How Do Sticky Mats Work and Why Are They Ideal for Industrial Environments?
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Sticky floor mats (also known as cleanroom sticky mats or adhesive floor mats) offer a simple yet highly effective solution for controlling dirt and contamination in industrial facilities, laboratories, and cleanrooms. Their multi-layered structure and special adhesive surface, they help maintain a clean, safe environment that meets strict hygiene standards.
What You Will Learn in This Article?
- The key features and benefits of sticky mats
- The different types of mats available
- Which industries and environments they are best suited for
- How to install and maintain your mat effectively
What Are Sticky Mats and How Do They Work?
Sticky mats are specialized decontamination floor coverings designed to remove dust, dirt, and particles from shoes or wheels before entering controlled areas. Each mat consists of multiple layers of thin polyethylene film, with every layer coated with a specially formulated adhesive that includes antibacterial properties.
The Principle of Adhesion and the Layered System
Each mat contains 30, 40, or 60 peel-off layers. The top layer captures micro-particles that would otherwise be transferred deeper into clean zones. Once the layer becomes contaminated, it can be easily peeled off to reveal a new, clean surface underneath. This system ensures long-lasting efficiency and simple maintenance. For easier installation on various types of flooring, a rubber frame system is recommended.
How Sticky Mats Capture Dirt and Contamination
The adhesive surface works through physical adhesion – dust, debris, and microscopic contaminants adhere to the tacky surface upon contact. This prevents them from being carried further into the facility and helps to maintain a high level of cleanliness.
Main Advantages of Sticky Mats
- Reduced floor cleaning and maintenance costs
- Improve overall cleanliness of the workspace and serve as reliable dust control mats
- Protect and preserve floor surfaces
- Prevent contamination between zones
- Increase safety and operational efficiency
- Allow easy maintenance and replacement during operation
- Offer high flexibility – available in multiple sizes and colors
- Feature an antibacterial surface that reduces microbial spread
- Easy to implement
Where Can Sticky Mats Be Used?
Sticky mats are suitable for any environment where the transfer of dirt between zones must be minimized. They are ideal for high-traffic areas where maintaining cleanliness is essential, such as in the food industry, healthcare, automotive, and nuclear sectors. A wide range of sizes and colors is available, with each color designed for a specific type of facility or hygiene zone. You can find more detailed guidance in our related article.
7 Steps for Installing Sticky Mats in Your Facility
Step 1: Analyse traffic flow and contamination risk
- Evaluate where the greatest transfer of dirt, dust or foreign particles occurs—typically at entrances or high-traffic transition zones.
Step 2: Choose the optimal location for the mat
- Install the adhesion-based solution, such as a sticky floor mat or tacky floor mat, in the area with the highest foot- or wheel-traffic, for example: entries, transition zones or exits from storage.
Step 3: Select the right variant of sticky mat
- Choose the correct dimensions, number of peel-off layers (e.g., 30–60) and colour coding for your environment. For uneven or wet surfaces, consider a rubber frame system designed for stick-mat frames and tacky mat frames.
Step 4: Prepare the floor
- Ensure the floor surface is clean, dry and free of dust, oil or debris so that the sticky mat adhesive can bond effectively to the floor.
Step 5: Install the sticky mat
- Remove the bottom protective film, press the self-adhesive protective film firmly to the floor, and then peel off the top protective layer to expose the tacky surface ready for use.
Step 6: Monitor and replace layers regularly
Replace the top layer whenever it becomes visibly soiled or when it loses its tackiness, rather than based solely on a fixed schedule.
Step 7: Evaluate performance and ongoing maintenance
- After several days of operation, review the clean zone beyond the mat—verify that dust transfer has decreased and that the contamination control mat system is functioning as intended.
Summary
- Sticky mats provide an efficient and practical way to reduce dust and contamination in workplaces.
- They are made up of 30–60 layers of polyethylene film with antibacterial adhesive.
- Thanks to their layered design and easy maintenance, they are ideal for factories, hospitals, laboratories, and cleanrooms.
- In addition to reducing cleaning costs, sticky mats help protect floors and extend their lifespan.
- They are quick and easy to install, simple to replace, and highly effective in maintaining cleanliness.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I replace a layer of the sticky mat?
It depends on traffic frequency – typically once or twice a day.
Do I need a frame system, or is the mat enough?
We recommend using a frame system in situations where easier maintenance is required, where the mat does not adhere well to anti-slip or textured flooring, or when the mat needs to be moved frequently.
Can sticky mats be used in home or office environments?
Yes, they can, particularly where antibacterial flooring is required. However, they are primarily designed for professional use in laboratories, hospitals, and industrial facilities.