Rubber Entrance Matting Inserts – An Underutilised Star! ⭐️

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Using rubber inserts in your Entrance Matting is practical and versatile. Yet rubber is surprisingly under-specified by many architects and designers when considering Entrance Matting.

• Is it the misconception that rubber can only be used outside?
• Is it because it’s incorrectly perceived as unsustainable?
• The link to industrial applications?
• Or is it because everybody else just uses fibre inserts?

We want to set the record straight and explain the benefits of using rubber in your Entrance Matting specifications. Rubber inserts give you superior durability, dirt and moisture management to protect and enhance any space. You might be surprised at the design options compatible with our range of Entrance Matting systems.

Challenging Preconceptions about Performance

It might be time to reconsider this humble Entrance Matting material. While fibre inserts are more commonly used for weather resistance, durability and maintenance, good quality rubber Matting still has a few trump cards to play!

For commercial or retail entrances that are regularly exposed to the elements or high footfall, rubber performs brilliantly. Transport hubs, car showrooms, hospitals and leisure venues are great examples of where rubber Entrance Matting inserts come into their own. Birmingham University Station is a prime example.

Every day, visitors carry and then deposit an average of 1g of soil inside per person according to The ISSA. For a busy shopping centre or office building, this translates to kilograms of dirt and grit being tracked inside daily. Preventing slips and trips is crucial, but it’s also important to protect other materials around the building – flooring and furniture take the brunt. And cleaning up all that mess costs time and money.

Understanding The Technology

As we all know, Entrance Matting is the first line of defence. It reduces cleaning costs and keep people safer from trips and falls. While rubber inserts are more common in external settings (zone 1), they’re often overlooked internally, even though they withstand all types of weather. And whether you’ve got automatic pass doors, revolving doors or exposed entrances, the weather’s often brought inside by your visitors, even in quieter periods.

High-quality rubber Entrance Matting inserts perform consistently regardless of what the British weather throws at us. Or whatever your visitors unwittingly bring in – sodden umbrellas, sandy sandals or muddy wheels. Well-maintained rubber inserts prevents slips because rubber naturally has a high friction coefficient – maintaining their grip.

We engineer our rubber Entrance Matting inserts with ribs and grooves to scrape dirt and debris off footwear and wheeled traffic. They even channel moisture away from the surface to avoid transfer.

• Explore Rubber Matting Projects

Nine Benefits of Rubber Entrance Matting Inserts

1. 1. Design and aesthetic flexibility – Rubber inserts are available for most of our Entrance Matting systems, so there are endless design possibilities to meet your aesthetic needs. You can arrange in geometric patterns, dynamic shapes, or with other insert types to create visually striking entrances with exceptional functionality.

1. 2. Rubber naturally withstands any weather – In cold temperatures, rubber Entrance Matting inserts remain flexible and don’t crack or become brittle, unlike other materials. During hot periods, rubber doesn’t warp, so it retains its shape. UV-stabilised rubber varieties don’t fade either. So rubber will look good and perform well all-year-round for years and years. One Great Cumberland Place may provide some inspiration.

1. 3. Rubber resists mould, mildew and rot – You don’t need to worry about mould, mildew and rot as rubber is naturally resistant. In damp conditions or those tricky areas that are shaded year-round, rubber will perform consistently well. Plus, it’s easy to clean with a jet wash or brush.

1. 4. Rubber delivers long-term cost-effectiveness – Rubber Entrance Matting inserts can cost more initially than other basic materials, but they provide significant long-term value. Rubber’s durability reduces the need to replace sections or whole entrance mats. This ties in with the Royal Institute of British Architects principles of lifecycle costing in building specifications.

1. Cleaning and maintaining rubber Entrance Matting is straightforward and cost-effective too, not to mention the secondary cleaning cost savings. The ISSA estimate removing 1kg of dirt from a modern building costs £1,100 and £1 spent preventing dirt from entering a building saves £10 cleaning up the mess. If you have 1,000 people entering the building in a month without effective Entrance Matting, you will have a hefty £11,000 cleaning bill.

1. 5. Superior dirt and moisture management – High quality rubber Entrance Matting inserts can remove a lot of debris thanks to their hard scraper action. The ribs and grooves dislodge everything from fine sand to larger grit particles. Our multidirectional rubber has crisscross ribs to remove dirt regardless of the direction of traffic. And when used with our compatible open construction systems, the grooves and channels efficiently direct moisture away from the surface.

1. 6. Enhanced safety performance – Safety is non-negotiable in commercial environments, and rubber inserts deliver exceptional slip resistance even in challenging conditions. The high coefficient of friction provided by quality rubber compounds maintains grip. Even when exposed to rain, snow and other elements when slip hazards are most dangerous.

1. Rubber Entrance Matting is DDA-compliant, providing necessary safety without compromising inclusive design principles.

1. 7. Heavy-duty durability for high-traffic areas – Materials used in commercial and retail environments need to withstand intensive use with minimal deterioration. Rubber Entrance Matting inserts can handle impact, dragging, and heavy loads from wheeled traffic, trolleys and maintenance equipment too.

1. It is ideal for shopping centres, entertainment venues, commercial centres and transport hubs where thousands of people pass through. For example, at Brighton 3T’s Hospital.

8. Cushioned for better acoustics and comfort – In addition to controlling dirt and moisture levels, rubber Entrance Matting inserts provide effective cushioning and shock absorption. Rubber dampens foot traffic noise – an important consideration in large, open spaces.

The cushioning effect of rubber inserts helps provide a more comfortable journey from pedestrian or wheeled traffic too.

1. 9. Sustainability considerations – Entrance Matting systems with rubber inserts can contribute to the sustainability goals of modern contemporary building specifications. Primarily thanks to its long lifespan and limited maintenance.

1. As the Chartered Institute of Building recognises, effective Entrance Matting systems contribute to overall building sustainability by protecting interior finishes and reducing maintenance requirements.

How to Integrate Rubber Inserts into Your Entrance Matting Scheme

When specifying rubber Entrance Matting inserts, it’s important to understand building usage patterns, environmental exposure and performance requirements. Working with our experienced Entrance Matting specialists will ensure your specifications meet the immediate performance and long-term building objectives.

You can use rubber alone or combine with other insert types (fibre or brush) for ultimate design flexibility and tailored solutions that address specific building challenges.

Rubber inserts are a proven, reliable choice that performs consistently throughout the building’s lifecycle. From superior weather resistance and durability to enhanced safety and cost-effectiveness, they deliver measurable benefits that extend far beyond the entrance itself.

Our INTRAform Entrance Matting system is one of the most common specifications to integrate rubber inserts into. Or INTRAflow, which has separate channels to enhance drainage and dirt removal. Available in open or closed construction options, it’s ideal for more exposed areas. And is compatible with our Waterlogic drainage support system.

Ready to explore how rubber Entrance Matting inserts can enhance your next project? Discover our comprehensive range of Entrance Matting systems and speak with our technical team about creating the perfect entrance solution for your specific requirements.