With 80% of particulates said to enter critical environments via feet and wheels, now more than ever, having a floor-level contamination control plan is key.
Cleanroom floor mats play a crucial role in this. They are used to capture dirt from “street shoes” upon entering the gowning room. There are several different options available for cleanroom floor mats to support your organization’s contamination control strategy.
At Dycem, we have uncovered a long-lasting and cost-effective alternative to sticky mats commonly used in cleanroom environments. Let’s take a look at how they compare to other cleanroom flooring options so you can find the best solution for your organization.
Types of Cleanroom Floor Mats
Sticky Mats (Also known as “Sticky Mats”)
Adhesive sticky mats consist of layers of plastic sheets or polythene film, each coated with an acrylic adhesive. When walking across the mat, the surface is “sticky” and is intended to remove contamination from the sole of the shoe.
Adhesive Mats
Adhesive mats are disposable, with the top layer being removed from the stack and discarded after a period of use. The frequency in which the top layer needs removing varies between organizations on factors such as rate of saturation and foot traffic.
Polymeric Flooring
Polymeric flooring is manufactured from a non-toxic, plasticized material. The flooring has a natural tack, which enables the attraction and retention of particulate contamination on its surface, and short-wave electromagnetic forces bind particles to the surface.
Dycem Polymeric Flooring: An Alternative to Sticky Mats
Dycem polymeric flooring was identified as an alternative to sticky mats for contamination control.
When using polymeric floor coverings, airborne particles in cleanroom gowning rooms (link) are reduced by 75%. In an evaluation of the effectiveness of polymeric flooring compared with “sticky” mats to reduce contamination within cleanroom areas, the European Journal of Parenteral & Pharmaceutical Sciences found 99.9% of foot and wheel-borne contamination was captured and retained.
Dycem contamination control mats and flooring also contain an antimicrobial additive known as BioMaster that inhibits the growth of microbes by 99.9%. With a product lifespan of 3-5 years, the comparative cost would be at least $72,000 with sticky mats.
CleanZone by Dycem is a reusable, 99.9% effective, easy-to-clean floor-level contamination control solution for every industry and controlled environment.
“Polymeric solutions offer advantages for particle level cleanliness in terms of removal of particles from footwear and avoiding the particle generation which arises from the peeling of adhesive mats.” – Tim Sandle, Bio Products Laboratory
The Benefits of Dycem Flooring vs. Sticky Mats
Cost Savings
Due to the 3-5 year life of our polymeric floor coverings, an average of $80,000 can be saved during one year over purchasing sticky mats.
Time-saving
Custodians report a time saving of 2 hours per day due to not having to peel and dispose of sticky mats, reducing the time taken to clean your cleanrooms and other contamination control areas.
Size
Conforming to shoe and wheel profiles to collect particles between 0.1 and >100 microns, with Dycem’s contamination control mats and flooring, it takes just six footfalls or three full-wheel rotations to remove up to 99.9% of contamination.
A Greener Solution
Dycem has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The SBTi is focused on accelerating companies worldwide to halve emissions before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
By using a long-lasting contamination control solution, you will see a significant reduction of plastic disposal, with more than 1 ton of plastic per year not going into landfill.
Dycem’s Contamination Control Solutions
Dycem is committed to helping companies avoid the risks that floor contamination can pose. We provide a world-leading solution for controlled environments; long-lasting, polymeric contamination control flooring and mats. Learn more about our contamination control solutions.