The Ultimate Guide to Ice and Snow Mats: Protect Your Building This Winter
During the cold winter months, ice and snow can quickly become a hazard at building entrances, making floors slippery and dangerous. As businesses strive to maintain a safe environment for employees, customers, and visitors, investing in high-quality Ice and Snow Mats is a crucial step toward preventing accidents and maintaining cleanliness.
Many businesses use sand and grit outside their premises to reduce the risk of slip-and-fall accidents on pathways, car parks, and outdoor areas. However, this solution often creates another problem—sand and grit are tracked inside, causing potential damage to flooring and carpets. This is where Ice and Snow Mats come in as an effective and essential solution.
The Importance of Ice and Snow Mats
Ice and snow mats serve a dual purpose: they help prevent slippage and protect indoor flooring from the debris and moisture brought in by foot traffic. By implementing an efficient matting system, you can ensure safety while also reducing cleaning and maintenance costs.
The best way to keep snow, ice, slush, dirt, sand, and grit from entering your building is to use a three-mat entrance system. This system involves placing different types of mats at strategic locations to effectively capture moisture and debris before they spread indoors.
1. Outdoor Entrance Mats: The First Line of Defence
Matting placed outside during winter months must be designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. Some materials, such as vinyl or PVC, can become brittle and crack in low temperatures, leading to deterioration and potential trip hazards. When selecting outdoor entrance mats for Ice and Snow Mats, consider the following:
Key Features of Effective Outdoor Mats:
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Weather-Resistant Material: Choose mats made from durable materials such as nitrile rubber, which can endure harsh winter conditions without cracking or becoming brittle.
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Drainage Holes: Mats with drainage holes allow snow and slush to pass through, preventing accumulation on the mat’s surface.
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Scraping Ability: A textured surface or raised pattern helps to scrape off ice, snow, and dirt from footwear before entry.
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Non-Slip Backing: Mats should stay securely in place even in wet and icy conditions to prevent further slipping hazards.
Placing a high-quality outdoor entrance mat at every entry point significantly reduces the amount of moisture and debris brought inside.
Read more about weather resistant mats here.
Secondly, you should choose an outdoor mat that has drainage holes. This will mean that snow and slush will fall through the holes in the mat, away from the standing surface. Otherwise, you will run the risk of the snow settling and freezing on the mat, making the surface slippery underfoot.
2. Indoor Entrance Mats: Controlling Moisture and Dirt
Once inside, an indoor entrance mat plays a critical role in capturing remaining debris and absorbing moisture from footwear. Without an efficient indoor mat, snow and ice can quickly melt onto floors, creating hazardous slippery surfaces.
Essential Qualities of Indoor Entrance Mats for Ice and Snow:
- Bi-Level Design: These mats feature an upper level that scrapes footwear and a lower level that traps dirt and moisture.
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Water Dam Feature: A water dam prevents melted snow and slush from spreading beyond the mat, containing excess moisture until it can be cleaned.
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Absorbent Fibres: Mats with high absorbency ensure that water and slush are effectively retained, reducing the risk of tracking.
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Heavy-Duty Material: Strong, commercial-grade materials ensure durability in high foot traffic areas.
For businesses experiencing high footfall, investing in Ice and Snow Mats with these features is essential for maintaining safety and cleanliness.
Read more about what your entrance mat should do here.
Interior Finishing Mat
3. Interior Finishing Mats: The Final Protection
- In cases of heavy snowfall and persistent wet conditions, an interior finishing mat provides an additional layer of protection. Placed further inside the building, these mats help to complete the drying process and remove finer particles of salt, sand, or grit that may still be attached to footwear.
Benefits of Interior Finishing Mats:
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Further reduces tracking of dirt and moisture
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Enhances safety by keeping interior floors dry
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Adds an extra level of floor protection
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Complements the first two mats for a complete defence system
The Benefits of Investing in Ice and Snow Mats
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Enhances Safety: Prevents slip and fall accidents caused by wet and icy surfaces.
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Protects Floors: Reduces damage to flooring caused by sand, grit, and moisture.
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Minimises Cleaning Costs: Captures dirt and moisture at the entrance, decreasing the need for frequent cleaning.
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Improves Aesthetic Appeal: A well-maintained entrance creates a positive first impression for visitors and customers.
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Meets Health and Safety Regulations: Many businesses are required to comply with safety standards, and having effective matting can contribute to meeting these requirements.
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Choosing the Right Ice and Snow Mats for Your Business
To select the best Ice and Snow Mats for your facility, consider factors such as:
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Foot Traffic Volume: High-traffic areas require heavy-duty mats for durability.
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Weather Conditions: Locations with extreme winter conditions need mats designed for snow and ice resistance.
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Flooring Type: Different floor surfaces may require specific mat backings for optimal grip.
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Customisation Needs: Some businesses may benefit from branded logo mats that combine safety with branding.
Explore Our Range of Ice and Snow Mats
If you’re looking for reliable, high-quality Ice and Snow Mats, browse our collection of Waterhog Mats. Waterhog mats are specifically designed to handle heavy moisture, dirt, and debris, making them an excellent choice for winter entrance matting. With superior water retention, high durability, and a range of design options, Waterhog mats are a great investment for any business looking to enhance safety and cleanliness during the winter months.
Need Expert Advice?
If you’re unsure about the best Ice and Snow Mats for your facility, our team of experts is here to help. Contact us at 0121 313 6748 or use our Live Chat facility during UK office hours for professional guidance.
By implementing a high-quality entrance matting system, you can protect your employees, customers, and floors from the harsh effects of winter. Don’t wait until accidents happen—invest in the best Ice and Snow Mats today and keep your premises safe and clean throughout the season.
