Safety Flooring

Raised patterns such as coin, checker, bubble and ribbed tops give more grip than smooth rubber, because they give shoes something to push against and channel water away. Coin tops are easy to sweep, while ribbed tops guide water and dirt in one direction. Smooth rubber is easiest to clean but has the least grip when wet.

Outdoor rubber safety flooring is mainly used to stop ground turning to mud and to cushion falls. Rubber grass mats of 22mm let grass grow through the holes, so they suit field gateways, footpaths and play areas. They are pegged into the ground, and the grass hides them once it has grown through.

Where a product has been slip tested, the result is given on that product page. Many rubber mats are sold on their surface pattern and drainage rather than a formal rating. If your risk assessment calls for a specific slip rating, email support@welcomestep.co.uk with the requirement before ordering.

Use mats with edging pieces, or fit edging strips to interlocking tiles so the outer edge slopes down to floor level. The 1m x 1m x 22mm coin-top interlocking mat comes as a mat only, with a side edge or with a corner edge. Single mats should lie flat, so replace any mat whose corners have started to curl.

Yes, open-hole rubber mats and interlocking tiles are made for areas that are regularly washed down. Water drains through the holes rather than sitting on the surface, and the mats can be lifted and hosed clean. In areas washed with strong chemicals, check that the listing states chemical resistance.

For dropped hand tools and parts, 10mm to 12mm rubber is usually enough. Heavier items, such as weights or cast parts, call for 17mm to 22mm mats or 25mm to 30mm tiles. The thicker the rubber, the more of the impact it absorbs before it reaches the concrete.

Use rubber grass mats on grass or soft ground where you want the grass to keep growing, such as gateways and lawns. Use solid or drainage tiles on hard ground such as concrete or paving. Grass mats are pegged down, while tiles on hard ground rely on their weight and interlocking joints.

Yes, loose-laid rubber mats and interlocking tiles can go on top of existing tiles, lino or concrete, as long as the surface is flat and clean. Lifting any loose old tiles first stops them moving under the new floor. Rolls laid over a smooth floor may need tape at the ends to stop them shifting.

Yes, rubber ramp mats are made for this, such as the 135 x 109cm ramp mat for horsebox trailers. On a ramp, the mat must be fixed in place, because gravity and foot traffic will slide a loose mat downhill. Choose a ribbed or raised pattern so feet and hooves have something to push against.

Colour can help mark out walkways, wet areas and hazard zones. Several products in this collection come in colours rather than plain black, such as the orange 90 x 90cm wet room mat and rubber tiles with blue or orange fleck. A contrasting colour at a step or edge makes the change in floor easier to see.