Wet floors are unavoidable around swimming pools, changing rooms, showers and leisure facilities. What can be controlled is how safely people are able to move across those areas.
Water sitting on a smooth floor can quickly create slippery conditions, particularly in busy leisure environments where people may be walking barefoot. The right wet area matting provides a textured walking surface while allowing water to drain away rather than collecting directly underfoot.
Leisure Swimming Pool Matting is designed specifically for these environments. Made from flexible PVC with an open cross-ribbed lattice surface, it combines drainage, slip resistance and comfort in a practical mat suitable for swimming pools, changing rooms, showers and gyms.
At approximately 12mm high, with safety-bevelled edging supplied as standard, it provides a substantial wet area surface without becoming unnecessarily bulky. It is also easy to clean and resistant to many chemicals and alkalis commonly encountered in commercial environments.
Table of Contents
- What Is Leisure Swimming Pool Matting?
- Why Wet Area Floor Safety Matters
- How the Open Lattice Surface Works
- Why Drainage Is So Important
- Slip Resistance in Wet Environments
- Comfort for Barefoot Areas
- Why PVC Works Well Around Pools
- Safety-Bevelled Edges
- Mat Height, Sizes and Colours
- Where Can Leisure Swimming Pool Matting Be Used?
- Swimming Pool Areas
- Changing Rooms
- Communal Showers
- Gyms and Leisure Centres
- Chemical and UV Resistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Product Showcase
- Who Should Choose Leisure Swimming Pool Matting?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Leisure Swimming Pool Matting?
Leisure Swimming Pool Matting is a flexible PVC wet area mat designed to create a safer walking surface in places where water is frequently present.
Unlike a solid floor mat, the surface uses an open cross-ribbed lattice construction. This allows water to move through the mat instead of remaining directly underneath people walking across it.
The design makes it particularly suitable for leisure facilities where people may be barefoot and where the flooring is regularly exposed to water.
Purpose-Built for Wet Environments
This is not simply a general entrance mat being used near a swimming pool. Leisure Swimming Pool Matting is designed specifically for wet areas including pools, changing rooms and showers.
Flexible PVC Construction
The PVC construction gives the mat flexibility while still providing the durability required for regular use in busy leisure environments.
Open Surface Design
The open design allows water to drain through the matting rather than remaining on the walking surface.
12mm Product Height
At approximately 12mm high, the mat creates separation between the user's feet and the wet floor underneath.
Why Wet Area Floor Safety Matters
Swimming pools and changing facilities present a different flooring challenge from most commercial environments. Water is constantly introduced onto the floor by swimmers, showers, wet towels and cleaning.
This means simply trying to keep the floor completely dry is rarely realistic. Instead, facilities need flooring solutions that are designed to continue performing when water is present.
Bare Feet Have Different Grip Requirements
People walking barefoot do not have the tread provided by normal footwear. This makes the walking surface particularly important around swimming pools and changing areas.
Water Can Spread Quickly
A small amount of water can be spread across a large area through wet feet and regular foot traffic. Wet area matting helps provide a dedicated walking surface above the floor.
Busy Facilities Need Consistent Protection
In a public swimming pool or leisure centre, hundreds of people may move through the same wet areas every day. Matting therefore needs to provide consistent grip and drainage rather than only performing when completely dry.
Safety and Comfort Work Together
A successful wet area surface should not only provide grip. It should also feel comfortable enough for people to walk across barefoot.
How the Open Lattice Surface Works
The defining feature of Leisure Swimming Pool Matting is its cross-ribbed lattice surface. Instead of creating one solid layer between the user and the floor, the mat contains open spaces throughout the surface.
This design serves several purposes at the same time.
Water Can Pass Through
The open structure allows water to move through the mat rather than collecting across the walking surface.
Feet Remain Above Standing Water
The raised construction helps separate bare feet from much of the water flowing underneath the mat.
The Surface Provides Texture
The ribbed lattice creates a textured contact surface which helps improve grip compared with a smooth wet floor.
Cleaning Water Can Drain Away
When the area is washed or pressure cleaned, water can move through the open structure instead of being trapped on top.
Why Drainage Is So Important
Drainage is one of the most important features of any matting used around a swimming pool or shower area.
A solid mat may provide cushioning or grip, but if water remains trapped on its surface it can quickly become uncomfortable and difficult to maintain.
Reduces Surface Water Build-Up
The open lattice structure allows water to drain through continuously, helping prevent significant pooling on the walking surface.
Useful Around Pool Edges
People leaving a swimming pool carry large amounts of water with them. A drainage mat can help manage this water as people move from the pool towards changing or shower areas.
Useful in Shower Areas
Water is constantly present around communal showers, making drainage particularly important in these areas.
