FAQs: Commonly asked questions about matting | Plastex

FAQs


Acts and regulations

What does ADA compliant mean?

ADA is short for the Americans with Disabilities Act, which became law in 1990. It prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life.

What are LEED requirements?

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. It provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognised symbol of sustainability achievement.

What is the BPR regulation?

BPR, or the Biocidal Products Regulation, aims to improve the functioning of the biocidal products market in the EU, while ensuring a high level of protection for humans and the environment. All biocidal products require an authorisation before they can be placed on the market, and the active substances contained in that biocidal product must be previously approved. For more information, visit the ECHA website.

What is REACH?

REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemical substances. The 2007 European Community REACH regulation gives manufacturers the responsibility of providing high level human and environmental protection from the use of chemicals in manufacturing. We do not use any substances currently included in the SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) list under REACH in any of our products.

Ancillaries

What type of ancillaries do I need?

Each product comes with different ancillaries. Visit the page of the product you're interested in and read the section called 'Ancillaries'. This has a list of all ancillaries available for each product.

Can Plastex matting be used loose laid?

Yes, lots of our matting can be laid directly on the existing surface. All of our slip resistant, barefoot and entrance matting, as well as matting for specialist use, can be used loose laid.

How many and what type of floor hooks do I need?

It depends on how big the area is you want to cover. Get in touch with us or ask your local distributor for advice.

How many and what type of clip connectors do I need per linear metre?

We recommend at least one clip connector per linear metre. If you're unsure, get in touch with us or ask your local distributor for advice.

When do I need to use a snap track?

You'll need to use a snap track if you're joining two mats of the same width together in a linear direction.

How do I fit a snap track?

All of our ancillaries come with fitting instructions, including for snap tracks. If you have any additional questions after reading the instructions, send us a message and we'll help you out.

What frames do I need for a recessed installation?

This depends on the existing recess and size of the entrance area. Your local distributor should supply you with the correct number of frames with your order, but if you're unsure, please get in touch with us.

What ramps do I need for a surface mounted installation?

We can supply either PVC or aluminium ramps, depending on the application. Ask your distributor when placing the order and they should be able to help you out. Otherwise, send us a message.

How to fix edging strips?

PVC edging strips are cold welded to the mat. Full instructions are included with every order, but if you're unsure, please get in touch with us.

What is cold welding?

Cold welding paste is a liquid welding paste that bonds two sections of PVC together.

Certification

How do you measure and certify wear resistance?

We use the ASTM D4060 test to measure the wear resistance of our matting. Testing to ASTM D4060 involves mounting a flat specimen to a turntable that rotates horizontally at a fixed speed. Two arms, each supporting an abrading wheel, are then lowered so that each wheel touches the surface.

Before starting the test, a “suction arm” is lowered between the wheels to remove the abraded material from the sample’s surface. The turntable then starts rotating, forcing rub-wear action of the wheels against the sample’s surface for the specified number of cycles, or until a given mass of coating has been lost, or until the wheels start exposing the substrate.

What is fire resistance, and what do the certifications mean?

Fire resistance is the measurement of the ability of a material or system to resist, and ideally prevent, the passage of fire from one distinct area to another. Reaction to fire is the measurement of how a material or system will contribute to the fire development and spread, particularly in the very early stages of a fire when evacuation is crucial. We put our matting through one or both of the following tests:

BS EN 13501-1:
This records parameters relating to the rate of fire growth, lateral flame spread, total heat release, level of smoke production and number of flaming droplets.

ASTM E648:
This tests the fire exposure behaviour of a floor-covering system installed in a building corridor. The test environment is intended to simulate conditions that have been observed and defined in full scale corridor experiments.

How do you measure and certify slip resistance?

Floor slip resistance testing is the science of measuring the coefficient of friction (or resistance to slip accidents) of flooring surfaces, either in a laboratory (before or after installation) or on floors in situ. We put our slip-resistance matting through all or some of the following tests:


DIN51130:
During this test, a ramp is covered with different flooring materials and tested at varying degrees by a person wearing a specified shoe with a rubber hardness of 96. The test is performed a number of times using dry floors, wet flooring and contaminated floor surfaces. The results are then averaged and an R rating designated.


