Areas in a School That Would Benefit from Floor Mats

Shop By School Area

Even though schools can vary in size, layout and design, they typically share the same basic areas. All schools tend to have an entrance area, classrooms, cafeteria etc. Schools are also highly trafficked areas where students, teachers, and administrators constantly move from place to place.

As many schools across the country look to reopen their on-site activities, there has never been a better time to assess whether your school or school district uses proper matting. Mats can be deployed in many areas of a school to minimize injury and help facilitate operations. NoTrax is the industry leader in matting solutions for commercial, public and industrial buildings. Mats from NoTrax can help make your school safer for students and personnel.

Find the Right Mat for the Right Place

Choosing the right mat for the right place can maximize a mat’s efficacy and lifespan. To effectively trap dirt and debris before it can enter your building, it is best to follow the 15 ft rule. The 15 ft rule says that each shoe will meet with a mat at least three times before encountering the floor of the building.

The 15 ft of matting can be either a single, continuous mat or—for a better result—a series of three mats can be used. Here is a breakdown of the most common areas of a school and a description of the mats that are best suited to those areas.

Exterior entrance mats are ideal for the front entrance area of a school. These durable mats are often constructed with rigid bristles that begin the scrapping process by dislodging dirt or debris from the bottoms of shoes.

Exterior mats from NoTrax are designed to withstand a wide range of weather conditions and temperature fluctuations. These mats will help to minimize slips and falls by providing traction for students and visitors. Exterior mats can also help keep moisture out of lobbies and interior entrance areas by absorbing water before entering a building.

For lobbies or other interior entrance areas, interior entrance mats are the ideal solution. These mats are designed to continue the scrapping and drying process begun by exterior mats in order to prevent slips and falls. There are a wide range of interior entrance mats available with various themes and functional applications.

Interior entrance mats with moisture absorbing capabilities will help prevent water from being tracked inside, which, in turn, will lead to a reduction in injuries resulting from slips and falls. These mats are also designed to help keep lobbies and other entrance areas clean by trapping dirt and debris.

NoTrax offers a variety of mats designed for offices. Floor protection matting helps to prevent floors from being damaged by office chairs. These mats allow for freedom of movement while simultaneously protecting floors.

Anti-fatigue matting is also ideal for office areas where staff or teachers are required to stand for long periods of time. These mats provide a comfortable working area that will help to reduce strain on backs and knees.

In a school facility, the nurse’s office is typically located somewhere near the main office. A smaller entrance mat leading into these areas will offer students and staff traction. Mats with antimicrobial properties are also well suited to these areas since they are designed to absorb contaminants from the bottoms of shoes.

Restrooms and hallways can often become slippery because of standing water or other liquids. The tile flooring that is typically used in these parts of a school can make restrooms and hallways particularly dangerous. Anti-slip matting at the entrance of a restroom will help reduce slips and falls for students and staff.

For hallway areas, runner mats can be custom designed to cover nearly any length. These mats are helpful for absorbing moisture and other debris that can accumulate over the course of a school day. Runner mats and entrance mats in a hallway area can also prevent liquid from rain or spills from causing slips and falls.

Libraries are large areas in a school facility and can sometimes even be multiple stories. The entrances and exits of a school library often lead directly outside. Because of this, it is important to place entrance mats in these areas that will prevent moisture and debris from being tracked in.

Runner mats and hallway mats with custom lengths are also ideal for libraries. These mats can be placed between rows of books to offer support and traction for students as they browse book titles.

Side and rear exits are usually smaller entryways than the main entrance of a school. However, it is just as necessary to place debris-trapping mats in these areas. By implementing entrance matting inside and rear entrances, you can help ensure that the common areas of your school’s facility are protected from moisture and debris accumulation.

Science labs typically feature a noticeably different layout than other traditional classrooms. During experiments or activities, the chemicals used in these classrooms can become a slipping hazard if spilled onto the tile floor.

By placing anti-slip mats along the aisles of a science lab, you can help protect students and staff from slips and falls resulting from spilled liquids. Antimicrobial entrance mats can also help prevent contaminants from being tracked into other parts of the school.

Storage or loading-dock areas are common in school facilities. These areas are often located near the cafeteria so that perishables can be quickly unloaded into the cooler or freezer.

The flooring in a storage or loading area is usually tile or polished concrete, which can become slippery when water or other liquids are tracked in. An anti-slip entrance mat designed to absorb moisture and offer traction would serve to protect personnel as they retrieve products or unload items.

The custodial room in a school facility is used to store chemicals or other cleaning agents. Spilled liquids resulting from cleaning or mopping can easily occur in these areas. An anti-slip entrance mat should be placed at the entrance and exit of a custodial or boiler room to prevent slips and falls and to prevent moisture from accumulating or spreading to other areas.

Students and staff often use school water fountains in passing times. Because they are so frequently trafficked, these areas can quickly become slippery due to spills or leaks. An anti-slip mat in water-fountain areas will protect students from slipping by providing a stable walking area that offers maximum traction.

Water or perspiration on a gym floor poses a potential slipping hazard for students and staff. Because gym floors are high-traffic areas, it’s essential to provide an entrance mat that will reduce the likelihood of slips and falls. Anti-slip entrance mats with anti-slip capabilities will help to protect foot-traffickers in school gymnasiums.

For weight rooms or other smaller exercise facilities, there are a number of mats designed to offer traction and comfort in these areas. An anti-fatigue mat helps to reduce strain and the body, especially when engaging in strenuous exercises such as weight lifting. Perspiration and other liquids on the floors of these areas can also be a hazard for students and staff. Anti-slip mats at the entrance and exit of a weight room will help prevent slips and falls.

Locker rooms or changing areas can often become slippery due to showers and bathrooms. An anti-slip mat that provides traction for students and personnel is ideal for reducing the likelihood of slips and falls. For pool areas, an anti-slip mat at the entrance and exit of the pool facility would ensure that water is not tracked into other parts of the school.

Area mats that offer traction, floor protection and an aesthetic appeal are ideal for classrooms. These multi-function mats can incorporate a variety of beneficial design features that will protect students and staff.

There are a variety of mats that could be deployed in a computer lab. For standing desks or staff work areas, anti-fatigue mats can provide a comfortable platform that will reduce the strain on the body for students and staff who are required to stand for long periods of time. Floor protection matting for rolling chairs will also help to protect floors from being scratched or damaged by chairs.

There are a variety of mats that could be deployed in a computer lab. For standing desks or staff work areas, anti-fatigue mats can provide a comfortable platform that will reduce the strain on the body for students and staff who are required to stand for long periods of time. Floor protection matting for rolling chairs will also help to protect floors from being scratched or damaged by chairs.

The aisle of an auditorium is the perfect place for a mat that provides both traction and an aesthetic appeal. These mats are available in custom lengths that can be fitted to virtually any auditorium or performing arts center.

NoTrax offers a wide range of mats designed for schools, libraries and other public buildings. Mats are available in standard sizes and many mats feature custom sizing options as well. For unique spaces, modular options that can be fitted to any layout are available. Take a look at our extensive product inventory today and find the mats that are best suited to your facility.