How to Properly Use Tacky Mats in Your Controlled Environment
You may have a formal clean-room or just a room you want to keep clean. Maybe you have one welcome mat in front of your building or a mat in front of every door in your factory. Using mats to control the flow of dirt is a decades-old, common and effective practice. Correctly used, clean-room mats provide an even higher level of protection against contaminants. Here are four ways to improve the effectiveness of your Tacky Mats.
Match the mat’s location to its purpose.
Sticky mats are designed to keep contaminants in the current room. For example, if you want to keep factory dust out of the customer areas, place the mats on the factory side of the door. That way you trap the dust before it gets to the unwanted location. You may need two mats if you want to trap outside dirt from getting in and industrial particles from getting out. Either way, make sure the location of the mat provides the specific coverage fitting your needs.
Mat size and orientation must match actual practice.
Mats are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. It may seem easy to quickly pick a size without considering everyday use. If people using the door are pushing a cart, for example, the mat must be wide enough for maneuvering sidesteps.
You may also need a wider mat if there is considerable traffic around the door. Finally, while a smaller mat might be cheaper, longer mats will catch both feet in a stride. The mat cannot do its job if people in a rush don’t take the time to step on it with both feet.
The mat must be maintained and sheets removed carefully.
The unsoiled surfaces of tacky mats are incredibly effective at removing unwanted particles. However, once the mat becomes too dirty, you risk tracking filth into clean areas. Make sure you regularly monitor the mat and remove the top sheet when necessary.
The removal process must be done carefully. Quickly ripping the top layer off the mat results in spreading formerly trapped particles. To remove the mat, start with one corner and roll the mat into a ball as you go. That way you keep any dirt and dust particles trapped as you discard the sheet.
Use the mat in concert with other environmental controls.
The other potential reality is that using just the mat alone may not be enough. A particularly complicated production process may require both tacky mats and shoe covers. Shoe covers are also an option for temporary situations with a higher level of particulates. Many organizations find that creating a separate staging area is the best environmental control. Mats can be used before the staging area door to reduce the pollution inside. Creating the best mix of control products will provide the best outcome for your organization.
Environmental mats are an important part of your control process. Any particles heavier than air will eventually end up on shoes. Without effectively used sticky mats, those particles will spread into your clean areas. Contact your sticky mats provider to make sure you are getting the most out of your protection.
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