How to Use Sticky Floor Mats in Laboratories, Hospitals, and the Pharmaceutical Industry
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Sticky floor mats, also known as adhesive floor mats or tacky mats, are an essential tool for contamination control in sensitive environments where strict hygiene standards are required. They are widely used in healthcare facilities, laboratories, and pharmaceutical production to ensure clean, safe, and sterile conditions.
In This Article, You’ll Discover
- Where sticky mats are most commonly used
- The main benefits in healthcare and pharmaceutical environments
- How to choose the right type of mat
- How to install and maintain your mat properly
- What to avoid during application
Where Sticky Mats Are Most Effectively Used
Sticky mats can be applied across many industries that require high levels of cleanliness and contamination control. They are ideal for medical environments, industrial manufacturing, cleanrooms, technological facilities, and even nuclear plants. For more information about specific types of facilities, visit our related article.
In this article, we focus primarily on the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, where maintaining a clean environment is absolutely critical.
Using Sticky Mats in Healthcare Environments
1. Laboratories
In laboratories, cleanroom sticky mats help maintain clean transition zones and prevent the spread of dust and microscopic particles carried on footwear or equipment wheels.
2. Hospitals
In hospitals and medical centers, cleanroom mats provide an effective contamination barrier in areas such as intensive care units, surgical rooms, and sterile corridors. Blue sticky floor mats are most often used for their visibility and ease of contamination detection.
3. Pharmaceutical Facilities
In pharmaceutical environments, tacky mats and adhesive mats for cleanrooms capture fine dust and particles at entry points to controlled zones. They play an important role in meeting ISO 13485 and cleanroom classification standards.
4. Medical Centres
In clinics and healthcare offices, adhesive floor mats or sticky mats for shoes reduce cross-contamination between public and sterile zones while maintaining a professional level of hygiene.
5. Cleanrooms
In cleanrooms, even minimal particle transfer can disrupt sensitive processes. Cleanroom sticky mats placed at entry and gowing areas trap dust and micro-contaminants from footwear and trolley wheels before they enter controlled zones. By acting as an effective contamination control adhesive mat — or in specialised settings as an antistatic sticky mat — they help maintain strict ISO cleanliness levels required in environments such as pharmaceutical production and advanced medical facilities.
Benefits of Sticky Mats
- Significantly reduction in dirt transfer from shoes and trolley wheels
- Compliance support for hygiene and operational certifications (ISO 13485:2016, cleanroom class standards)
- Feature an antibacterial, non-toxic adhesive surface
- Absence of substances harmful to health
- Available in multiple colors for clear zone separation
- Function as dust control mats and contamination control mats
How to Choose the Right Sticky Mat
When selecting a mat, consider the type of environment, traffic frequency, and cleanliness level required.
- For hospital or laboratory applications, use blue cleanroom sticky mats with 30–60 layers and antibacterial adhesive coating.
- For higher-traffic or wet areas, install mats within rubber frames (also known as sticky mat frames or tacky mat frames) for extra stability and secure adhesion.
- For electronics or sensitive production areas, antistatic adhesive mats (ESD mats) are recommended.
How and Where to Install Sticky Mats
Recommended Placement
Install sticky floor mats at all main entrances, gowning rooms, and transition zones between controlled and uncontrolled areas. The floor surface must be clean, smooth, and dry to ensure proper adhesion.
Recommended Maintenance and Layer Replacement
Replace the top layer according to visible contamination levels—usually once or twice a day in standard conditions. In high-traffic areas, more frequent changes may be necessary.
Proper installation and regular replacement ensure long-term effectiveness and consistent cleanliness. For a detailed step-by-step installation guide, see our article
5 Key Reasons to Invest in High-Quality Sticky Mats for Sensitive Environments
- Effective and affordable contamination prevention
- Workplaces safe and compliance with ISO standards
- Maintain optimal hygiene conditions in cleanrooms and medical facilities
- Reduced cleaning costs and maintenance time
- Improve operational efficiency and reliability
Summary
- Sticky floor mats capture dust, dirt, and microorganisms from shoes and trolley wheels, helping maintain sterile and ISO-compliant environments.
- Choose the type of sticky mat according to the specific requirements of your facility.
- Proper installation at entry points and transition zones, along with daily layer replacement, ensures long-term effectiveness.
- Investing in high-quality sticky mats provides a cost-efficient way to reduce cleaning time, improve hygiene, and maintain operational safety.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
What color of sticky mat is recommended for hospital areas?
Blue is the preferred choice as it clearly highlights dirt and debris while visually separating hygiene zones for improved contamination control.
How should used layers of sticky floor mats be disposed of?
Used layers can be disposed of as regular waste unless they contain hazardous materials. Always roll the sheet inward to prevent dust dispersion.
How do I know when to replace a sticky mat layer?
Replace the layer whenever it becomes visibly dirty or loses tackiness. In high-traffic zones, this is typically done once or twice a day.
Are sticky mats suitable for pharmaceutical and healthcare facilities with strict ISO standards?
Yes. Our cleanroom adhesive mats are manufactured in accordance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 13485 and CE, meeting the hygiene requirements of hospitals, laboratories, and pharmaceutical plants.