Buyer's Guide: How to Choose the
Best Anti-Fatigue Mat

Some industries involve tasks that require employees to stand in the same spot for long periods of time, which can take a physical toll. Anti-Fatigue Mats are ergonomically designed to mitigate this stationary impact by alleviating foot pressure and reducing the strain on the body. 

If you’ve decided that an anti-fatigue mat is the right fit for your workplace, how do you select the specific anti-fatigue mat that will suit your needs?

There are, basically, two main factors to consider when looking for the right anti-fatigue mat: where the mat will be used and how much usage the mat will get. These two factors will determine the specifications that your mat will need to have—things like materials, thickness or potential customization. 

Whatever your workplace needs, NoTrax has just the right anti-fatigue mat for you. Our mats go through rigorous product testing, are competitively priced and the majority are made in the USA.

Where the Mat will be Used

The first factor to consider when looking for the anti-fatigue mat that will suit your workplace needs is where the mat will be used. NoTrax Mats are designed to function well in any setting. 

Many of our mats incorporate REDSTOP™ technology which virtually eliminates all mat sliding on dry floors and MICROSTOP™ which inhibits the growth of microorganisms on the mats. They are certified by the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) which independently tests and certifies our products.

Nevertheless, there are mats that are specifically designed to meet the workplace needs of certain industries. Each industry has a work environment that is unique. 

Some businesses, like manufacturing facilities and fulfillment centers, require more physical labor than others. To prevent injuries and pain, it’s a good idea to provide anti-fatigue mats for employees’ individual workstations and/or the assembly line. Determining the type of environment in which your anti-fatigue mat will live is an important step in the buying process.

NoTrax has anti-fatigue mats for many work environments. The most common of which are:

This is the most common type of work environment. Dry areas can be anything from an office space with a standing desk, a retail-type business where employees stand and interact with patrons for long periods of time or even a barbershop or salon. These are environments where workers stand in a stationary position but with relatively low potential for spills or slips

This is any business or workspace that frequently uses liquids and has a high potential for wet work areas. A good example of this area would be a locker room. Employees can be expected to stand for long periods in areas that might be wet.

Greasy areas are workplace environments that typically deal with food. The cooking or food preparation process can lead to food-related oils or grease on the floor. Not only are these substances likely to cause slips and falls, but they can also damage a floor mat that isn’t designed to be in that environment.

Non-food-related oils would involve any industry that frequently uses oils, like a machine shop or auto repair. In this environment, an anti-fatigue drainage mat should be selected that is specifically meant to interact with nonfood oils.

If your workplace tends to have a lot of industrial chemicals, like manufacturing facilities for example, then you’ll want to consider a mat that can withstand the corroding effect these chemicals can have in the event of a spill.

Sometimes certain industries will use flames or high heat in their work areas. In this case, it’s a good idea to get a mat that’s designed to withstand the potential of flying sparks or flames.

Not all workspaces have the same amount of foot traffic. The second factor to consider when looking for the right anti-fatigue mat is how much daily wear and tear your mat will be exposed to. 

However, there are still levels of workspace traffic that can affect the durability of a mat, and each level has products specifically designed to withstand that traffic.

• Light Traffic. Light traffic mats are meant to provide ergonomic relief to individual workers who spend long periods of time in one spot. Light traffic mats are best for indoor use and may need to be replaced more often than medium or heavy traffic mats.
• Medium Traffic. Medium traffic mats are designed to withstand more weight and wear and tear than light traffic mats. If multiple people will be working on the same mat, people will be walking continuously on the mats or light equipment like carts will be on the mats, then consider a medium traffic mat. Suited for both indoor and outdoor use depending on the application. 
• Heavy Traffic. Heavy traffic mats are rated for the most weight and the most wear and tear. If your industry involves lots of employees coming and going or heavy equipment that will be rolled over, set on or potentially dropped on the mats, then a heavy traffic mat may be right for you. Considered the best value, heavy traffic mats need to be replaced less frequently than other mat types.

Custom Mats

Some work areas may be bigger or involve angles/spaces that can’t be accommodated by stock matting. Fortunately, NoTrax offers a full range of products with features that can help you navigate your unique working environment. These options include:

• Stock Sizes. Before turning to custom options, we have a wide variety of stock sizing which are standard, prefabricated mat sizes.
• Custom Length. NoTrax can manufacture a mat or roll to fit your measurement specifications. If the size you need isn’t in our stock sizing, then we can cut a mat to the length you need.
• Tiles. Our interlocking mat tiles can be arranged in just the shape you need them to be. They’re a great way to configure mat arrangements for unique workspaces.  

Understanding the Specifics (Glossary)

Some of the descriptions of our products can be difficult to navigate because they’re industry-specific. Here’s a glossary to help you understand the jargon and find the mat that’s just right for you.

Materials

• Rubber. General-purpose rubber is a solid piece of durable and slip-resistant material.
• Nitrile Rubber. A synthetic rubber engineered to provide stability in work areas that involve oil, grease, animal fat and chemicals.
• Vinyl. A synthetic plastic that’s perfect for dry applications. It helps prevent floor damage and breakage in addition to providing support for employees.
• Polyurethane. A polymer that adds stability to mats for work environments and provides extra protection against rips and tears.

Patterns

• Diamond. Our most popular pattern, diamond plating is often seen in industrial products. Provides a lot of traction.
• Pebble. A slightly granular texture that provides a gripping, stable workspace.
• Smooth. The untextured surface that isn’t glossed, raised, or uneven. This is the easiest pattern to keep clean.
• Bubble/Domed. Dome-like bubbles spread evenly across the mat for increased grip and ergonomic relief.