Best Welding Mats–6 Things to Consider

Spark-resistant mats are an important component of welding safety and ergonomics. Spark- and heat-resistant mats are used interchangeably and a heat-resistant mat (or welding mat) would be used in any environment that sees sparks, hot shards, or small ignitions in industrial, commercial, or home welding activities.

Here are 6 things to remember when choosing a welding mat:

1. Welding Mats Now Offer Ergonomic, Anti-Fatigue Properties

Welding mats, heavy spark-resistant mats, and fireproof mats have increased in quality in recent years and now offer top class anti-fatigue and ergonomic support for welders. A quality mat with heavy spark resistance should easily last 3-5 years, provide heat, spark, and fire resistance, and reduce stress on the joints of welders, workers, or team members. Choosing a welding matting solution should check all of those boxes to provide the optimal anti-fatigue and safety environment in your welding experience.

2. The Best Welding Mats Should Decrease Absenteeism

Often companies will use a weld mat to protect the floor, but quality weld matting will protect the floor while providing much needed fatigue relief for welding workers. A welding floor mat can be the difference between feeling good or feeling fatigued and tight at the end of a shift. In this way, spark-resistant floor mats (or high heat mats) help to save companies money. Employees who are too sore simply cannot work as efficiently as workers who feel refreshed. Not only will a quality WeldSafe® mat increase worker productivity, it can significantly decrease absenteeism when compared to non-welding matting.

3. The Best Welding Mats Should Prevent Fires

Preventing fires in these welding areas are key. While welding workstations are usually set up to avoid fires, a fireproof mat (or heat-resistant floor mat) will also provide a safe space for sparks to dissipate. In this way, fireproof matting is a both a safety product and an ergonomic product.

4. The Best Welding Mats Should Resist Hot Metal Shards

Metal cutting operations might refer to it as a welding safety mat, metal shard mat, or a cutting metal mat. No matter what you call it, a spark-resistant mat will benefit a worker and company at the same time. A proper welding mat will prevent hot metal shards from damaging the floor or other operations. This makes the area safer and cleaner. Rubber welding matting is a win-win for any company or team.

5. Some Welding Mats Just Protect the Floor

Sometimes you do not need the ergonomics, but you still need to protect the floor. For this, there is a non-melting mat called a welding runner. This is another type of 500 degree ignition mat, but it is meant mostly for protecting floors and does not help the worker with fatigue relief.

6. Choosing the Best Welding Mat

When purchasing a welding safety mat, be sure to consider all of your options. Do you need a large, custom-size welding mat? Do you like a diamond-plate welding mat, or a traditional welding mat? Does it need premium ergonomics? These will make your decision much easier. If you have further questions on welding mats, you can always reach out to a matting expert for some guidance.

Previously Featured on Wearwell's blog.