Introduction
The principle function of an entrance flooring system is to reduce the quantity of soil and moisture carried into a building by footwear or wheeled items. By absorbing the dirt and damp that would otherwise cause wear and tear on a building’s main floor finishes, entrance flooring systems are, in effect, sacrificial components with relatively short service lives.
The whole life cost benefits of well-specified entrance flooring systems are:
• Reduced risk of slipping accidents and consequent compensation costs.
• Increased life and reduced cleaning requirements for interior flooring, resulting in reduced through–life costs.
Specification options
Specifiers are spoilt for choice with entrance matting types. However, specification guidance is limited. The British Standard for entrance flooring systems, BS 7953, is descriptive, and does not set out quantifiable criteria by which components can be specified or compared.
Technical data provided by manufacturers is variable, not always comparable and not always based on British or European Standards.
The most common specification options include:
• Entrance matting
These are generally for internal use. Material options include natural fibres such as cotton and more commonly coir, and synthetic fibres such as nylon, polypropylenes and carbon fibres. There is great variety of fibre configurations which enable dirt to be brushed off and moisture absorbed while allowing the mat to be easily cleaned. Qualities such as pile density, thickness, twist and construction may influence durability and ease of cleaning. PVC or rubber may be specified as sheet or grid configuration for internal or external use.
• Composite systems
These typically comprise a grid or mesh with an integrated tread. Systems may be rollable to facilitate cleaning the underside.
The grid is usually made from stainless steel, brass or aluminium. The latter can be anodised for a more attractive finish. The metal grid help scrape off soil, and gaps in the grid allow this to drop below the surface. Grids may also be plastic and may be supplied as interlocking tiles.
The tread is laid in strips between the grid. Tread options include the same material options as for entrance matting. The grid may also have rubber or PVC backing for improved acoustic and wearing functions. The grids
Expected service lives
Performance in use can be very variable, depending on how well usage matches specification. Typical service lives are in the range of 3 – 10 years where the entrance flooring system matches the expected traffic.
Factors to take into account
• Number of daily crossings – extreme traffic may result in over 5000 crossings a day.
• Location: internal or external; covered or open entrance.
• Identify the likely nature and quality of soil, oil and moisture in the dirt to ensure the entrance system is effective in absorbing, drying and scraping it from shoes.
• Some functional requirements depend on location and use such as: fire resistance (BS 4790, EN 13501-1 ), thermal insulation, acoustic properties (BS EN 717), electrostatic propensity (ISO 6356, ASTM D149), dimensional stability (ISO 2551), ultra violet light resistance (ISO 105 B02), load resistance, impact resistance, slip resistance (DIN 51132), wear resistance, anti–bacterial properties. The standards quoted usually refer to a range of classes for each characteristic. It is important to ensure the properties quantified are suitable for the purpose and material.
• Accessibility, to meet the requirements of barrier-free design to BS 8300. Best practice would be to specify a detail with no change in level between threshold, entrance matting and internal flooring. Surfaces should be firm and slip resistant so no deep pile carpets or coir matting.
• Mats with backing should be specified where the underlying floor surface needs to be protected or acoustic performance is important.
• For heavy traffic, consider a system with zones of matting. Some makers recommend up to three zones with different areas of matting specified to remove soil, moisture and dust.
• Area available: the larger the better, ideally allow for six or more footfalls on the matting. Entrance flooring systems may be 6 - 10 metres in length for effective operation.
Maintenance
Regular maintenance is essential to ensure continued performance of entrance mats.
Typical maintenance regimes comprise:
• Daily vacuum cleaning, soil removal.
• Weekly water and detergent clean.
• Periodic extraction cleaning.
Specification options
| Entrance flooring systems | Capital cost £/kWp |
Net present value for 60 years £/kWp | Service life Years |
| Entrance matting | |||
| Decorative entrance mat: internal, light traffic. 100% nylon carpet with PVC backing. | 47 | 1,299 | 3 - 5 |
| Washable entrance mat: internal, moderate traffic. Polypropylene carpeting, Nitrile rubber backing. Depth 13mm. | 35 | 1,202 | 3 - 5 |
| Entrance mat: internal, heavy traffic. 100% PVC coiled or looped fibre. PVC backing. Depth 16mm. | 83 | 1,591 | 3 - 5 |
| Natural rubber matting with “scraper” surface: internal or external, moderate traffic. | 58 | 1,385 | 3 - 5 |
| Composite systems | |||
| PVC tile grid with textile insert. Internal or external use. Moderate traffic. 15mm thick. | 191 | 1,964 | 5 - 10 |
| Mill finished aluminium grid, vinyl connectors and backing, with polypropylene textile insert. Internal or external use. High traffic. 18mm thick. | 300 | 2,287 | 5 - 10 |
Table notes
• A discount rate of 3.5% is used to calculate net present values.
• Costs are based on entrance matting component only, no allowance has been made for mat wells or ramping.
• Costs include for replacement, cleaning and minor repairs.
• No assessment has been made of cost savings resulting from reduced cleaning requirements to other floor coverings
First published in Building 2006
Further information
BLP provides latent defect warranties for buildings www.blpinsurance.com
Further information contact peter.mayer@blpinsurance.com or telephone: 020 7204 2450