Coir Matting Alternatives for Retail, Office and Commercial Entrances

Coir has been a popular choice for doormats and Entrance Matting both domestically and commercially for decades. Made from coconut husk fibres, it’s been the traditional go-to material for scraping dirt from shoes. It’s natural, cheap and convenient, but is it the right choice for today’s commercial projects?

When specifying Entrance Matting for a commercial project, there are matting alternatives to coir that are more effective. Consider alternative matting that delivers better performance, durability and aesthetic appeal. Here are some coir matting alternatives and their pros and cons.

The Limitations of Coir Matting

While coir has its place in less busy areas, it struggles with the wear and tear in commercial settings, making it less than ideal for some projects.

Limited Moisture Absorption

Coir is good at scraping and can absorb a limited amount of liquid but suffers from moisture retention. In wet weather, coir can get waterlogged, creating slip hazards and reducing its effectiveness at keeping internal floors dry. Water can also permeate the matting and damage the underlying floor. Coir fibres aren’t good at aiding evaporation either, so are prone to mould or mildew.

It’s common to see dark and greasy patches in the centre of coir matting, particularly in busy settings like shops or offices. Treating stains is hard because you can only clean most coir mats with a vacuum or water.

Durability Concerns

Natural coir fibres shed after installation until they ‘bed in’. These fibres transfer to other flooring materials, creating more mess and cleaning. The fibres also degrade faster than synthetic alternatives, especially in high-traffic areas, so it’s common to get thin or bare patches, leading to earlier replacement than other commercial matting.

The constant wear flattens the fibres, limiting effectiveness and increasing the risk of slips and trips.

Safety

Coir is usually tested on a different safety assessment system but, in comparison, has a worse slip rating than other commercial materials.

It is also more flammable, so would not be suitable for projects with fire compartmentation. Natural coir usually achieves E or F within the EN 13501-1 standard compared to C or B ratings for alternative Entrance Matting materials.

Maintenance Requirements

Coir scrapes dirt effectively but can harbour dirt deep within its fibres, which is often hard to remove effectively without specialist and regular cleaning. This is problematic in food service environments or healthcare where hygiene is paramount.

Comfort and DDA Compliance

The thick, rough pile makes wheeled movement more difficult, so coir does not rate as highly for DDA compliance. The fibres are also less springy than alternatives, making it less comfortable underfoot for visitors.

Aesthetic Constraints

The natural brown colour doesn’t suit every interior palette, and because it wears more quickly compared to other materials, it can look tired and grubby quickly. Although manufacturers have introduced coloured coir, traditional coir still offers limited design flexibility.

High-Performance Alternatives for Modern Buildings

The demands of commercial matting have driven innovation over the last decade. We’re confident you will find the right product for your sustainability, design, performance or budget needs. Equally, there are plenty of options which are available from the UK for quick delivery and easy installation.

To get you started, here are the key alternatives to consider. But if you’d prefer to chat through some options, get in touch with our friendly specialists.

• Speak to our team

1. Heavy-Duty Sheet Fibre Systems

For a straight swap for coir matting with an existing or planned matwell, a commercial-grade sheet fibre is ideal. Sheet fibre offers similar convenience as it can be made to measure or cut on site but offers outstanding long-term performance compared to coir.

If you want a similar colour to coir, consider the following matting systems:

INTRAlux Ultimate is made from 100% recycled nylon (ECONYL). The high-density fibres (900g/m²) provide three times faster moisture absorption than competitor products. It’s a popular heavy-duty specification for shopping centres, retail units, healthcare settings and busy offices thanks to its low slip potential. INTRAlux Ultimate is ideal for exposed entrances or where rapid moisture removal is critical.

Available in nine nature-inspired colours which have high levels of light and water colour fastness, high durability and a standard 5-year warranty.

INTRAlux Elite is made from 100% recycled nylon (Econyl). The combination of coarse and fine fibres provides excellent absorption and scraping. It’s another strong choice for shops and commercial centres, offices and healthcare facilities. Highly absorbent again, good sustainability, low slip potential. Cfl-s1 fire resistance and suitable for the toughest of commercial settings.

The coir-alternative matting fibres above can also be used with our framing options which can be black or bronze on request. Or Gripfit ramped edging trim for surface-mounted applications.

INTRAbrush is a high-quality bristle brush insert for high-traffic environments. It is excellent at removing coarse dirt particles, mud, snow and ice. Performs brilliantly inside or out in extreme wet and dirty conditions. The open construction means water and dirt fall through and are collected in the matwell below.

2. Modular Tile Systems

Modular tile systems are a practical alternative as they can be surface mounted over existing hard flooring using ramped edges or frames. Or you can install modular tiles into an existing matwell. Modular tiles, by their very construction, can naturally withstand multi-directional wear, so are ideal for busy intersections and entrances.

Three of our modular coir alternative matting products are INTRAlink² and INTRAshape and INTRAform DM Modular.