Supports Easier Cleaning
Open matting is practical during cleaning because water and cleaning solution can move through the surface instead of remaining trapped above it.
Slip Resistance in Wet Environments
Wet area matting needs to offer grip even when the surrounding floor is exposed to water. Leisure Swimming Pool Matting has been slip tested and is designed to help reduce slipping in wet areas.
The textured cross-ribbed lattice provides more surface texture underfoot than smooth tiles commonly found in changing or pool facilities.
Designed for Wet Foot Traffic
The mat is particularly suitable for spaces where people regularly walk across the area with wet feet.
Textured Contact Surface
The lattice pattern increases surface texture, helping feet maintain contact with the mat.
Water Moves Away from the Surface
Drainage works alongside the textured surface. Rather than allowing a layer of water to remain across the whole mat, much of it can pass through the openings.
Suitable for Busy Leisure Facilities
The combination of drainage and grip makes this type of mat useful in leisure centres, public pools and other facilities with frequent wet foot traffic.
Comfort for Barefoot Areas
Safety is essential around pools, but comfort also matters. People are often barefoot in these environments and may be walking across the area for several minutes at a time.
The flexible PVC construction of Leisure Swimming Pool Matting creates a more forgiving walking surface than many hard tiles or concrete floors.
Softer Than Hard Flooring
The flexible construction gives users a less rigid surface underfoot than traditional tiles.
Separates Feet from the Floor
At approximately 12mm high, the mat raises the walking surface away from the wet floor underneath.
Suitable for Children and Adults
A comfortable wet area surface is useful in facilities used by a wide range of visitors, including children, families and older users.
Useful in Longer Walking Areas
The mat can be particularly helpful where users need to walk between pools, showers and changing facilities.
Why PVC Works Well Around Pools
Leisure Swimming Pool Matting is made from PVC, a practical material for areas regularly exposed to moisture.
PVC does not absorb water in the same way as textile-based matting, making it well suited to swimming pools and changing facilities.
Water-Resistant Material
The PVC construction is suitable for environments where the mat is frequently wet.
Flexible Construction
The material remains flexible, which helps create a more comfortable walking surface.
Easy to Wash
PVC can be cleaned using hot soapy water or a pressure washer, making maintenance straightforward.
Suitable for Commercial Use
The matting is designed to handle regular use in commercial and leisure environments where cleaning and water exposure are part of daily operation.
Safety-Bevelled Edges
One useful feature of Leisure Swimming Pool Matting is that safety-bevelled edging is supplied as standard.
A raised mat can otherwise create an abrupt step between the surrounding floor and the matting surface. Bevelled edging creates a more gradual transition.
Helps Reduce Trip Risks
The sloped edge helps reduce the sudden change in height when stepping onto or off the mat.
Creates a Cleaner Finish
Bevelled edging gives the mat a more finished appearance than exposed square-cut edges.
Useful in Public Areas
This is particularly useful in public swimming pools and leisure centres where many different people use the facility every day.
Part of the Standard Mat
The safety edging is included as a standard feature rather than being something that needs to be added separately.
Mat Height, Sizes and Colours
Leisure Swimming Pool Matting is available in two practical standard sizes. This makes it suitable for targeted wet areas rather than requiring an entire pool surround to be covered.
Available Sizes
- 60cm x 120cm
- 100cm x 150cm
Product Height
The matting is approximately 12mm high.
Colour Options
The product is available in multiple colour choices, allowing the matting to suit different leisure facility interiors.
Choosing the Correct Size
The best size depends on where water is most likely to collect and the direction people naturally walk through the area.
For example, a mat positioned outside a shower should cover the main stepping zone, while poolside matting should cover the route people naturally take when entering or leaving the water.
Where Can Leisure Swimming Pool Matting Be Used?
Although the product name focuses on swimming pools, Leisure Swimming Pool Matting can be used in several different wet environments.
Any area where water regularly reaches the floor and where people need a more secure walking surface may benefit from specialist wet area matting.
Suitable Applications Include:
- Swimming pools
- Changing rooms
- Communal showers
- Leisure centres
- Gym changing facilities
- Health clubs
- Spa changing areas
- Wet corridors between pool and changing facilities
Swimming Pool Areas
Swimming pools are the most obvious application for this matting. Pool surrounds are repeatedly exposed to water, making effective drainage and grip particularly important.
Pool Entry and Exit Points
Areas near ladders, steps and pool exits often receive large amounts of water as swimmers leave the pool.
Routes to Changing Rooms
Matting can be positioned along key walking routes where swimmers move from the pool towards showers or changing areas.
