BS 7953 Industrial Matting: Specification Guide for Safety

Slips, trips and falls remain the single biggest cause of major workplace injuries in the UK. They account for 30 to 32 percent of all non-fatal incidents. HSE data shows these accidents cost UK employers over £512 million each year. This includes lost production, compensation claims and admin costs. The wider cost to society exceeds £800 million when you add NHS treatment, lost output and social security payments.

For facilities managers, safety officers and procurement teams, the question is not whether to invest in proper industrial matting systems. The question is how to specify BS 7953 compliant matting that meets your legal duties. This guide covers the key standards, sizing rules and specification criteria. Use it to protect your workforce and show due diligence.

The Legal Framework: What Are Your Obligations?

Three main pieces of law govern flooring and industrial matting requirements in UK workplaces:

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

Regulation 12 states that every floor in a workplace shall suit its intended purpose. Floors must:

• Have no holes, slopes or uneven surfaces that risk health or safety
• Not be slippery in a way that creates hazards
• Have good drainage where needed
• Stay free from items and substances that may cause slipping, tripping or falling

This places a direct duty on employers. You must ensure floor surfaces, including entrance areas, do not create slip or trip hazards.

BS 7953:1999 Entrance Flooring Systems

BS 7953 is the British Standard code of practice for entrance flooring systems. It covers how to select, install and maintain these systems. The standard defines an entrance flooring system as an installation that reduces soil and moisture entering a building.

Entrance flooring systems should:

• Scrape, wipe and hold soil from footwear
• Contact the full wheel circumference for wheelchair users (DDA compliance)
• Cut slip injury risk
• Extend the life of interior floors
• Lower ongoing maintenance costs

BS 7953 is named in Regulation 12 guidance. It is the benchmark for compliance in commercial and industrial settings.

BS 8300:2009+A1:2010 Design for Accessibility

This standard covers the needs of disabled users. It requires that paths from entrances to reception areas are direct and clear. Surfaces must be firm and slip-resistant to allow easy wheelchair movement.

BS 8300 requires entrance matting to meet BS 7953 standards. It advises against loose-lay mats and coir materials that block wheelchair movement. It also calls for colour contrast between matting and nearby floors to help those with poor vision.

Sizing Your Industrial Matting: The Critical Dimension

Mat size is often overlooked, yet it has the greatest impact on performance. People rarely stop to wipe their feet. They walk straight through. Each extra step on your entrance matting removes more soil and moisture.

Minimum Requirements

BS 7953:1999 calls for at least 2.1 metres in the direction of traffic. This comes from wheelchair needs. Standard wheelchair wheels are 56 to 66cm wide, with a circumference of 172 to 207cm. For wheels to complete one full turn on the mat, you need about 2 metres of mat length.

For people walking, 2.1 metres allows roughly six footsteps at normal pace. This is usually enough to clean shoes in dry to moderate conditions.

Traffic Volume Guidelines

The WELL Building Standard, now common in UK commercial projects, suggests larger matting zones based on traffic:

Traffic Level	Mat Depth	Typical Uses
Low traffic	3 metres minimum	Small offices, flats
Medium traffic	4 to 6 metres	Shops, warehouses, schools
High traffic	6 to 8 metres	Shopping centres, hospitals, factories
Very high traffic	8 to 10 metres	Airports, stadiums, major stations

For industrial sites with heavy foot traffic, forklifts and shift changes, we suggest at least 4 metres in the direction of travel. Use 6 metres or more for main entrance points.

Width Rules

Matting should cover the full entrance width. Extend at least 1 metre past doors on each side. If reception desks, lifts or main routes sit to one side, extend coverage further that way to catch the natural traffic flow.

Slip Resistance: Understanding PTV Values

The pendulum test (BS 7976) is the UK standard for checking floor slip resistance. Results appear as Pendulum Test Values (PTV). These link directly to real slip accident data.

PTV Classification

PTV Range	Risk Level	What It Means
36 and above	Low slip risk	Safe for wet conditions in most uses
25 to 35	Moderate slip risk	OK only if kept dry
Below 25	High slip risk	Not suitable for most pedestrian areas

For industrial settings with water, oils or other hazards, choose industrial matting with a PTV of 36 or higher when wet. Standard offices may meet compliance with lower values if good cleaning keeps floors dry.

R Ratings vs PTV

Some makers quote R ratings (R9 to R13) from DIN 51130 ramp testing. While useful for comparison, R ratings are less reliable than PTV values for predicting real slips. R9, the lowest rating, is often wrongly seen as adequate when it may not meet HSE rules.

Always ask for PTV data tested to BS 7976-2 for your specific conditions. Our Safe-Flex industrial matting systems are independently tested. We provide full PTV documents with every specification pack.

