What Materials are Available for Your Anti Fatigue Matting?

If you’re looking to buy an anti-fatigue mat and want to know what kind of materials are available, then we’ve got it all covered for you. The following looks at the various materials used for anti-fatigue matting, to help you determine which anti-fatigue mat is best for your home or business.

Carpet

Carpet mats offer little to reduce fatigue, but they do improve your footing in wet areas and can keep your feet warm if you’re standing on a cold surface. They can also absorb moisture, clean dirty shoes, and be used for low-cost decorating. They’re best used in bathrooms, kitchens and entryways.

Gel

Gel-filled mats have a rugged surface with slip resistance and can be used for short-long stationary tasks. They’re quite expensive but worth the cost, as they offer high-level support and fatigue relief. They come in standard and customised sizes with various aesthetic options. They’re best used in kitchens and are suitable for use in wet areas.

Foam

Foam mats are commonly used in homes and are quite affordable. They provide medium support and fatigue relief, with a thickness between ¼ inches and ¾ inches. Denser foams are better than cushy foams, but thin, cushy mats are still great if you’re standing on tiles or concrete. If you’re going to use the mat around water, like by the sink or shower, then make sure to buy one with anti-slip properties. They can be used for short-moderate stationary tasks and low-cost decorating, where you can print on or emboss the mat. They’re best used in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms.

Closed-cell foam

Closed-cell foam mats are best used at checkouts, counters, and meet-and-greet areas. They have a ribbed surface that offers grip, and the closed-cell foam will not absorb water. The foam also acts as a sponge-like barrier between you and the floor.

PVC foam

PVC mats are durable and made with a closed-cell PVC foam that offers comfort and relief from standing for long periods of time. They also provide oil and chemical resistance, and traction in wet environments. They can have a marble-patterned surface with anti-slip properties and are suitable for sensitive areas like cleanrooms. They can also come in interlocking pieces for heavy-traffic areas.

Natural rubber

Natural rubber mats offer comfort underfoot for medium-heavy traffic in industrial environments. They have bevelled safety edges and provide grip with a traction surface. They can also have drainage holes on the surface and studs on the bottom of the mat, keeping it elevated to allow water and dirt to flow through. They’re available in interlocking pieces and can be used in wet and dry areas. Rubber mat rolls are heavy-grade, making them durable and long-lasting. They have drainage holes that enable water to pass through the mat, as well as small suctions cups on the base of the mat to help it stay in place. They can be used for a variety of purposes.

Foam rubber

Foam rubber mats are better for industrial or dirty environments than just foam mats, as they’re more durable and resistant to chemicals and cuts. As mentioned above, denser foams are better than cushy ones. They provide good support and fatigue relief and are available in standard sizes, rolls, and interlocking pieces to fit all types of environments. They’re best used in garages and wood shops for moderate-long stationary tasks. Nitrile rubber foam mats provide the most comfortable compared to other anti-fatigue mats. They have a closed-cell foam construction that doesn’t absorb liquid, so they’re useful in wet and dry areas. They’re also slip-resistant and made with grease-proof materials to withstand grease, fats, oils and chemicals.

Nitrile rubber

Nitrile rubber mats are resistant to fats, grease, oils and chemicals, and provide great comfort underfoot with anti-slip properties. They have medium-sized drainage holes, allowing liquids to pass through the mat, which keeps the surface dry. On both sides of the mat is a grip pattern that keeps it in place on the floor, and also offers traction as people walk over it. They have an antibacterial additive so that you can use them in sterile or food preparation areas. The additive also stops bacteria or microbes from growing on the mat.

Hard rubber

Hard rubber mats are stiff, durable and come in standard sizes and interlocking pieces to suit all kinds of environments. They can be used for short-long stationary tasks while offering great support and medium fatigue relief. They’re best used in dirty and particle-generating environments, such as garages, wood shops and machine shops, as they have holes/slots that allow particles to pass through the mat and onto the floor, leaving the rubber undamaged.

Soft rubber

Soft rubber mats have large drainage holes across the surface, so they can be used in wet and dry areas. The mat’s underside has a textured surface for increased traction on floors. The soft rubber compound offers relief for those standing for a long period of time.

Bubble rubber

Bubble rubber mats offer great comfort and fatigue relief if you’re going to be standing on a hard floor surface. They have bevelled safety edges to help prevent trips and falls.

Moulded rubber

Moulded rubber mats are best used in demanding environments. They have ramped edges and can come in customised sizes. They also have a level grid surface for comfort and a stable footing. The bottom of the mat has suction cups that hold it in place on any floor surface. They can be used in wet and dry areas.

Recycled rubber

Recycled rubber mats are environmentally friendly and hard-wearing, with bevelled edges. They offer comfort and insulation against floors that are cold and hard. They’re best used in gyms and exercise studios with heavy equipment. When deciding on which material is best for your anti-fatigue mat, consider what you’ll be using it for and where it will be placed. Choosing the best material that suits the environment will help you get things done faster, better, and more easily.