Choosing the Right Mats for Leisure Centres
by Richard O'Connor
Dec 11, 2025 | *5 minutes to readLeisure centres are dynamic environments where hundreds of visitors pass through each day. From swimming pools and changing rooms to gyms and entrance lobbies, each area presents its own challenges relating to safety, hygiene, comfort, and floor protection. The right leisure centre mats play a vital role in managing these challenges effectively, helping operators meet their health and safety duties while improving the experience for visitors.
Slip risks, contamination concerns, and heavy footfall all demand specialist matting designed for the environment in which it will be used. Rather than relying on general-purpose mats, leisure centres benefit from solutions tailored to wet areas, high-impact zones, and transitional spaces. This guide outlines the most suitable types of matting for each key area of a leisure centre, explaining the problems they solve and why they matter.
Entrance Lobbies: Keeping Grit and Moisture Under Control
The entrance lobby is the first line of defence against dirt and moisture. Visitors tracking in rainwater, grit, and dust can create slip hazards and increase cleaning demands. An effective entrance matting system helps maintain a cleaner, safer environment from the moment visitors walk through the door.
The problem: Without proper barrier matting, moisture spreads across hard flooring, increasing the likelihood of slips—especially during wet weather. Grit and dust can also damage flooring surfaces over time.
The solution: Use a combination of scraper and absorbent matting to trap grit and soak up moisture before it reaches internal walkways. The Heavy-Duty Entrance Mats range is designed for high-traffic leisure centre lobbies, helping maintain cleaner floors and safer walking conditions for visitors.
Poolside and Wet Areas: Preventing Slips and Improving Hygiene
Poolside zones are among the highest-risk areas in any leisure centre. Constant water exposure means floors are often wet, smooth, and slippery. The risk is not theoretical—slip accidents remain the most common cause of injury in workplaces. In one real case, a man received £8,000 in compensation after slipping on a wet leisure centre floor during a fitness class.
There are no swimming pool-specific laws, but leisure centre operators must meet their duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and conduct risk assessments in line with HSE guidance (HSG179).
The problem: Wet floors around pools, showers, and walkways increase the likelihood of serious slip incidents while also presenting hygiene concerns in warm, humid conditions.
The solution: PVC duckboard and open-grid mats provide excellent grip underfoot while allowing water to drain away rapidly, keeping walking surfaces drier and safer. These mats also help reduce bacterial growth by improving airflow and avoiding standing water. The Swimming Pool Mats collection includes options specifically designed for poolside environments, prioritising slip resistance and drainage.
Gym and Fitness Areas: Protecting Floors and Reducing Noise
Gyms are high-impact environments where dropped weights, high foot traffic, and intense movement place heavier demands on flooring. Gym floors must be protected from damage, but visitor safety and comfort are equally important.
The problem: Wooden, laminate, or even concrete subfloors can suffer long-term damage from repeated impacts. Noise and vibration from dropped weights can also disturb other leisure centre users.
The solution: Thick rubber tiles or rubber roll matting absorb impacts, protect subfloors, and reduce noise. Rubber also provides excellent grip, improving stability during workouts. The Rubber Gym Mats range offers durable options designed for weights areas, cardio zones, and functional fitness spaces where shock absorption is essential.
Changing Rooms: Hygiene, Warmth, and Comfort
Changing rooms are transitional spaces that often sit between wet and dry areas. Floors may be cold, damp, or slippery, and maintaining good hygiene is crucial in such high-traffic communal environments.
The problem: Wet floors create slip hazards, while cold surfaces can feel uncomfortable for visitors walking barefoot. Standing water and poor ventilation may also encourage bacterial growth.
The solution: PVC grid or duckboard matting improves hygiene by keeping feet raised above wet surfaces and allowing water to drain underneath. These mats also provide warmth and comfort underfoot, creating a more pleasant visitor experience. The Changing Room Floor Mats range includes anti-fungal options that help maintain cleanliness in warm, humid areas.
Branding and Professional Presentation
Leisure centres increasingly focus on user experience, and small details can contribute significantly to the overall impression. Branded matting is becoming a popular way for venues to reinforce their visual identity while maintaining practical floor protection.
The problem: Standard mats can appear out of place in premium reception areas, and repeated footfall may wear down flooring near entrances or check-in desks.
The solution: A high-quality logo mat enhances the appearance of reception areas while helping to trap dirt and moisture. The Indoor Logo Mats are suitable for entrance lobbies, check-in zones, or fitness studio entrances where branding matters.
Choosing the Right Mats for Your Leisure Centre
Each area of a leisure centre presents unique challenges, so selecting the correct matting requires an understanding of the specific risks and needs of each zone. Poolside areas demand effective drainage and slip resistance, gyms require impact protection, changing rooms need hygiene-focused surfaces, and entrance lobbies rely on strong dirt- and moisture-control mats. When all areas are considered together, operators can create a safer, cleaner, and more comfortable environment for visitors.
To explore the full range of solutions suitable for leisure centres, visit the Leisure Mats Collection, where you’ll find products designed specifically for these varied environments.
If you would like guidance selecting the most appropriate matting for your leisure centre, the First Mats team is always happy to help.
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