Go Green
Green Entrance Floor Mat System
Read our Tech Bulletin about LEED Certification
The US Green Building Council developed a rating system for new and existing buildings to encourage building owners and property management firms to earn credit for meeting certain housekeeping criteria. Strategies include entrance floor mats that prevent particles from entering the building. Recommendations include a minimum of 6-10 feet of any combination of recessed matting, logo floor mats, or quality entrance floor mats, depending on what LEED rating system you are using. The key of any successful entrance floor mat system is the prevention of contaminants from entering a building. In fact, according to a study conducted by ISSA, up to 24 pounds of dirt can be tracked in through a 20-day work period. Installing an effective entrance floor mat system can stop 90 percent of dirt from entering the building. It is a given that 85 percent of all this soil enters a building on the feet of people coming into the building.
First Steps in Creating an Entrance Floor Mat System
When tailoring a Green Entrance Floor Mat System, think feet! Actually think walking, not wiping. Most people do not wipe their feet, so custom floor matting needs to be extra long to enable enough walk surface to remove maximum soil. Since longer is better consider adding logo floor mats to enhance the lobby decor while preventing moisture and capturing particles from invading the building.
Selecting the Right Entrance Floor Mat
Performance of floor matting is the number one issue for a Green Building. An entrance floor matting system is the first line of defense against contaminants and particles from entering the building. Here are the key factors for green entrance floor mats.
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Stop soil and moisture. High performance entrance floor matting such as our Hercules Floor Mats or PrimeTime Floor Mats are very effective. Scrub off moisture before entering the building lobby with Grizzly Scrape Mats.
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Store soil/dirt and water for removal. A high performance entrance floor mat contains soil in place where it can be vacuumed effectively and safely with minimum impact on the building. A building with minimized contaminants reduce the amount of cleaning chemicals required, thereby improving a buildings’ indoor air quality.
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Minimize tracking of stored soil and moisture into the building. An entrance floor mat with bi-level construction will store soil and water below shoe level to prevent it from being transferred onto the building lobby surface. Our Hercules Mats, which offers either custom logomats or solid color entrance floor matting, has a high density bi-level surface that works.
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Comply with ADA requirements is a “must” for high performance entrance floor mats. Avoid tripping on a curled mat edge with a strong 1.5 inch beveled edge on all sides of the mat. The backing of an entrance floor mat should be non-slip . . . nothing is worse than a mat that slips on a polished marble type surface. Our Hercules logo mats meets these entrance floor mat requirements.
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Rainbo Logomats are one way to Go Green. These mats are made in the U.S.A. at a facility which has a Zero Carbon Footprint.
The best performing entrance mats (like Hercules) provide a safe, effective, and attractive surface. Adding the name of the building, a company logo to your floor mat, or address with our Hercules custom logo entrance mat gives the building entrance a distinctive feel when you enter the building.
What is LEED? What does it mean to be LEED certified?
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a measuring system created by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) that rates buildings based on their eco-friendliness. In accordance with LEED, architects, owners and developers can monitor and optimize development, energy efficiency, water consumption, materials usage, indoor air quality and other key elements in their buildings that contribute to sustainability.
So what does LEED certification mean for you? Simply put, it proves to the public that your building does its part to keep the Earth clean and its occupants safe and healthy. LEED has several different rating systems based on the type of project, so choose the one that applies to you.
How does Logomats support your LEED rating? With the proper entrance mat, you can improve your building’s LEED rating. We can recommend the correct mat products to work with your LEED certification requirements.
Start on the path to a cleaner, sustainable tomorrow today – learn more about LEED and green certification by visiting the U. S. Green Building Council website.
LEED AP Credential Now Administered Through GBCI.org
Are you a building professional who would like to have certification for green building techniques and knowledge? Over the last seven years, the LEED Professional Accreditation program has verified that more than 43,000 building professionals have an understanding of green building techniques, the LEED® Green Building Rating System™ and the certification process.
Now, with USGBC’s enthusiastic backing, the LEED AP credential will be administered by a separately incorporated organization, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). The formation of GBCI creates administrative independence between the LEED Rating Systems and the LEED AP credential — an important requirement in seeking accreditation for professional credentialing programs by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
USGBC will continue to handle development of the LEED Rating Systems and offer LEED-based education programs. GBCI will manage all aspects of the LEED Professional Accreditation program including exam development, registration and delivery.
Nothing will change for LEED Accredited Professionals except that the LEED AP Directory listing can now be updated at the GBCI website, www.gbci.org. gbci.org is also the place to learn about LEED Professional Accreditation, register for the LEED AP exam, find LEED Accredited Professionals in your area, and access your LEED AP exam records.
Contact Rightway for more information on green entrance floor mat systems.