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The first steps in protecting your building
Janet Lowe, Head of Marketing UK & Ireland at Forbo Flooring Systems discusses best practice entrance flooring solutions.
Sponsored feature by
01/11/2019
3 min read
Upon entering any commercial building, whether that is an office, restaurant, coffee shop or retail store, soil and moisture from both the soles of shoes and the tyres of wheeled traffic can be trailed into the premises. In fact, research shows that these account for up to 95% of the dirt tracked in to a building, which not only makes interiors look dirty and unattractive, but it can also damage the interior floor coverings and lead to unnecessary health and safety hazards.
According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE), slips, trips and falls at the same level account for 31% of reported employee accidents causing suffering and financial loss for individuals, companies and society at large[1]. Indeed, specifiers and designers can play a huge role in preventing interior floor surfaces from becoming hazardous and dramatically reducing the potential for slipping by making sensible decisions on flooring surfaces and installing an effective entrance flooring system.
A well-designed entrance flooring system involves thinking about footfall – the number of people walking in and out in a given period – and the directions they take once inside the building – before applying that information to the choice of effective entrance flooring system. An entrance flooring system will prevent dirt and moisture from being tracked in and thereby prolong the life of interior flooring and reduce cleaning, repair and overall maintenance costs. This will help to keep floors and premises looking clean and presentable day in day out, as well as offer visitors and employees a safe transition through the entrance.
According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE), slips, trips and falls at the same level account for 31% of reported employee accidents causing suffering and financial loss for individuals, companies and society at large
The industry recommendation is to use at least three metres of an entrance flooring system for light use areas and up to seven metres for busy entrance areas. The general rule is the more matting used, the more effective the entrance flooring system is at preventing dirt and moisture from entering a building.
An entrance flooring system can also have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of visitors and occupants of a building. The Well Building Standard states that building occupants often track harmful contaminants indoors, including bacteria, heavy metals and lawn and agricultural pesticides, among other toxins. To capture pollutants from occupants’ shoes, The Well Building Standard recommends that a permanent entryway walk-off system (an entrance flooring system) is installed at all the regularly used entrances of a building[2].
In addition to the practical benefits of an entrance flooring system, they can also help to make a great first impression as they are available in a variety of patterns, shades and formats that reflect the latest design trends helping to create a lasting first impression.
While there are many systems available on the market, Forbo Flooring Systems’ Coral has been the international leader in textile entrance flooring for more than 50 years, as it delivers superior performance in even the toughest environments. Whether facing rain, snow, sand or soil, Coral keeps the outside from getting inside. In fact, testing by Cleaning Research International has shown that Coral can stop up to 95% of dirt and moisture from entering a building, which in turn can reduce the time spent cleaning interior floor coverings by up to 65%.
Consisting of eight individual ranges, the collection has been designed to cater for the soiling behaviour of various environments. Coral Welcome packs the style and aesthetic appeal of a luxury carpet. It makes an unequivocal statement in any entrance area, suitable for heavy contract use in interior entrances and circulation areas. Meanwhile, research shows that taking just two steps on Coral Classic’s moisture absorbing yarns is enough to absorb half of the foot-borne moisture that would otherwise be carried inside on the soles of people’s shoes. In fact, independent tests have shown that Coral Classic will maintain its performance – and appearance – for years to come thanks to the use of solution dyed yarns that guarantee its appearance throughout its lifespan.
Testing completed by Cleaning Research International has shown that Forbo Flooring Systems' Coral can stop up to 95% of dirt and moisture from entering a building, which in turn can reduce the time spent cleaning interior floor coverings by up to 65%
For more information on Forbo’s Coral collection, please visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/coral
