The Best Mats for Schools, Universities, and Other Education Institutes

Packing stations are often the heartbeat of goods-out. If your team is picking, checking, boxing, labelling, and getting orders ready for collection, they’re likely spending long periods on hard floors,...

Schools, colleges, universities, and academies all have one thing in common: high footfall. From pupils rushing between lessons to staff, visitors, and parents coming and going throughout the day, education...

Retail entrances work harder than almost any other area of a building. Every customer that walks through the door brings moisture, dirt, grit, and debris with them, all of which...

If you run a campsite or holiday park, you already know the pattern: one wet weekend and suddenly the reception floor is gritty, the route to the wash block is...

Contents The DDA and accessibility duties Why there’s no such thing as “certified DDA-compliant” matting The legal frameworks that affect matting choices What...

Stock rooms and store rooms are often busy, functional spaces that support the smooth running of retail, hospitality, food service and commercial environments. While they may not be customer-facing, these...

Farmhouses are some of the most characterful and welcoming homes in the UK, but they also face flooring challenges that most modern properties rarely encounter. Muddy fields, gravel paths, farm...

Housing associations, HMO landlords, and property managers oversee buildings where multiple residents share entrances, corridors, and communal facilities. These high-use areas experience significant foot traffic, frequent cleaning demands, and a...

Leisure 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...

Builders and tradespeople work in environments that can shift dramatically from one moment to the next. A single job may involve muddy outdoor areas, unfinished interiors, delicate flooring, and spaces...

Waste management and recycling centres operate in some of the most demanding environments of any industry. Constant foot traffic, exposure to liquids and debris, and the presence of oils, chemicals,...

A staff break room is more than just a place to grab a quick coffee. It is a vital welfare space where employees unwind, reset, and return to work feeling...

Property developers have very different needs from the average homeowner when it comes to floor mats. While a typical domestic doormat only needs to cope with light foot traffic, property...

Keeping a site cabin clean may not be the first thing on a busy site manager’s checklist, but it plays a major role in maintaining a safe, organised, and compliant...

Selecting suitable equipment for chemical storage and spill control depends on verified material compatibility. This guide summarises how common substances interact with PVC with a protective proofing layer (PES/PVC), enabling...

Learning environments are evolving to meet the needs of students who think, move, and learn differently. Colourful classroom spaces that combine thoughtful design with vibrant visual elements are more than...

Have you ever purchased a mat only to find it's too small to catch dirt or too large for your doorway? Selecting the right-sized mat is essential, not just for...

Have you ever paused at your front door and wondered if your doormat is eco-friendly?  We often focus on recycling and reducing energy use in our homes, but even a...

Have you ever stepped outside your door and slipped on a wet, ineffective mat? Or perhaps you've noticed your once-attractive mat has deteriorated rapidly after being exposed to rain and...

Recessed door mats keep your entryway tidy and safe by fitting flush with your floor. If you have an existing matwell or frame, installing coir...

Have you ever considered the importance of your entrance area to your overall business image? Are you making the most of every opportunity to showcase your brand?...

Cable protectors are a great way to ensure your cables stay safe and in place. They can be used for many everyday purposes, such as preventing tripping hazards, covering unsightly...

Have you ever walked up to a house and immediately felt like this is a house you want to own, even before even stepping inside? That first impression is...

When most people think of floor mats, the front door is the first place that comes to mind. While it’s true that entrance mats are essential...

Creating an ergonomic workstation is essential for maintaining employee well-being, increasing productivity, and improving staff retention. Poorly designed workstations can lead to discomfort, musculoskeletal issues, and decreased efficiency. This guide...

Hardwood floors add warmth and elegance to any home, but keeping them looking pristine requires careful maintenance. One of the biggest threats to hardwood flooring is the dirt and grime...

Entrance mats may seem like a simple addition to your home or business, but not all mats are the same. A mat's texture is crucial in how well it...

This article has been written by our Director, Richard O’Connor, who has been exploring how well door mats can align with vegan values. As a vegetarian making more vegan choices...

As people are becoming more aware of their fitness levels and ways in which they can stay healthy, standing desks have increased in popularity because those who have previously had...

Businesses today compete for attention across countless platforms. Customers have more choices than ever, so brand loyalty is becoming harder to secure. In this landscape, a brand’s image needs to...

Understanding the different surface textures of anti-fatigue matting is essential for selecting the right one for your workspace. Anti-fatigue mats come in various textures, each designed to provide specific benefits...

Introduction Industrial matting plays a crucial role in maintaining safety, comfort, and efficiency in various work environments. This fact sheet provides essential information about the different types of industrial mats,...

Are you concerned about your business running costs now that energy prices have gone through the roof? Electricity prices have increased 74% for large industrial units in the past...

The Cost of Slips, Trips, and Falls to British Industry Are slips, trips, and falls costing your business dearly? Is your workforce underperforming? Are you missing expertise on the floor...

The world of work has seen a lot of change since the beginning of the 2020s, and — in turn — many companies have placed employee well-being at the top...

Door mats might not stand out as being the most obvious product to boast an interesting manufacturing history, but the truth of the matter is that coir...

Introduction This blog post provides a simplified guide to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) document titled 'Storing Chemical SR24 Products (small scale)'....

Executive Summary: Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Statistics in Great Britain This article provides a comprehensive summary of the key findings from the Health and Safety...

Executive Summary of HSE Work-Related Fatal Injuries Statistics This article is compiled by First Mats and provides an executive summary of the

An Executive Summary of the HSE Report: Costs to Britain of Workplace Fatalities and Self-reported Injuries and Ill Health Published in November 2023, this report presents the latest estimates of...

Generators, while vital in modern life for a variety of applications, come with certain environmental risks. When not managed properly, spills from these machines can have devastating effects on our...

Workplace oil spills are more than just an inconvenient mess; they present serious risks to employee safety and the environment. Several pieces of legislation in the UK, such as the...

In an era where environmental responsibility and sustainable practices take centre stage, understanding the various components of these efforts is paramount. One such component, extensively used in the automotive industry,...

Dementia is a syndrome associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning, affecting memory, thinking speed, language, understanding, judgement, mood, and movement. It impacts more than 850,000 people in the...

Plasterboard, also known as drywall, is a common material used in construction and renovation projects. While it's a versatile and useful material, moving plasterboard can be challenging due to its...

What Does UDL Mean? UDL, or Uniformally Distributed Load, is a term used in the field of manual handling equipment to describe the weight capacity of a particular piece of...

As a responsible business owner, protecting your assets should be one of your top priorities. One approach to securing your assets is using portable bunding solutions, such as

Impact Protection Foam is a vital component in industrial environments, serving as a crucial safeguard against injuries caused by impacts with hard surfaces. Designed with a...

A recent study conducted by First Mats has highlighted the growing issue of stress among the UK population. Our survey of over 1,000 UK adults found that more...

Here at First Mats, we have an extensive selection of wet room matting ideal for Wudu/ Ablution areas in Mosques and other spiritual sites. The outstanding water drainage, anti-slip...