What is Barrier Matting and where can it be used?

What types of barrier matting systems are available?

Barrier matting systems, which are also called entrance matting, are typically fixed systems crafted from aluminium or plastic. They often include inserts made of carpet, nylon brushes, or rubber/PVC scrapers.

Various insert types are designed to either scrape away dirt or absorb moisture from footwear and wheeled traffic, reducing the amount of dirt and moisture carried into the building. Your choice will largely depend on the setting, footfall volume, and traffic type, from light-use offices through to heavy duty, high traffic areas like retail entrances and warehouses.

Which insert type should you choose?

• Nylon brush inserts – best for scraping grit, dust and loose debris off shoes. A strong fit for retail and office entrances with moderate foot traffic.
• Rubber/PVC scraper inserts – built for wet, muddy or high traffic areas such as warehouses, schools and healthcare entrances, where the priority is stripping heavy dirt and standing water before it reaches interior floors.
• Carpet inserts – best at absorbing moisture rather than scraping debris, suited to lower traffic, indoor-facing zones where the main risk is wet footwear rather than mud or grit.

Many entrance systems combine two zones: a heavy duty scraper mat outside to deal with the worst of the dirt, and an absorbent wiper mat inside to finish drying feet before they reach the main entrance floor.

Barrier matting is designed to keep water and dirt out of a building, and it brings both visual and functional benefits for businesses managing entrance floors and interior floors alike.

• First impressions – Barrier matting systems create a safe, clean entrance for employees and visitors. A neat, organised entrance floor builds a positive impression of the brand for anyone walking in.
• Slip safety – Correctly specified barrier matting scrapes and absorbs moisture and contaminants from footwear and wheeled traffic right at the entrance, cutting the risk of slips in busy traffic areas. Matting needs sufficient length to cope with the level of footfall it’s handling. The HSE reported that in 2019/20, 29% of non-fatal employee injuries were down to slips, trips or falls on the same level.
• Reduced maintenance costs – Barrier matting helps reduce the amount of dirt reaching internal flooring, which cuts internal cleaning costs. It’s been reported that removing 1kg of dirt once it’s inside a building can cost around £500. A single person can walk in at least 0.58g of dirt per day, rising to ten times that in wet weather. Barrier entrance matting helps prolong the life of interior floors by trapping moisture and debris from foot traffic before it spreads further into the building.

We offer a Supply & Install Service for Barrier Matting, Entrance Matting and GRP Flooring. Our team are here to support you from the enquiry stage right through to flooring installation.

How much barrier matting length do you need?

As a general rule, it takes 5 to 6 footsteps for a barrier mat to properly clean and dry a shoe. That means the busier and dirtier the entrance, the longer the matting run needs to be. A short mat in a high traffic area won’t fully clean footwear, so dirt and moisture simply carry on past it into interior floors. When specifying, factor in daily footfall, weather exposure and whether the entrance sees wheeled traffic like trolleys or wheelchairs, as these all affect the length and type of matting solution needed.

Is barrier matting tested to a standard?

Barrier matting should be specified with slip resistance in mind, particularly in entrances exposed to rain or heavy foot traffic. Look for matting tested for slip resistance and manufactured to relevant British Standards, so you can be confident it’s reducing the risk of slips rather than just improving appearance. If you’re unsure what a spec requires, our Specification Builder can help you get the wording right.

Can barrier matting be used both indoors and outdoors?

Yes. Barrier matting systems are typically installed in two zones: an external, heavy duty scraper zone to remove the worst dirt and moisture before it reaches the building, and an internal zone to finish absorbing residual moisture from footwear. This two-zone matting solution is common across retail, healthcare, education and office entrances, anywhere heavy foot traffic and changeable weather put interior floors at risk.

Most barrier matting systems are manufactured from aluminium, such as our Plan A system, and are designed to be installed into a matwell frame. If a matwell isn’t available, we recommend matting options with bevelled edging to prevent trip hazards and allow safe access for wheeled traffic, such as wheelchairs.

We also have a range of EasyInstall™ barrier matting products, ideal for recessed entrance wells and high traffic areas that need a fast, low-disruption fit.

When specifying entrance matting, it’s important to keep cleaning and maintenance requirements in mind alongside daily footfall. Sticking to a schedule keeps the matting performing well in heavy duty, high traffic areas, as well as looking its best. Different systems need different treatments.

To help, we’ve put together a go-to cleaning and maintenance guide for entrance matting systems, including a spot cleaning guide covering how to remove a variety of spills and messes from your barrier matting.

Our top tips on how to maintain and clean barrier matting

How long should barrier matting be?

Aim for enough matting to cover 5 to 6 footsteps. Longer runs are needed for high traffic areas or entrances exposed to heavy rain, so footwear is properly cleaned and dried before reaching interior floors.

What’s the difference between barrier matting and entrance matting?

Barrier matting is a type of entrance matting focused specifically on scraping and absorbing dirt and moisture at the door. “Entrance matting” is the broader category, which also covers logo mats, carpet matting and matwell systems.

Does barrier matting reduce slip risk?

Yes. By reducing the amount of dirt and moisture carried onto interior floors, correctly specified barrier matting lowers the risk of slips, particularly in wet weather or heavy foot traffic conditions.

Can barrier matting handle heavy duty, high traffic entrances?

Yes. Aluminium-framed systems with scraper or brush inserts are built for heavy duty use in high traffic areas such as retail, warehouse and healthcare entrances.

Does barrier matting need to sit in a matwell?

No, though it’s recommended for the best finish and durability. Where a matwell isn’t available, bevelled edging options prevent trip hazards and keep the entrance accessible for wheeled traffic.