Sticky Mats and the Need for Frames
Sticky mats are an ideal product to help keep dirt, dust and debris out of the laboratory, office and even home. The mats trap contaminants from shoes and the surrounding environment before they can be tracked inside. Traditionally, sticky mats and reusable sticky mats were only sold individually yet sticky mats frames have become more popular over the years. So, when is a frame needed and when can one forgo this accessory?
For a multitude of environments, such as laboratories and computer rooms, the sticky mat would be left in the same place throughout the life of the pad and thus a frame would not be necessary. The top surface of each pad has an adhesive layer that removes dirt from shoes and wheels. The bottom surface also has a tacky surface. This sticky underside is protected with a thin film that is peeled off when putting down a new pad. Once exposed, this sticky bottom layer simply adheres to the floor below, which helps keep the mat in place. As the layers are removed the bottom surface should continue to stick the floor. Once all the sheets are used, simply peel the bottom layer off the floor and dispose.
For some a frame is an important component of the sticky mat system. A frame is ideal when the entire pad of 30 or 60 sheets is not used in one location and/or not used all at once. Two common examples include contractors who may only use a few sheets at a certain jobsite or athletes who only want the sticky mat used in front of the wood-floor gymnasium before and during sporting events such as basketball games. The contractor can adhere the bottom layer of the sticky mat pad to the frame, which has a non-skid backing so the mats will stay in place while on the floor but also be able to take along once the job is complete. This will allow the contractor to leave dirt and debris on the mat and thus off their customer’s floor. School sports teams and sports clubs use sticky mats to prevent dust and fine particles from being tracked onto the gym floor, which could make their floor slippery and thus result in injury.
In conclusion, frames are not needed in most situations. If an entire pad will be consumed in a given location there is no need for a frame. If, however, less than a full pad will be used in a given location at one time, a frame is a wise addition.