DIN51097:
This is a German standard that tests the slip resistance of flooring in barefoot conditions using soapy water as a contaminant.


ASTM C1028:
Designed to measure static friction, this test is conducted using a metal plate with a Neolite rubber sensor. A 50-pound weight is placed on the plate and wet with de-ionized water. From there, the force necessary to just set it in motion (i.e. overcome the static friction) is measured. Dividing the static friction by the weight of the object determines the static coefficient of friction (SCOF).


Cleaning and maintenance

How do I clean Plastex matting?

If the matting has a specific cleaning regime, you can find this information by visiting the product page and reading the 'cleaning' section. If the product doesn't come with specific instructions, you can use a high pressure hose and brush, or vacuum or broom to get the mat looking good.

Installation and cutting

What should I use to cut Plastex matting?

Our open grid mats can be cut using secateurs.

How long does Frontrunner take to relax and flatten?

This depends on the environment and temperature that the matting is in. For this reason, we always recommend laying the matting flat at least 12 hours before use, ideally overnight. In cold temperatures, we recommend using a hot air gun to accelerate the process.

How do you install Crossgrip?

Crossgrip is loose-laid matting, so it doesn't require any fixing to the roof membrane.

How do you fix Flexi matting to the floor?

It depends on the type of Flexi matting and the surface you're installing it on. For the best advice, we recommend that you contact your local flooring contractor.

Under what weather conditions can Plastex matting be installed?

Our open grid matting can be installed in any weather, as it doesn't require any fixing.

How much matting do I need to order?

It depends on the size of the area you're looking to cover. For the best advice, ask your local distributor or send us a message.

Materials

What are the advantages of PVC matting?

There's many reasons why we choose PVC for our matting. It's strong, flexible and lightweight, making it easy to roll, lift and store when cleaning or not in use. It’s also incredibly durable, and is resistant to weathering, chemical rotting, corrosion, shock and abrasion. Non-porous, it’s naturally resistant to all kinds of liquids, including oils, acids and chemicals.


Is PVC UV resistant?

All of our PVC products are UV resistant. The red colour is not colourfast in direct sunlight, so it will fade over time – but it won't degrade.


Is vinyl energy efficient?

Yes! In fact, it's the most energy-efficient major plastic. This is because it's largely derived from salt – an abundant and inexpensive resource. Vinyl products consume less energy, generate fewer emissions and save more energy than many competitive products.


How durable is vinyl?

Very. It's strong, resistant to moisture and abrasion, and won't rot or corrode like many other materials. It can also be cleaned effectively with mild cleaning products.


Are Plastex matting products recyclable?

Yes! Our grid and tiling products made from PVC or TPO are 100% recyclable, with the exception of Frontrunner Brush, Frontrunner Brush Wide, Frontrunner Plus and Frontrunner SB+.


Ordering and delivery

Can you supply module sizes?

Many of our products are supplied in module sizes. You can check if a product comes in a module by visiting the product page and reading the section called 'sizes'. If the product you want doesn't comes in a module, send us a message and we'll do our best to help.

Can you supply matting in a non-standard colour?

We will always do our best to supply matting that best suits your needs. Send us a message with the product and colour you're after, and we'll be in touch.

Can you supply matting with fitted edges?

Many of our products can be fitted with edges, depending on size and practicality for shipping. Send us a message with your needs and we'll do our best to help.

Can you create a custom solution based on unique needs?

If we can't exactly meet your needs from our current range, we will design a mat specifically for you. Send us a message with your requirements and we'll be in touch.

Can you ship to my country?

Yes! We ship worldwide. Countries that have existing distributors will be serviced by the local distributor. Get in touch with us or your local distributor if you have any specific questions about shipping to your country.

Products

Which antimicrobial additives do you use, and what products are they in?

Steritouch additives are added to Heronrib, Floorline and Floorline Water Polo. They're added into the matting material at the point of manufacture, creating a robust antimicrobial solution that's permanent and effective.

