Decramat introduced effectiveness ratings in the early part of this decade to assist decision makers in making the right product choice for their application.
Considerations include a number of factors such as hygiene, damage to floor surfaces in a building, floor wear-ability, slippery surfaces and long term maintenance of attractive floor finishes.
The prime function requirements of a mat in these contexts are:
1) It's ability to attract dirt - the more dirt that is trapped, the less dirt is walked into a building.
2) It's ability to absorb moisture- to dry wet feet and reduce the risk of slipping (damages claims).
3) Durability - the ability of the material to withstand abuse.
4) Cleanability - how well it lends itself to being cleaned.
In order to attract dirt, the mat must be static - the more static, the better. The only durable static product capable of withstanding hundreds of thousands of pairs of feet monthly over a long period is nylon.
To dry off feet, a mat must have an absorbant pile. A cut pile makes for effective cleaning, wheras a looped pile tends to trap dirt in the mat and can make cleaning problematic.
