Have you ever wondered what an Entrance Matting is? Probably not, yet it’s something we have all walked over, whether that was whilst walking into an office or shopping centre or a public building. It’s one product that has played an important role in keeping the premises clean and safe, yet most are hardly aware it exists. More need to be done to inform about this great product. If you have followed our previous blogs they talk about where Entrance Matting can be installed, why having it is so important, ways to clean and much more, however, Entrance Matting is much more technical than that. This blog in particular will look at what Secondary Entrance Matting is, briefly talk about the Zonal System, the different types of Secondary Entrance Matting, and finally, the features of Secondary Entrance Matting.

What is the Zonal System?

Intramatting Zonal system for Entrance Matting is a three-stage approach as illustrated and is a proven way to combat the dirt and moisture at the door:

secondary-matting

  1. External Matting to remove coarse dirt and grit particles prior to entering the building
  2. Heavy Duty recessed Internal Matting for further dirt and moisture removal.
  3. Close fitted fibre products to thoroughly remove remaining moisture.

What is Secondary Matting

Secondary matting is typically installed internally in zone 2/zone 3 of the zonal system. The effectiveness of the secondary matting can only be seen when the different components combine to make the full Entrance Matting Systems work. This starts with having a ‘spill off area’ which is long enough to accommodate all traffic. Matting should cover the full width of an entrance, providing an effective barrier to all foot borne soil and moisture. Matting should typically extend approx. 1m beyond the entrance doors either side, or a greater distance if traffic is likely to naturally flow across the traffic direction. A minimum depth in traffic direction of 3m is recommended in low traffic areas and between 6 – 10m for optimum performance in highest traffic areas.

Next component is choosing the right product that combats dirt and moisture. Different products will have different strengths. Ultimately there are two types of sheet fibres; Polyamide and Polypropylene.

  • Polyamide is a crystalline material that comes in various classes such as Nylon 6, 66 and 46. They absorb moisture at levels substantially higher than most other engineering plastics. Different classes of nylons have different strengths. Nylon 46 and 66 are similar in that they are good at absorbing dry dirt whereas Nylon 6 would be more dimensionally stable when moisture absorption is the primary concern. The high-quality polyamide fibre products absorb up to 5.4L/m² of moisture, allowing highly effective performance even in times of inclement weather and heavy traffic It is also 33% recycled Econyl yarn which is great for sustainability.
  • Polypropylene on the other hand is also very popular as the fibres give an effective scraping action due to their abrasive texture. This makes it an especially good performer when it comes to scraping dry dust. Entrance matting manufactured from Polypropylene fibres is generally durable and frequently used for internal areas, or used in longer lengths as dirt-barrier in reception areas for maximum floor protection. However, this product has limited capabilities in absorbing moisture.

Secondary Matting as mentioned above comprises of close fitted fibres that form the final barrier towards the ingress of dirt and moisture.

  • Products such as INTRAlux Elite is a great Secondary Matting product and has the capacity to suit even the most demanding environments
  • Another example of Secondary Matting is INTRAlux Rib which is a functional and attractive entrance matting for use in lower traffic areas such as stairwells, lift lobbies, fire escapes etc. This is this is an example of a Polypropylene product.

Having the knowledge of the zonal system, the spill off area, the different product and their benefits is crucial to an effective Entrance Matting System.

Previous Projects

Why not check out our previous projects that we’ve worked on?

Call us on 01425 472000 or email us on info@intrasystems.co.uk to finds out how we can help create an entrance that truly creates a lasting impression!

SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENTS

INTRAsystems is committed to the sustainable operation and development of our business and we are constantly seeking better ways to control and minimise the impact we have on our environment.

  • Manufactured in the UK

  • 100% recycled aluminium

  • Regenerated nylon yarns