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Adhesive mats, also known as sticky or peel-off mats, are disposable solutions made up of adhesive layers. The top layer is removed and replaced as it becomes dirty. The main challenges are inconsistent performance, frequent replacement, and studies indicating that adhesive mats may be only up to 27% effective.
Dycem contamination control mats are washable, reusable polymer mats designed to attract, capture, and retain particles from footwear and wheels. Their performance is restored when the mat is cleaned. Documented performance is up to 99.9% removal of footwear- and wheel-borne particles, as well as a reduction of up to 75% in airborne contamination.
| Dycem contamination control mats | Adhesive mats | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Up to 99.9% from footwear and wheels, plus up to 75% airborne contamination reduction | Up to 27%, based on studies referenced by Dycem |
| Operation | Cleaned to restore performance | Layers must be removed and replaced frequently, resulting in variable performance |
| Wheeled traffic | Yes, depending on the model, including heavy wheeled traffic | Often problematic, particularly for wheeled traffic |
| Contamination risk during maintenance | Cleaned without removing layers | Peeling may release particles and generate static |
| Waste | Low, with a typical service life of 3–5 years | High, due to multiple disposable layers and plastic waste |
| Customisation | Can be sized to create an unavoidable controlled passage | Usually supplied in standard sizes |
Why Adhesive Mats Often Do Not Perform Well Enough
Performance: 27% Compared with 99.9%
Tests indicate that adhesive mats may be only 27% effective at removing contamination from footwear and wheels. By comparison, Dycem captures up to 99.9% of footwear- and wheel-borne particles and can reduce airborne contamination by up to 75%.
Size and Sufficient Contact: Six Footsteps or Three Wheel Rotations
A key problem with adhesive mats is that they are often too short. For optimum decontamination, Dycem recommends at least six footsteps or three complete wheel rotations.
When a mat is too small, users may step over it, walk around it, or repeatedly use the same small area until it becomes saturated.
Using Multiple Mats Becomes Expensive and Impractical
Some facilities try to compensate by placing several adhesive mats in sequence, often referred to as “ganging”.
Dycem states that achieving approximately 80% contamination prevention may require at least ten adhesive mats, with each mat peeled twice during an eight-hour shift. Contamination may also collect in the gaps between individual mats.
Wheeled Traffic: Saturation, Tearing and Adhesive Transfer
Adhesive mats can perform poorly under wheeled traffic. Layers may wrap around wheels, tear, or become damaged. Adhesive residue may also be transferred further into controlled areas.
Heavy wheeled traffic can saturate adhesive mats quickly, further reducing their performance.
Particle Release During Removal
One study found that a used adhesive mat can release an average of 125,000 particles back into the surrounding environment.
This means that the maintenance process itself may contribute to recontamination.
Safety in Traffic Areas
Adhesive mats can create a trip hazard, particularly when edges lift or uneven surfaces develop in areas with frequent pedestrian or wheeled traffic.
Why Dycem Is Often the Better Choice
- Consistent Performance in Daily Operation
Dycem is designed for continuous use. The mat is cleaned rather than peeled, restoring its performance over time. The surface attracts, captures, and retains particles until they are removed during cleaning. - Long Service Life and Fewer Replacements
Dycem mats typically have a service life of three to five years, depending on the model, traffic level, and maintenance. This means fewer replacements, more predictable operation, and less disruption to established procedures. - Antibacterial Properties with Biomaster
All Dycem products contain Biomaster silver-ion technology, which inhibits microbial growth, including organisms such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli. - Customised to Create an Unavoidable Passage
Dycem mats can be customised in width and length so that they form a genuine contamination control barrier. This prevents users from simply stepping around a small standard-sized mat and helps ensure sufficient contact for effective particle removal.
Cost and Waste
Adhesive Mats Mean Continuous Consumption and High Waste Volumes
Each removed adhesive layer can form a ball of waste approximately 20 cm in size. In high-traffic environments, this can generate substantial waste volumes over time.
There are also ongoing costs associated with purchasing, storing, replacing, and disposing of the mats.
Dycem Means Fewer Replacements and Documented Savings
Dycem refers to a case from the aviation industry where the analysis identified savings of approximately NOK 3,000,000 over seven years compared with continued use of adhesive mats.
Actual savings depend on the size of the installation, traffic levels, maintenance routines, and the number of adhesive mats currently being used.
When Can Adhesive Mats Still Be Suitable?
Adhesive mats may still be sufficient when:
- the requirement is temporary, such as during short-term construction or maintenance work
- traffic levels are low
- frequent peeling, higher waste volumes, and variable performance are acceptable
Which Dycem Solution Is Right for Your Facility?
Dycem mats are available in different sizes and formats for different environments:
- Permanently installed: CleanZone and WorkZone
- Loose-laid mats: Lite and Floating Mats
- Cleaning and maintenance: How to clean Dycem mats, including guidance and video
Ready to Find the Right Solution?
Send us one or two photographs of the entrance or transition zone, including an overview and a close-up of the floor.
We will recommend:
- the appropriate mat type, either permanently installed or loose-laid
- the correct length and dimensions
- a straightforward cleaning routine suited to the traffic level
Contact us through the enquiry form or call +47 21 08 80 80.