Wheelchair Friendly Door Mats

In 2010, the Equality Act came into force, ensuring that all businesses make reasonable adjustments for wheelchair users and people with other disabilities to access their premises unimpeded. This includes providing ramps over or around stairways, improving signage and removing heavy doors that are too difficult to open.

Entrance Matting can also be a problem for wheelchair users as unsuitable matting makes accessing a building much more difficult. Many commercial grade mats have thick rubber backings that can increase the height of the mat to 14mm or more, and some don't have flush or bevelled edging, which blocks wheels. The materials or type of mat can also make access more difficult if they are too soft for the wheels to roll over them easily.

Many of us are unaware of the everyday challenges faced by wheelchair users, so, at First Mats, we produced this guide to help anyone looking for a wheelchair-friendly door mat to find a suitable one.

Key Features of Wheelchair Friendly Mats

Your choice of mat should be based on several key features, including;

1. Bevelled Edging – It will be tough for a wheelchair to roll onto the mat surface without suitable edging. A Bevelled edge acts like a mini ramp, making it easier for the wheelchair user whilst reducing the risk of trips for pedestrians.
2. Mat Height – Even if the mat has a bevelled edge, the overall height should also be considered.
3. Crush Resistant – Unlike feet which spread the weight across a greater area, the weight of a wheelchair is concentrated on a much smaller area where the wheels contact the floor. Because of this, a crush-resistant mat should always be used.
4. General Performance – The mat must perform well in varying conditions, whether wheeled or foot traffic. Ensure that your mat is absorbent and can remove dirt from the wheels to keep your floors clean and safe.

What to Avoid

Certain types of mats can make wheelchair access very difficult. Coir (aka Coconut) Matting is a popular choice in domestic and commercial entrances due to its traditional appearance and effectiveness. However, for wheelchair users, it can be like moving through sand as the wheels sink between the bristle-like fibres.

Ribbed metal matting, whilst being much better for crush resistance, can be problematic too, as the wheels tend to fall into alignment with the gaps making it difficult to change direction.

You should ensure that any entrance mat or matting system being used is in excellent condition, especially for the benefit of wheelchair users. Matting with holes or that are no longer flush with a recessed mat well will not only perform poorly but can also make entering the building more difficult and dangerous.

Our Recommendations

We hope that you have found this guide to be interesting and useful. For further advice about our products, please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have, and our knowledgeable team will be happy to assist you.

References - 

UK Equality Act Information - http://www.hse.gov.uk/disability/law.htm