Matting Guide 101

At Wearwell, we are experts in matting and flooring solutions. Below, we answer some of the frequently asked questions regarding mats, floors, runners, and how to choose the right product for you and your workforce:

First off, what isn’t a mat?

A typical mat may be made from one material, multiple materials, or multiple materials adhered together. However, a typical mat is NOT made to interlock with other mats. If you are looking at an interlocking mat, modular mat, or tiles that connect together, you are looking at anti-fatigue flooring or runners. So what’s the difference anyway, and which one is right for me?

So what’s the difference, anyway?

1. In the first photograph, you can see a workstation mat. You can tell this is a mat because it does not have any tabs around the edges to connect to another mat. This is a standalone product that is intended to provide relief at workstations where users are stationary for long periods of time.
2. In the second photograph, you can see interlocking (modular) flooring tiles. You can tell that these are interlocking floor tiles because the sides have tabs, allowing all 4 sides to connect to the next tile over. These tiles can connect in all 4 directions, making them perfect to cover a large area or an entire floor where users are performing their duties.
3. In the 3^rd photograph, you can see a runner. You can tell that this is a runner because it can only go forward or backwards. The tabs only allow this to be connected long ways. The purpose of these is to place matting in an area where people are constantly walking back and forth over a straight line. This particular product (Rejuvenator Runner 502) is also a great option for assembly lines.

How to know if you have the WRONG mat:

From a safety perspective, having the wrong mat can greatly increase the chances of a slip, trip, or fall. The most important step in preventing injuries is to make sure the mat, floor, or runner covers the entire footpath that the worker takes to perform their duty. In other words, if the worker must step off, and then back onto their mat during the course of their work, you have a safety hazard. If this is observed in your facility, you must consider one of two options for personnel safety:

Option 1: Purchase a large single mat to cover the entire footpath of the worker. Luckily, Wearwell specializes in creating custom mats in any shape or size. Just take a look:

While custom sized mats are the best solution for many companies, they come at a premium. Custom mats can end up costing more than to cover the entire area with an interlocking floor.

Option 2: Use interlocking floor tiles: Interlocking Floors are made of several tiles connected together. These anti-fatigue floor tiles come in standard sizes, such as 1x1 foot tiles, 1.5x1.5 foot tiles, and 3x3 foot tiles. Each tile is manufactured with anti-fatigue properties, but the tiles are not meant to be used as stand-alone mats. The tiles interlock with one another to allow anyone to create their own anti-fatigue floor, at a fraction of the price of a custom mat.

Previously Featured on Wearwell's blog.