Children's Pool Areas
Family swimming facilities often have particularly active wet areas. A textured matting surface can provide additional reassurance in heavily used spaces.
Swimming Lesson Facilities
Facilities running regular lessons often experience concentrated foot traffic at pool entry points, making dedicated matting useful.
Changing Rooms
Changing rooms may not contain a swimming pool directly, but they often remain wet throughout the day because swimmers walk in with wet feet and clothing.
Bench Areas
Matting positioned around changing benches can provide a more comfortable and textured surface for users standing barefoot.
Locker Areas
Water can easily spread around lockers as people move through the changing room after swimming or showering.
Routes to Showers
Installing wet area matting along commonly used walking routes can help create a consistent surface between changing and shower areas.
Busy Public Changing Rooms
Commercial leisure centres, schools and public pools can benefit from matting that is designed for regular cleaning and heavy usage.
Communal Showers
Communal shower areas are permanently exposed to water during operating hours. This makes them one of the environments where specialist wet area matting can be particularly valuable.
Continuous Drainage
The open surface allows shower water to pass through the mat instead of collecting directly around users' feet.
Comfort Under Bare Feet
The flexible PVC provides a more comfortable walking surface than many hard shower floors.
Easy Routine Cleaning
The mat can be washed using hot soapy water or a pressure washer as part of the facility's regular cleaning routine.
Transition Areas
Matting can also be useful directly outside shower zones where people step from extremely wet areas into changing facilities.
Gyms and Leisure Centres
Leisure Swimming Pool Matting can also be useful in gyms and leisure centres where wet changing and shower areas form part of the facility.
Gym Changing Rooms
Users moving between showers, lockers and changing benches can carry water across the floor.
Health Club Facilities
Health clubs often combine gym areas with pools, saunas, showers and changing spaces, creating several locations where wet area matting may be appropriate.
Sports Centres
Multi-purpose sports centres may experience large groups moving through shower and changing facilities at the same time.
School Leisure Facilities
Schools with swimming pools or sports changing facilities can use wet area matting to provide a more practical walking surface around frequently wet areas.
Chemical and UV Resistance
Swimming pool environments often use cleaning products and pool treatment chemicals, so matting needs to cope with more than water alone.
Resistance to Many Chemicals
The PVC material is resistant to many chemicals, alkalis and general industrial chemicals.
Suitable for Regular Cleaning
This makes the mat practical for facilities where routine cleaning and sanitising form part of daily operations.
UV Resistant
The matting is UV resistant, helping it cope with areas exposed to natural light.
Important Colour Note
The red colour option is not colourfast when exposed to direct sunlight, so this should be considered if the mat will be positioned in an area receiving strong sunlight.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Wet area matting should be cleaned regularly. Water can carry body oils, soap, dirt and other contaminants onto the mat, particularly in busy public facilities.
Routine Cleaning
Use hot soapy water to clean the matting regularly and remove general dirt and residue.
Pressure Washing
For deeper cleaning, the mat can be pressure washed.
Clean the Floor Underneath
Because water and debris pass through the open structure, the floor underneath the mat should also be cleaned regularly.
Lift the Mat When Required
Move or lift the mat periodically so the floor underneath can be thoroughly cleaned and inspected.
Rinse Cleaning Products Away
After using soap or cleaning chemicals, rinse the mat thoroughly so residue does not remain on the walking surface.
Allow the Area to Drain
Make sure surrounding drains remain clear so water flowing through the mat can move away effectively.
Product Showcase
Leisure Swimming Pool Matting provides a purpose-built solution for facilities that need drainage, slip resistance and barefoot comfort in regularly wet environments.
Who Should Choose Leisure Swimming Pool Matting?
Leisure Swimming Pool Matting is best suited to facilities where water on the floor is a regular part of the environment rather than an occasional spill.
Choose Leisure Swimming Pool Matting If:
- You need matting for a swimming pool or leisure facility.
- You need a safer walking surface in a regularly wet area.
- You want an open surface that allows water to drain through.
- You need matting suitable for barefoot use.
- You want flexible PVC wet area matting.
- You need a product with safety-bevelled edging as standard.
- You need matting for changing rooms or shower areas.
- You want a 12mm raised surface above the wet floor.
- You need a mat that is easy to wash or pressure clean.
- You need resistance to many chemicals and alkalis.
- You want UV-resistant wet area matting.
- You need matting for gyms, sports centres or health clubs.
When Another Type of Mat May Be Better
If the main problem is grease or oil rather than water, an industrial nitrile rubber drainage mat may be more appropriate. Likewise, if workers stand in one position for long periods, an anti-fatigue mat may offer more specialised standing support.
Leisure Swimming Pool Matting is specifically designed around the needs of wet leisure and barefoot environments.
