There is no single law that specifically states that matting must be installed. However, under South African health and safety legislation, employers and building owners are responsible for ensuring that floors are safe and do not pose a slip, trip or fall risk to employees, visitors or members of the public.
In practice, entrance matting is widely used as a preventative safety measure to help control dirt and moisture, reduce slip risk, and support overall workplace safety and wellbeing. In environments where people stand for prolonged periods, anti-fatigue matting may also be recommended to help reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, although this is considered best practice rather than a legal requirement.
Public buildings also carry a duty of care to ensure floors are accessible and safe for all users, including those with mobility challenges. Entrance matting should be correctly specified and installed so that it does not create a trip hazard or restrict access.
You can find more guidance in our cleaning and maintenance guide.
Orthomat Premium, Solid Fatigue Step, Fatigue Step, MK3 and Cobawash would be considered some of the most durable matting in their respective categories.
The material your mats are manufactured from will influence the recommended method of cleaning. For entrance mats, please refer to our comprehensive cleaning guide. For rubber or PVC matting, we generally recommend brushing, mopping and pressure washing with a detergent. Please refer to the Technical Specification details for each product, published on this website and in our catalogue. This contains recommended cleaning methods for each individual product.
It depends on the construction of the product, and whether it has a backing. Those products that have multiple layers ‘sandwiched’ together are not ideal for cutting because the inner materials need to be sealed. Some PVC products can be successfully cut. Please seek advice from our Customer Service team to see if the matting you have chosen can be cut on size on site. In many cases, we can supply products already cut to size or you may want to consider a custom-sized option.
The best size for an individual anti-fatigue mat depends on whether your job requires standing in a static position, or whether you need to walk alongside machinery or equipment. If you are standing in a static position, then a smaller mat can suffice. However, if you need to take steps (walk) within your workspace, then always make sure the matting is as long or as wide as the area you move about in, so you are not stepping on and off the mat.
Forklift trucks will damage most mats. This normally occurs when the wheels are turned on the product. Solid Fatigue-Step and Comfort-Lok can be used in conjunction with forklifts, but we suggest bonding the tiles to the floor for the best performance. Please seek expert advice from our Customer Service team to help you pick the correct matting for your environment.
Generally rubber matting that has some nitrile content. In our range, we would recommend the following products: Bubblemat, K-Mat, Fatigue-Step, Diamond Grid and Orthomat Premium. Please refer to the Workplace Product Selector in our catalogue for further guidance, or contact our Customer Service team for assistance.
PVC matting, because PVC does not support the growth of bacteria and is therefore more hygienic. It is also comfortable to walk on barefoot and provides a safer anti-slip surface. Our recommended products include Leisure Mat, Flexi-Deck PVC Floor Tiles, and Diamond Grid PVC matting. Further details on these products can be found in our Leisure Matting range.
Modular matting refers to any mat that is made of interlocking components. This could be interlocking floor tiles or sections of matting. Examples include Comfort-Lock, Fatigue-Step, Flexi-Deck and Q-Beez.
They are useful because they can be linked together to cover different floor sizes, and as they are in sections, they are easy to handle and move around if need. If required, individual sections or tiles can be removed and replaced.
Where there is swarf present, it is always advisable to opt for open hole mats rather than those with solid surfaces. Open hole designs, such as COBAmat® allow swarf to fall ‘through’ the mat. Loose swarf on a solid surface mat can become a slip hazard, and sharp debris can pierce or stick into the mat’s surface.
Choosing matting with holes or solid tops depends on the environment, primarily whether it is wet or dry. If it is wet or oily, then we recommend a mat with open holes to provide drainage for liquid spillage to help prevent slip hazards. Open holes also allow dry debris to fall ‘through’ the mat, rather than rest on the mat’s surface. In this instance the matting would need to be lifted to be cleaned. Solid surface mats are more suited to dry environments and debris can be easily swept away.
Very often for safety reasons, to reduces the slipping hazards. Holes provide ‘drainage’ for liquid spillage, and capture debris in swarf-prone areas. Dry dust and debris can also be a slip hazard as they act like marbles on the floor surface. If debris falls ‘through’ the mat, then this risk is minimised. Matting with holes should be cleaned regularly to ensure the holes do not clog up, giving the mat optimum slip-resistance performance.
Our wear ratings are for guidelines only and are illustrated with the foot symbol.
Each environment is different and some locations may be more punishing than others. Our wear ratings are there to give you some guidance on each product’s durability. If you need further assistance, please get in touch with our Customer Service team.
Yes. We offer site surveys across South Africa. Our experienced sales team can visit your premises to assess your requirements and recommend suitable solutions. Where required, we also support distributors with on-site visits.
If you would like to arrange a visit, please contact our team.
Yes, many of our products are supplied with guarantees. Guarantee terms and durations vary by product, so please refer to the relevant product pages or contact our team for further details.
This all depends on the environment the entrance matting has been installed in, and whether it has been correctly specified for its purpose. A good cleaning and maintenance routine will also help to prolong its life.
Our experienced sales and customer service teams are here to help. We can provide product advice, free samples and site surveys to ensure the correct solution is specified for your building and usage requirements.
Simply contact our team , and we’ll guide you through the process.
Manufacturing and delivery times depend on the product selected. Some entrance matting systems are held in stock, while others are manufactured to order.
Our sales team can confirm lead times once specifications are agreed. Please contact us for guidance.
Aluminium systems can be more luxurious products, which are more hard wearing and have a longer warranty. We’ve also investigated in detail if aluminium entrance matting is worth the investment.
Entrance matting should be installed at building entry points where dirt and moisture are most likely to be brought inside. When specifying an entrance matting system, it is important to consider entrance zoning so that the correct combination of scraping and wiping performance is achieved.
You can read more in our tips for first-time entrance matting buyers.
If a mat well is not available, there are several surface-mounted entrance matting options. Certain systems can be installed directly onto the floor surface using appropriate edging, while some textile and loose lay mats are designed specifically for surface installation.
Explore our entrance matting options or contact our team for tailored advice.
Entrance Matting is crucial for underfoot safety to prevent slips and trips. The matting can stop dirt and moisture being walked into buildings, and can reduce cleaning and maintenance costs. Effective entrance matting can prolong the life of your interior floor coverings.
We have a wide range of entrance matting systems available in a number of materials such as; Aluminium, and PVC tile options. There are systems suitable for mat wells or systems that can be laid directly to the floor. The entrance matting comes in three different formats; interlinking entrance tiles, carpet on rolls and custom aluminium entrance matting systems.
Yes. Free samples are available on request, subject to availability. Samples can be supplied in selected colours and materials to help you assess suitability before specifying or ordering.
To request samples, please get in touch with us.
Yes, selected matting products are available in custom sizes and configurations. Products that can be made to order are typically noted as having special sizes available on request. Please note that bespoke products usually have longer lead times than standard stock items.
Some entrance matting systems also offer bespoke branding options, including logo matting.
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