Aluminium Entrance Matting

What is aluminium entrance matting?

Aluminium entrance matting uses aluminium rails combined with carpet, brush, or scraper inserts to remove dirt and moisture from footwear as people enter a building. Systems are commonly used in offices, shopping centres, hotels, and other high-traffic commercial entrances.

What are the benefits of aluminium entrance matting?

Aluminium systems are designed for durability and high foot traffic while helping reduce dirt and moisture entering the building. They can also help protect surrounding floor finishes and reduce cleaning requirements.

Is aluminium entrance matting suitable for high-traffic areas?

Yes. Heavy-duty aluminium entrance systems are commonly specified for shopping centres, commercial buildings and other busy entrances. COBA Flooring SA’s DM Aluminium system, for example, is designed for heavy to very heavy traffic.

How do I measure for aluminium entrance matting?

Measurements should account for the exact matwell dimensions, depth, entrance shape, surrounding floor finish, and door clearances. For larger or irregular entrances, a professional site survey reduces the risk of manufacturing or installation problems. COBA Flooring SA offers site surveys as part of its entrance-matting specification process.

How long does aluminium entrance matting last?

Service life depends heavily on traffic, correct specification, installation, and maintenance. Aluminium systems are generally selected when a durable, long-term commercial entrance solution is required.

Can aluminium entrance matting be used in revolving doors?

Yes, provided the system is correctly designed and manufactured to suit the shape, recess and clearance of the revolving door. COBA Flooring SA specifically identifies aluminium and other closed-construction systems as options for revolving-door installations.

Is aluminium entrance matting suitable for shopping centres?

Yes. Aluminium entrance systems are commonly used in shopping centres because they can accommodate high pedestrian traffic while trapping dirt and moisture at major entrance points.

Is aluminium entrance matting slip resistant?

Slip performance depends on the chosen system and insert. Where slip resistance is important, look for systems with documented slip testing rather than assuming all aluminium entrance mats perform identically. For example, Plan. A is tested to BS 7976-2.

Is aluminium entrance matting suitable for wheelchairs and trolleys?

Aluminium entrance systems can be specified for wheeled traffic, but rail spacing, construction, transitions and loading capability should be considered when choosing the system. Some heavy-duty systems publish specific wheel-load performance figures.

Can damaged carpet or brush inserts be replaced?

Depending on the system, inserts or individual components may be replaceable, which can extend the useful life of the entrance system without replacing the complete aluminium installation.

How often should aluminium entrance matting be cleaned?

Cleaning frequency depends on pedestrian traffic, location, and the amount of dirt or moisture entering the building. Busy shopping centres and public buildings will generally require more frequent maintenance than smaller office entrances.

How do you clean aluminium entrance matting?

Routine vacuuming removes accumulated dirt from the inserts, while aluminium systems can normally be rolled or lifted to allow trapped debris underneath to be removed. The exact maintenance procedure depends on the construction and insert material.

Can aluminium entrance matting be used outdoors?

This depends on the system and insert. Some aluminium products are intended for indoor or covered entrances only, while others are designed for wet and dry environments. The environmental rating of the complete system should therefore be checked before specification.

What type of insert should I choose: carpet, brush or scraper?

The best insert depends on the contaminants entering the building. Scrapers and brushes are useful for removing heavier debris, while textile inserts help capture finer dirt and moisture. Aluminium systems can also combine different inserts to create multiple cleaning actions.

How large should an entrance matting system be?

The mat should be long enough for several footsteps to make contact with the cleaning surface rather than relying on visitors to stop and wipe their feet. COBA Flooring SA recommends allowing approximately six footsteps, while around 2.5 m of matting allows a full wheelchair-wheel revolution to contact the surface.

Can aluminium entrance matting be installed onto an existing floor?

Certain aluminium systems can be surface mounted where creating a recessed matwell is not practical. Ramped edging is generally used to create a safer transition between the mat and surrounding floor.

What depth does a matwell need to be for aluminium entrance matting?

This depends on the specific system selected. For example, aluminium entrance systems are available in different heights, including approximately 10 mm, 12 mm and 17 mm configurations, so the recess should be designed around the specified product rather than using a universal depth.

Do I need a recessed matwell for aluminium entrance matting?

Not always. Some systems are designed specifically for recessed matwells, while others can also be surface mounted using suitable ramped edging.

Can aluminium entrance matting be made to a custom size?

Yes. Aluminium systems are typically manufactured to the dimensions of the entrance or matwell, allowing them to accommodate unusual entrance shapes and large commercial spaces.

How does aluminum entrance matting perform with moisture?

Aluminium entrance matting is good at wiping shoes and can enable debris or moisture to fall through the mat (open construction) – keeping the surface debris free.