withstand oil, greases and wear found in food processing environments. When searching for food production matting, choose a mat that consists of a specially formulated ant-bacterial Nitrile rubber composite that withstands a wide range of oils, fats and greases.
Lab and Pharmaceutical Mats - are designed specifically for operating rooms, pharmacies, laboratories and many other sterile environments. Lab and pharmaceutical environments should have matting made of a Nitrile Rubber. This compound is resilient and anti-microbial.
Non Conductive Mats - Most commonly called Switchboard matting, these non-conductive mats insulate workers, protecting from deadly shocks generated by high voltage equipment. These mats are typically made of vinyl and have a high Dielectric strength. These mats not only save money, but they save lives.
Static Control Mats - are designed to control the risk of static electric discharge. They are typically used around sensitive equipment where static electricity could cause damage. When selecting an anti-static mat, it should be noted that a heel grounder will be required. Without the heel grounder to dissipate the static electricity, the mat will not truly be a static control mat.
Entrance Mats - are designed to protect floors and prevent slipping when entering a building. These mats typically are useful in heavy traffic areas. There are two main kind of entrance mats. Coarse fiber mats are used to hide dirt and foot traffic patterns. Heavy duty rubber mats with finger tip design remove dirt before it becomes a problem.
Industrial Heavy Duty Dry Mats - are designed for heavy foot traffic, cart traffic and protection in high risk areas. Good anti-fatigue mats for heavy duty applications have at least a five year warranty, and are at least 9/16" thick.
Industrial Medium Duty Dry Mats - are designed with resilience, comfort and ease of maintenance in mind. When selecting a medium duty dry mat, the thickness needs to be at least 1/2" with a minimum of a three year warranty.
Industrial Light Duty Dry Mats - are the most economical and common anti-fatigue mats. These mats are typically made out of a less expensive PVC sponge which do not hold up as well as the above noted mats. When selecting a light duty dry mat, the thickness should be at least 3/8" and have a minimum of a one year warranty.
Industrial Heavy Duty Wet Mats - are designed to reduce fatigue, help facilitate drainage and is modular for the ease of cleaning. Modular matting is very important for areas that are constantly wet. Cutting fluid and grease can build up on matting. Hence, if modular matting is in place, just the one small section can be removed and replaced. When selecting a heavy duty dry mat, the thickness should be at least 7/8" and have a minimum of a three year warranty.
Industrial Medium Duty Wet Mats - are designed to prevent accidents in areas where chemicals, oil and waterl can be present. Most wet matting has an option for a gritty surface. If the application is in a slippery area, this is highly recommended. When selecting a medium duty wet mat, the thickness should be at least 5/8" with a minimum of a one year warranty.
When selecting anti-fatigue matting, most applications will fall under one of the above products. The most common misconception with ergonomic matting is that what is good for one application is good for another. The truth is that anti-fatigue matting is carefully engineered and designed to fit exact types of applications. There are several different materials to choose from including PVC, Nitrile rubber or Urethane. No matter what material is chosen, make sure it fits the application accordingly.
In conclusion, many mats are chosen specifically on price. From experience, this typically only makes matters worse. Lower price usually equals lack of thickness and quality. Both lead to the discomfort of employees and costly replacements. Use the guidelines above when selecting anti-fatigue matting and any issues with anti-fatigue matting will be in the past. Remember, taking care of your people is good for business.
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