A Simple Guide to Buying Non Slip Matting

Non Slip matting or Safety matting covers a wide range of applications from outside on a slippery walkway, to indoors beside a deep fryer to beside a milling machine with swarf and cutting fluid. Each application warrants its own type of matting and if the incorrect mat is chosen the result may be something that doesn’t do what it was intended to do, a mat that simply doesn’t last due to the contaminants getting on it or a something that is dangerous for the area it is being used in.
There’s some simple questions that should be asked before deciding:-
Is the mat inside or outside?
What is causing the area to be slippery?
Is there going to be an operator standing on it?
Will people be continually walking over the it?
Is the surface the mat is sitting on slippery already?
As far as mats are concerned, there’s a variety to choose from both in style and what the mat is made from. For example if the mat is going to be outside it will need to be able to withstand UV light and other variations of weather, if the mat is sitting beside a metal lathe it will need to be cutting fluid resistant, if the mat is being used by a timber sawbench it will need to be able to disperse the sawdust and if the mat is inside a coolstore or freezer it will need to be able to withstand extreme temperatures.
The thickness (or height) of Non Slip matting is another factor that is important – if people are going to be walking over the mat continually it will need to be as low profile as possible. However, if someone is standing all day on the mat operating a machine it will need to have Anti fatigue properties meaning that the mat will have a element of height to it.
If the area of concern is slippery simply because it is getting wet then a mat that has drainage holes is ideal, however if the wet area is used frequently to walk through then a mat that is low profile and absorbs moisture is more suitable. A mat in this situation could be a rubber backed mat with a synthetic carpet fibre – the synthetic carpet fibre will not rot when wet and easily absorbs moisture.
All in all the category of Non Slip matting is an extremely diverse one with many variables to consider so working with your local Mat Specialist to determine the best solution is a must.