How to specify entrance matting for education

Every school entrance has the same problem. Hundreds of pairs of wet, muddy shoes cross a smooth floor within minutes. If the matting is wrong, the floor gets slippery and dirt spreads through the building. Cleaning bills climb, and the wrong first impression is made.

This guide shows how to specify entrance matting for education. It covers outdoor approaches, mat length and type by school setting, accessibility, maintenance and the spec itself.

Why schools need entrance matting

Schools have concentrated footfall. Pupils arrive and leave in waves, often in wet weather, and often carrying bags, sports kit or equipment.

That puts three pressures on the entrance:

• Slips and falls on wet, smooth internal flooring
• Dirt and moisture carried into corridors and classrooms
• Wear on internal floor finishes, which are expensive to replace

Matting is the cheapest way to deal with all three. It only works if it is specified for the building it protects.

What entrance matting does in a school

Matting has three jobs.

1. Safety. It dries footwear before pupils reach smooth flooring. The longer the matted area, the more moisture it traps.
2. Dirt and moisture control. It captures grit and water so internal floors stay cleaner and last longer.
3. First impressions. The entrance is the first floor finish a visitor, parent or prospective student sees and touches. It is often the last thing considered in the spec.

Start outside: outdoor school flooring and the three-zone approach

Good entrance control starts before the door. Think in three zones.

Outdoor school flooring is where many slips start. Rain, frost, algae and moss all make steps and ramps hazardous. Cleaning with a stiff brush helps, but it isn’t a lasting fix.

For steps, GRP (glass reinforced plastic) anti-slip products are a durable option. COBAGRiP stair nosings cover the leading edge of each step. Stair treads cover the full step and riser. Both are available in high-visibility colours and can be bonded or screwed to new or existing steps.

New outdoor steps should also follow Approved Document M. That means a rise of 150-170mm and a going of 280-425mm. Commercial and school stairs additionally need closed risers and continuous handrails on each side.

Grip tape is tempting as a quick fix. On busy school steps it wears quickly, and the adhesive can peel in extreme temperatures.

Key factors when specifying

Four questions shape every specification.

How many people use the entrance? Main entrances need heavy-duty systems. Side doors and classroom exits can take lighter ones.

What is on their feet? Muddy trainers and football boots need a more aggressive scraper than smooth school shoes. If the entrance is near sports fields, check that studs won’t damage the mat.

How much matting is needed? Research by the Health and Safety Laboratory and the Entrance Flooring Systems Association found that matting should cover the full width of an entrance, including side entrances, and that it’s costly to modify once the mat and matwell are installed. Length matters too. Some guides suggest enough length for 8-10 steps, roughly 6m for medium traffic. Many schools can’t fit that much, so secondary matting indoors helps make up the difference.

What is the matwell like? Check depth and level before choosing a product. Typical depths are 12mm, 17mm and 25mm. New installations may need around 25mm to fit the frame system.

Safety, accessibility and compliance

Every pupil, visitor and member of staff needs to cross the entrance safely. That includes wheelchair users, people with pushchairs and anyone carrying equipment.

• Keep it flush. Where a matwell is used, the mat surface should sit level with the surrounding floor. Level surfaces reduce trip risk and meet Equality Act 2010 expectations.
• Allow for wheeled traffic. COBA guidance is that one wheelchair revolution needs a minimum of 2.5m of matting.
• Check the standards. Approved Document M covers building access, and BS 7953 covers entrance flooring systems. Confirm current requirements for your project.
• Consider contrast. Colour contrast helps visually impaired users see the mat edge, as guidance in BS 8300 suggests.

If a matwell isn’t possible, use a low-profile product with ramped or bevelled edges.

Younger-years settings sometimes assume a softer surface is better. Premier Rib is a good answer. It has a base made from 100% recycled PVC with ribbed rubber inserts for slip resistance, and it suits the point of entry for younger children.

Lancaster University paired Plan® A with black brush inserts to remove dirt from studded boots outside. It added Plan® A with Alba inserts to absorb moisture inside.

Cleaning, maintenance and lifespan

A mat that is easy to clean is a mat that gets cleaned. Closed construction matting suits busy sites because debris can be vacuumed from the surface.

Tiles add flexibility. Interlocking systems can cover almost any floor size, and single tiles can be moved or replaced.

Allow for the cost of upkeep when comparing options. A cheap mat that needs frequent replacement can cost more over time. Our cleaning and maintenance guide sets out a routine you can give your site team.

Installation and minimising disruption

Entrances can’t stay closed for long. Plan installation around the school calendar, ideally during holidays or out of hours.

Supply and install means the same team that specifies the product also fits it. That reduces the risk of a mat that doesn’t suit the matwell. COBA can also offer quicker turnaround on request, and installation guides are available if your contractor is fitting it.

If you’re replacing existing matting, a site survey checks matwell size, depth and level. Fixing these first prevents the most common fitting problems.

Appearance, colour and branding

Entrance matting doesn’t have to be black or grey. Colours can match the school’s palette or help with wayfinding.

Logo mats add identity. Standard loose-lay logomats suit medium-duty use. For heavy traffic, Logomat Precision is a custom, made-to-order option.

You can also inlay a logo into a heavy-duty system. City of Glasgow College did exactly that, combining Plan® A with an inlaid, custom-printed logomat.

Education case studies

• Dudley College: Premier Track tiles give higher slip resistance, with easy cleaning and replacement of individual tiles.
• Manchester Metropolitan University: Plan® A with Alba and PVC inserts.
• University of Cambridge: Plan® A entrance matting.
• City of Glasgow College: Plan® A with an inlaid logomat.

How to write the specification

A clear specification leaves little room for substitution. Include:

1. Location and use: main entrance, side door, internal lobby, or external approach
2. Traffic level: light, medium or heavy, plus wheeled traffic
3. Dimensions: mat length and width, matwell depth and level
4. Product and construction: type, insert and colour
5. Edges and thresholds: flush fit or ramped edges
6. Maintenance expectations: cleaning method and frequency
7. Installation: supply only, or supply and install

COBA’s specification builder and downloadable specification texts help you write each clause. If you’re unsure, a site survey or samples will confirm the choice.

Common specification mistakes

• Specifying too little length. A short mat looks like matting but doesn’t remove much water.
• Ignoring footwear. A smooth-shoe spec fails at a sports entrance.
• Skipping the matwell check. Depth and level problems cause trips and snagged doors.
• Using one product everywhere. Main entrances and classroom doors have different needs.
• Forgetting the outside. Wet steps and ramps can undo good internal matting.
• Overlooking maintenance. A mat that can’t be cleaned easily will be replaced sooner.

Next steps

Entrance matting is a small part of a school’s budget, but it protects the floors, reduces slips and shapes first impressions. Specify it by entrance, not as one product for the whole site.

To talk it through, speak to COBA’s specification team. They can arrange a site survey, supply samples and help you write the spec.