MATTING: INVESTING IN A CLEANER BUILDING

For every pound of dirt that gets tracked into a building, experts say it costs approximately
$500 to remove it. Matting traps and prevents unwanted dirt, debris and contaminants from entering a building and doing damage. Floor and carpet maintenance can be dramatically
lowered with the implementation of an effective entryway matting system.

The optimum entrance matting system is broken down into three distinct parts.

1. Scraper mats. Scraper mats are used just outside of the entry.
2. Wiper/scraper mats. These mats clean shoe bottoms just inside the doorway, frequently they are built into the entrance way.
3. Wiper mats. Wiper mats are placed inside the facility; they remove any remaining moisture.

15 Foot Rule

Between 70-80% of all moisture, dirt and debris are brought into a facility on the bottom of one’s shoes. It has been recommended that at least 15 feet of matting is required to remove the majority of dirt and debris from foot traffic. Not every building can accommodate 15 feet of matting, however if your building has the space for 15 feet of matting this ensures that each foot will make contact with the matting at least 3 times providing adequate scraping and drying to stop most dirt and moisture at the entrance.

USGBC’s LEED 2009 Existing Building Operations and Maintenance green building rating system awards 1 point for a minimum of 10 feet of entrance way matting at every public entrance.

By Cass Contreras, LEED, A.P.
Clean Source, Inc.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Committee

It is the Mission of this committee to be a resource for the Members of BOMA for developing their the understanding and knowledge of Energy Efficiency and Sustainability and to support our members in applying that knowledge and understanding to Building Management and to partner with Regulatory Agencies.