Today, entrance flooring is fundamental in modern marine interior design. Having an entrance matting system protects interior floor coverings, therefore prolonging their life and reducing cleaning & maintenance costs. Entrance floor coverings help to create a safer and more pleasant environment for passengers by removing walked in dirt and moisture.

Creating a good entrance flooring involves thinking about footfall – the number of people walking in and out in a given period – and walking routes (the directions they take once inside) and applying that information in the design of the entrance area. One of the best ways to apply a successful matting system is to not only consider your major entrances, but to also think about high circulation areas such as exits onto decks. Naturally, on board seagoing vessels there is more exposure to moisture than dirt so choosing the correct matting system is key. The Sales Service Manager of our Coral entrance matting system division, Kees Boon says “Research shows that 86% of the total cost of commercial floor coverings is maintenance, a good quality entrance system can greatly reduce this figure.” An entrance matting system with high moisture absorption properties is an essential component to reducing time spent on cleaning and maintenance, not to mention the reduction of cost.

“The beauty of an entrance matting system is that passengers don’t have to actively wipe their feet, the system does the work invisibly without any effort. It’s an unsung hero in the world of flooring” says Kees. “We spent a lot of time testing and researching products and systems in order to get our IMO certified product, Coral T32 FR, to where it is today. Six metres of Coral T32 FR can reduce up to 90% of walked in dirt and moisture”.

Not only do entrance matting systems reduce costs, they also have a critical safety role to play. Slips, trips and falls made up more than half of all reported injuries in 2012/2013 causing suffering and financial loss for individuals, companies and society at large. Reducing the amount of moisture walked into marine vessels reduces the risk of slips and falls.

Forbo Flooring’s Coral T32 FR is of a cut-pile construction of 60% wool and 40% nylon, creating a highly durable product with high absorption properties. The yarn and backing materials used have been developed to meet the stringent, smoke toxicity and low flame spread standards required to meet the IMO ‘wheelmark’.