Matting standard helps cut down slip, trip and fall hazard at facilities

A floor matting standard from the American National Standards Institute and National Floor Safety Institute provides guidance on floor mat selection, installation, and care and maintenance.

By Healthcare Facilities Today


A floor matting standard from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) provides guidance on floor mat selection, installation, and care and maintenance. ANSI/NFSI B101.6-2012, Standard Guide for Commercial Entrance Matting in Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls, was created to address the fact of increasing slip, trip and fall accidents caused by mats in commercial facilities, according to an article in Housekeeping Solutions.

In addition to codifying matting terms — such as buckling — the standard address particular safety considerations. For example, the mat backing's coefficient of friction is called out as a primary way to reduce mat migration, a leading cause of injury, according to the article. Floor mat manufacturers can apply for "high-traction" certification for their products.

Mat type and placement are also specified by the standard. Wiper mats should always follow after scraper mats, for instance. If there is no scraper mat outdoors, the mat in the vestibule should be scraper, or wiper-scraper.

Facility managers should first ascertain that the floor is suitable for matting. And inappropriate match between the flooring and mat can lead to "surfboarding" across a wet floor, leading to increased occupant risk.

A minimum of six steps on a mat is required to remove 90 percent of the dirt from shoes, so if matting is to help maintain facility cleanliness a minimum of 18 feet of mats at entrances is needed.

For more information on the matting standard, read the article.



June 3, 2013


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Fire at Assisted Living Facility Kills 9, Injures 30

Half of the building’s residents were evacuated through small windows.


North Carolina Children's Health Selects Apex for Campus Location

The groundbreaking is anticipated to happen in 2027.


Designing for Access: Addressing Pharmacy Deserts with Flexible Solutions

Design is an increasingly important consideration for closing the gap in pharmaceutical access.


Baylor Scott & White Health Set to Open New Texas Medical Center 

The new 40-acre campus will offer communal green spaces, more than two miles of trails, health and wellness events and activities for everyone to enjoy.


The Future of Backup Power Systems in Healthcare Facilities

Manufacturers discuss what trends are shaping the future of backup power systems in healthcare.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.