How do SteriTouch antimicrobial additives work on Plastex matting products?

The active ingredient in SteriTouch is silver ions, which is non-migratory and cannot leach from the material, which ensures continuous and long lasting antimicrobial properties. Silver has been used for its antibacterial properties for thousands of years and uses several methods in order to enter the bacterial cell and break it down.

Any product being used in a wet environment is susceptible to the growth of bacteria, biofilm and mould, which can cause odours, staining and degradation. The addition of SteriTouch works continuously to prevent the growth of these microorganisms.

Independent laboratory testing has proven Heronrib, Floorline and Floorline Water Polo to be 99.9% effective against MRSA and E.Coli, and black mould.


Why do I need an entrance mat?

Slips, trips and falls are one of the most common causes of injuries. Entrance matting helps to prevent accidents by providing traction underfoot, as well as preventing dirt, debris and moisture being tracked around the building. This in turn protects your internal floor finishings and reduces cleaning costs, helping to keep your interiors looking better for longer.

Your entrance is also the first thing that clients, customers and visitors will see, so it pays to choose a quality entrance flooring system that not only keeps people safe, but also makes a fantastic first impression.


What matting should I use in my entranceway?

The matting you choose for your entranceway largely depends on two factors: whether you're looking for an internal or external mat (or both), and how much foot and wheel traffic you expect to have.

We have seven products in our Frontrunner range, all designed for different environments and needs. We have two products designed specifically to remove dirt and moisture from high traffic interior areas (Frontrunner Entry and Frontrunner Plus), and options for external areas where you need to protect against large debris and adverse weather (Frontrunner XT, Frontrunner Brush and Frontrunner Brush Wide).

And if you're looking for something low profile, our Frontrunner SB and Frontrunner SB+ matting comes with a solid back, meaning it can be adhered or loose laid without the need for a mat well.


How big should my entrance floor mat be?

In heavy-traffic areas, we recommend that entrance mats are installed from the entry point to the lifts or the reception area. The stride of an average person is 80cm (2'-6"), so if you have a 3m (10-foot) long entrance mat, shoes will only step on the mat four times.

Climate conditions (for example, are you in an area where snow, sand and/or dirt is present?) should also be taken into account. A supermarket or commercial building will require more matting than a medical office, for example.

If you're unsure, get in touch with your local distributor or send us a message.


Can Frontrunner be used in a revolving or circular entranceway?

Yes! All of our matting can be cut to fit a circular shape by using the 'L' frame to ensure a smooth transition.


What is the life expectancy of my entrance mat?

Life expectancy is hard to estimate, because it depends on the amount of foot traffic. Regular cleaning and maintenance also play a big part in the life expectancy of a mat. Our Frontrunner products all come with a warranty, which lasts for between two to five years, depending on the product. Visit our policies page for more information about warranties.


What temperature does your matting withstand?

Our PVC matting is functional from -23°C to +60°C ( -9°F to +140°F). Slight size variation may occur at temperature extremes.


How can anti-fatigue matting save you money?

The aches and pains of long term standing are often referred to Cumulative Standing Trauma (CST). This is excessive stress on the spine and back muscles due to stagnant body positions or poor distribution of body weight, which may cause pain and injury. Fatigue and pain caused by CST is often overlooked and workers all over of the world suffer the consequences on a daily basis.

Our anti-fatigue range helps to boost concentration, decrease risk of circulatory problems, improve productivity and decrease the risk of injury. The mats can be used in a wide range of environments, including work stations, assembly lines, machine shops, garages, retail, hospitality and static sensitive workplaces.


How does prolonged standing on concrete affect your body?

Standing for long periods of time on hard floor surfaces is not only incredibly uncomfortable, it can also cause considerable physical fatigue. Leg muscles become totally static and constricted as they work overtime to keep you in an upright position, and blood flow is greatly reduced causing pain and discomfort.


What type of matting is best for people standing on concrete?

Hard, cold surfaces like concrete can put enormous strain on the body. You need matting that combines a high density foam base with a slip-resistant surface, like Zed Land ESD, Zed Tred or Zed Chex.

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