barrier matting commercial entrance matting door matting entrance mat types entrance mats UK entrance matting entrance matting guide entrance matting UK matting guide 2026 what is entrance matting

What Is Entrance Matting? UK Expert Guide 2026

by Rubberco Flooring Experts

What Is Entrance Matting? UK Expert Guide 2026

What Is Entrance Matting?

Entrance matting is specialist flooring installed at building entrances to remove dirt, moisture, and debris from footwear before it enters the interior. Entrance mats trap soil and water in their surface texture or fibres, preventing contamination from being tracked deeper into the building. Effective entrance matting removes up to 85% of incoming dirt at the door, protecting interior floors, reducing cleaning costs, and improving slip safety.

Also called entrance mats, barrier matting, door mats, or threshold matting, entrance matting is used in commercial offices, retail stores, schools, hospitals, hotels, and industrial facilities across the UK.

Types of Entrance Matting

There are five main types of entrance matting used in UK buildings:

  1. Coir entrance matting — made from coconut husks, coir scrapes mud and coarse debris from shoe soles. Best for outdoor use or covered entrances
  2. Rubber entrance matting — durable, waterproof, heavy-duty mats for high-footfall commercial entrances. Ribbed or studded surface provides effective dirt removal and excellent wet weather traction
  3. Carpet barrier mats — textile-surface mats that absorb moisture and fine particles after the initial scraping zone. Best positioned as the second mat inside the entrance
  4. Rubber-backed carpet mats — combined scraping and moisture absorption in one mat. Popular in retail and office entrances
  5. Drainage matting — modular rubber mats with open drainage structure for wet environments like pool surrounds, changing rooms, and wash-down areas

How Much Entrance Matting Do You Need?

BS 7953 (the British Standard for entrance flooring) recommends a minimum of 2.1 metres of matting depth in the direction of travel for commercial buildings. This equates to 5–7 footsteps on the mat surface. Larger buildings with very high footfall may need 4–6 metres of combined matting zones across two or three separate mat areas.

Building Type Recommended Mat Depth Best Type
Small office / shop 2.1m minimum Rubber entrance mat or coir mat
Large retail / supermarket 4–6m Two-stage: scraper mat + barrier mat
Hotel / hospitality 3–4m Decorative carpet barrier mat
School / leisure centre 2.1–4m Rubber entrance matting, heavy duty
Factory / industrial 2.1m+ Heavy-duty ribbed rubber mat

BS 7953 and Occupiers Liability

BS 7953 is the British Standard for entrance flooring systems. Under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984, building owners and managers have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent slipping hazards to visitors. Compliance with BS 7953 entrance matting guidance is considered best practice and demonstrates due diligence if a slip incident occurs.

Key BS 7953 requirements:

  • Minimum 2.1m mat depth in direction of travel
  • Slip-resistant surface when wet (pendulum test value PTV 36+)
  • Mat edges flush with surrounding floor or chamfered to reduce trip risk
  • Regular maintenance to keep mat effective (weekly vacuuming minimum)

Rubber vs Coir Entrance Matting

The choice between rubber and coir entrance matting depends on the entrance environment:

Feature Rubber Entrance Mat Coir Entrance Mat
Durability 10–15 years 2–5 years
Wet weather performance Excellent Good (absorbs water but can become soggy)
Dirt scraping Good (ribbed/studded) Excellent (aggressive fibre texture)
Indoor use Yes Best for covered outdoor areas only
BS 7953 compliant Yes (when correctly specified) Yes
Price £15–45/m² £8–25/m²

Browse Rubberco Entrance Matting

Explore our full range of commercial entrance matting, including heavy-duty rubber entrance mats, coir matting rolls, and barrier mats: Entrance Matting UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an entrance mat and a barrier mat?

An entrance mat is any mat placed at a building entrance to capture dirt and moisture. A barrier mat is specifically a mat designed to form a barrier against soil and water ingress — it is positioned inside the entrance, typically as the second mat zone after an outdoor scraper mat, to absorb residual moisture and fine particles. All barrier mats are entrance mats, but not all entrance mats are designed as barrier mats.

Do entrance mats prevent slips?

Yes — effective entrance matting is one of the most important slip prevention measures in commercial buildings. Wet hard floors at building entrances are a leading cause of slip accidents in the UK. A properly specified, maintained entrance mat removes water from footwear before it is transferred to the interior floor, dramatically reducing the slip risk. This is why BS 7953 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 both highlight entrance matting as a key control measure.

How often should entrance mats be replaced?

Quality rubber entrance matting should last 10–15 years in commercial use. Coir matting typically needs replacing every 2–5 years. The functional test is whether the mat is still effectively capturing dirt — if you can see it is saturated, has lost its surface texture, or no longer holds fibres securely, it needs replacing. A worn entrance mat is not just ineffective — it becomes a trip hazard in its own right.

Shop Entrance Matting & Related Products

Ready to specify or buy entrance matting? Browse our full range:

For full specification guidance, see our Entrance Matting UK: Complete 2026 Commercial Buyer's Guide.

Written by the Rubberco Flooring Experts

Specialist Rubber Flooring Team | rubberco.co.uk

Our team of rubber flooring specialists has over 60 years of combined experience supplying and advising on commercial and industrial rubber flooring across the UK. From anti-slip matting to acoustic rubber sheet, we provide expert guidance backed by real-world knowledge of rubber flooring applications.

Meet our flooring experts →

See our full range of rubber matting UK including entrance matting, commercial door mats and heavy-duty barrier matting for high-traffic entrances.

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