INTRAlink²

INTRAlink² is our recycled PVC modular and multi-directional tile. Available with INTRAlux Elite 604 Coco or INTRAlux Ultimate 904 Sandstone for that coir-like aesthetic. Or choose from 19 other colours and fibres depending on your design vision.

This cost-effective, 250mm² interlocking heavy-duty tile system offers excellent durability and performance. INTRAlink² is easy to install and doesn’t require any specialist cutting tools. It’s a preferred product for many nationwide retailers, including Co-op, Waitrose and KFC.

INTRAform DM Modular

Aluminium modular tiles available with 24 colour and fibre options, including coir-like INTRAlux Elite 604 Coco or INTRAlux Ultimate 904 Sandstone. Plus, rubber inserts for external or zone 1 matting. Choose from silver, black or bronze effect anodised aluminium finishes.

INTRAshape

INTRAshape Entrance Matting comprises tessellating tiles available in 13 shapes and sizes. Available with INTRAlux Elite 604 Coco or INTRAlux Ultimate 904 Sandstone for a coir-like aesthetic, or 20 other colour and fibre options for ultimate design flexibility. Choose from silver, black or bronze effect anodised aluminium finishes.

The hard-wearing multi-directional tiles are easy to handle, install and replace when worn or damaged over the years, but each comes with a 10-year warranty.

Install Options

Use each system with our DDA-compliant Gripfit ramped edging for surface-mounted applications, or we have a range of other accessories depending on your application.

3. Aluminium Matting Systems with Fibre Inserts

Consider an aluminium matting system for entrances that demand a stronger or bolder approach than coir matting. Aluminium systems are good alternatives, which combine structural strength with highly practical inserts to create superior barrier matting with endless design possibilities. The initial cost may be higher, but the long-term cost-effectiveness is much better, as they last longer.

The coir colour fibres detailed above are compatible with most of our aluminium systems.

• INTRAform Heavy-duty, closed construction, interlocking aluminium plank. Available in a wide range of inserts (fibre, brush, rubber). Also available as a low profile version.
• INTRAflex XT or INTRAflex Radial – our most robust system for internal or external settings. Drainage and dirt channels keep the mat looking great and working well even in the toughest environments. Available in closed or open construction and a wide range of inserts (fibre, brush, rubber).
• INTRAform DM – Extra-wide fibre sections provide exceptional dirt removal and moisture absorption. Available in a low profile or modular format. Or our innovative INTRAform DM ecoSwitch® which allows you to replace the inserts as needed.
• INTRAflow and INTRAflow Plus – for exposed settings with high traffic levels, requiring extra drainage. Available in open or closed construction, for internal or external use and fully compatible with our Waterlogic drainage system.

Benefits of Using an Aluminium Entrance Matting System with Fibre Inserts

• Made from 100% recycled aluminium and fully recyclable.
• Fully DDA Compliant
• Heel-proof and smooth for wheeled traffic.
• Available in silver, bronze or black anodised finishes.
• Easy to cut and shape on-site for more complex layouts.
• Easy to fit.
• Open or closed construction for optimum drainage and dirt removal.
• Aluminium modules provide additional scraping.
• Extra strong for greater durability.
• Easy to clean and maintain (see our Cleaning and Maintenance Guide for more detail)
• Ideal for multi-directional traffic
• Frame helps prevent compression and maintains absorbency and appearance.
• Sections in modular and plank systems can be swapped if areas get worn.
• Easy to replace individual sections instead of the whole mat.

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Choosing Sustainably

Sustainability is a core part of today’s material decisions. While coir matting is a natural and biodegradable product, it might not be the best choice depending on your sustainability goals.

Many coir mats are combined with other less sustainable products to reinforce stability, waterproof the backing or permanently bond the mat to the subfloor. And with a shorter lifespan (2-5 years compared to 8-15 years) it can have a whole-life carbon impact. By specifying high-quality products that require less frequent replacement you reduce your environmental impact.

Look for recycled products, low carbon manufacturing processes, local or national product to limit carbon footprints with delivery. Some manufacturers provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for each product making it easier for you to compare environmental impact for the whole-life of the product.

All INTRAsystems fibres are made of ECONYL^® recycled from recovered ocean plastics and fabric trade waste. ECONYL^® carpet fibres are eligible for LEED^® points, and contribute to BREEAM classification, so you can specify high-performance Entrance Matting without compromising the environment.

All the aluminium and PVC we use is 100% recycled and fully recyclable. We use high-quality materials and carefully choose our production processes. You can expect our Entrance Matting products to perform brilliantly for 8-15 years and we offer some of the longest warranties in the industry.

Support to Find the Best Coir Alternative for Your Project

Every entrance project is different. Whatever vision you have or challenges you’re addressing, we can help. INTRAsystems work closely with specifiers, architects, design teams and owners to find the most suitable specification. From coir matting alternatives to entirely new concepts, we can guide you through the selection process. From performance and appearance to sustainability and long-term value.

We manufacture our products in the UK and hold extensive stock for quick delivery, helping to keep your project on schedule.