Industrial Matting Types: Matching Product to Application

Different industrial settings need different matting solutions. The key is matching material properties to your specific hazards and needs.

Entrance and Transition Zones

Primary entrance matting must handle heavy soil and moisture loads. Specify systems with:

• Coarse scraping elements for heavy debris removal
• High moisture absorption
• Drainage for water runoff
• Recessed fitting to sit flush with nearby floors (no trip hazards)
• Colour contrast for accessibility compliance

Production Floor Matting

In manufacturing areas, matting needs shift from soil removal to worker protection and safety:

• Anti-fatigue matting for standing workstations (cuts strain and boosts productivity)
• Anti-slip surfaces for wet process areas
• Chemical-resistant materials for handling zones
• ESD matting for electronics work (meets IEC 61340) — see our Electrical Safety Matting UK guide for details
• Hot-works matting for welding bays (fire-resistant to EN 13501-1)

Drainage Matting

Food production, kitchens and wet process areas need open-grid or perforated matting. This lets liquids drain away from the walking surface. Key specs include:

• Open area percentage (typically 15 to 25 percent for good drainage)
• Antimicrobial treatment for hygiene-critical sites
• HACCP compatibility for food manufacturing
• Easy lift-out sections for cleaning beneath

Heelproof Requirements

While not required by specific law, heelproof design is a due diligence need for areas where stiletto heels may be worn. This includes most offices, shops and public-facing industrial sites.

Specify maximum gap widths of 4 to 5mm between matting elements. Open-grid drainage mats may need solid inserts in reception areas and office walkways.

Installation: Recessed vs Surface-Mounted

BS 8300 advises that entrance matting should sit level with nearby floor finishes. This prevents trip hazards and ensures wheelchair access. Recessed fitting into a prepared mat well is the gold standard for BS 7953 compliance.

Surface-mounted mats work for temporary uses or where you cannot modify the structure. They must have ramped edges to reduce trip risk. Note that loose-lay mats without secure fixing may move under traffic, creating gaps and trip hazards.

Maintenance and Testing Requirements

Industrial matting is not fit-and-forget. To maintain compliance and performance:

Regular Cleaning

• Daily vacuum or shake-out for loose debris
• Weekly deep clean to remove embedded soil
• Periodic professional cleaning for fixed entrance systems
• Immediate action on spills

Slip Resistance Testing

The UK Slip Resistance Group suggests annual pendulum testing of floor surfaces, including matting. Test more often for:

• Surfaces in wet or dirty environments
• Areas with varying cleaning schedules
• Surfaces after anti-slip treatment
• Any spot where previous PTV values were borderline

Keep test certificates as part of your compliance records.

Replacement Criteria

Replace industrial matting when:

• Surface pile is worn flat or smooth
• Drainage holes are clogged beyond cleaning
• Edges are frayed, curling or creating trip hazards
• PTV values fall below safe thresholds
• Physical damage affects function or safety

Documentation for Compliance

Good specification and maintenance records protect your organisation if an incident occurs or HSE inspects. Your matting compliance file should include:

• Product data sheets with BS 7953 conformity statements
• PTV test certificates for installed conditions
• Installation records and photos
• Maintenance schedules and cleaning logs
• Inspection checklists
• Replacement records

At Maximum Matting, we provide full specification packs. These include slip ratings, fire data, ESD test certificates and RAMS templates ready for HSE or insurer review.

Specification Checklist

Before finalising your industrial matting specification, confirm:

• Mat depth meets BS 7953 minimum (2.1m) or WELL guidelines for your traffic level
• Mat width covers full entrance plus 1m beyond doors each side
• PTV rating of 36+ for wet conditions (or proof of dry maintenance regime)
• Heelproof design with gaps under 5mm in public areas
• Recessed fitting or ramped edges for trip prevention
• Colour contrast with nearby flooring for accessibility
• Material suits expected hazards (oils, chemicals, food)
• Cleaning and maintenance schedule documented
• Testing schedule set for ongoing compliance

Working With Maximum Matting

Our Safe-Flex modular industrial matting systems are made in the UK from 100 percent recycled PVC. They deliver both performance and sustainability. We offer:

• Free site surveys and specification advice
• Full compliance documents including PTV data and fire ratings
• Next-day sample tiles with matching specification sheets
• Technical support for HSE and insurer queries
• Nationwide installation and maintenance services

Whether you are specifying entrance matting for a new facility, upgrading production floor surfaces or fixing a specific slip hazard, our technical team can help. We will guide you through BS 7953 standards and select products that meet your operational and compliance needs.

Contact us for a consultation or request samples to evaluate our industrial matting systems in your environment.