What Are the Best Mats for a Commercial Kitchen Floor?
By Created: March, 2021 - Modified: November, 2023
Related Product: Herongripa Slip Resistant Matting Roll 2 x 33 ft Roll
Finally, because people working in a kitchen will be standing for long periods of time, having an anti-fatigue capability in the commercial kitchen flooring mat is key. Standing on the mats is far more comfortable for workers than standing on a hard floor.
Here are the best mats for a commercial kitchen.
Herongripa Matting
The Herongripa Matting provides top-of-the-line performance for a commercial facility. The extra-wide open grid design allows waste and spillages to fall straight through. These are made from non-porous PVC material that has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. This roll-out matting is easy to customize for different sizes. Just cut with a sharp utility knife.
Herongripa features a diamond-cut surface pattern to provide traction. In fact, it is certified slip resistant. It is resistant to animal fat which makes it easy to clean in a kitchen setting. Unlike other mats, this matting is easy to roll up and clean underneath.
Nitrile rubber mats work nicely in a busy restaurant or commercial kitchen, as they have oil and grease resistance built into them, while also delivering the durability and anti-fatigue properties that other types of rubber commercial kitchen flooring will have. The biggest disadvantage of this type of rubber is a lack of weather resistance, but this won’t be a problem in a kitchen setting.
For a cost-effective choice when creating a flooring plan for the kitchen that uses nitrile rubber mats, the VIP Guardian Mat is a good place to start. This mat has a 3-by-5-foot coverage area, which is ideal for use at a prep station.
Each mat measures only 1/4 inch in thickness, so it has a lightweight design that’s also cost-effective. At 17 pounds per mat, this VIP mat is ideal for those who need to move the mat to different locations throughout the kitchen. Do not use this mat in an area with wheeled equipment traffic.
A thicker nitrile mat that has a greater level of cushioning is found in the VIP Red Cloud Anti Fatigue Mat. It measures 3/4 inches in thickness to deliver a high level of cushioning. This also is a lightweight mat, weighing only 14 pounds, so workers can move it between prep stations as needed.
At 3 by 5 feet in coverage, it’s ideal for one person to use while standing to work or to prepare food. It has an anti-slip surface for safety, but do not use it in areas that are constantly wet.
The Honeycomb Medium Duty Brown Mat design is especially durable. The drainage holes that extend through the entire thickness of the 9/16-inch rubber mat have a honeycomb (six-sided) shape on the top layer, which creates extra durability in the mat.
The underside of the mat contains nubs that help deliver its anti fatigue properties, while also allowing the mat to grip the subfloor and stay in place as people are walking across it or standing on it. The 3-foot wide mat has lengths between 2 and 6 feet available, so customers can find the perfect size for the kitchen. The largest 3-by-6-foot mat weighs 22 pounds, so it’s movable as needed, but it also has enough heft to stay in place.
Although nitrile foam is not as common as rubber for commercial kitchen flooring, some people prefer foam because of its lightweight design that still has a nice level of durability and cushioning. The foam is firm enough so there is no worry about having the employee’s feet sink into the mat, resulting in a stumbling hazard.
The VIP Black Cloud Lightweight Mat covers 3 by 5 feet and has 3/4 inches of thickness in the nitrile foam design, but it only weighs 14 pounds. The closed-cell nitrile foam in this mat resists grease while remaining easy to clean.
Do not use this mat in areas that are constantly wet. It has small holes extending through the mat's thickness for short-term drainage, but it will not last as long in extremely wet locations.