Anti-fatigue mat performance goes beyond how they feel underfoot on day one – It’s about how your mats hold up after years of constant, heavy, real-world use.
This is why we put the nitrile material we use to make our 100-Series mats – specifically our 100-1, 100-Cleanroom, and 100-ESD Series – through rigorous ASTM D3574-17 Dynamic Fatigue Test by Constant Force Pounding. Evaluated alongside two leading competitor mats, the results were clear: AcroMat anti-fatigue mats are 2.3-3.2X more resilient.
Below, we look at the ASTM D3574-17 force pounding process, key takeaways from the results, and how the data certifies AcroMat’s Lifetime Performance Warranty promise that our 100-Series mats will deliver indefinite ergonomic support.
1. Why Force Compression Testing Matters
Anti-fatigue mats are subject to constant pounding. In manufacturing environments, workers often stand for 8-12 hours a day, walking in place, shifting weight, even rolling heavy carts over their mats. Some facilities operate 24 hours a day, which amounts to 8,756 hours of use per mat per year. Over time, this repeated stress causes many mats – especially those made from extruded PVC foam – to break down, compress, and lose their ergonomic cushion.
Anti-fatigue mats that lose their structure compromise health, safety, and productivity. Sunken or compressed mats no longer provide the “anti-fatigue” benefit – contributing to musculoskeletal (MSD) disorders, the No. 1 most reported workplace injury. Mats that bottom out in the middle can also cause the borders to curl upwards, creating a dangerous trip hazard. These issues likewise cause operational disruptions by forcing workers to focus on their feet rather than the work, and tax your budget by requiring frequent re-purchases.
Example of two extruded PVC foam mats, one with a traditional foam surface (left) and the other with a vinyl diamond-plate covering (right). Both have bottomed out, causing discomfort as well as slip, trip, and fall hazards.
ASTM International, with over 13,000 standards used by organizations worldwide, is widely recognized as the benchmark for evaluating and ensuring the quality, performance, and safety of anti-fatigue mat products. In particular, ASTM D3574-17 Dynamic Fatigue Test by Constant Force Pounding is recognized as an industry-standard method for evaluating how well a mat's cushion and resilience holds up to constant use.
The D3574-17 Dynamic Fatigue Test helps determine whether your anti-fatigue mats will break down or maintain their structure by simulating years of use by compressing mat samples 80,000 times over the course of 24 hours. Each compression includes a force of 170 lbs., the approximate weight of an average adult.
Pictured: AcroMat 100-Series nitrile material preparing to undergo ASTM D3574-17 Dynamic Fatigue Test by Constant Force Pounding evaluation.
DDL, an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, and GMP, third-party testing lab based in Minnesota, conducted the ASTM D3574-17 Dynamic Fatigue testing of AcroMat's anti-fatigue mats and multiple competing mats. DDL employs a team of engineers and quality experts proficient in ASTM standards to help companies understand the safety and performance of their products.
2. Results: AcroMat 2.3X-X3.2X More Resilient
The ASTM D3574-17 Dynamic Fatigue Test results for the AcroMat 100-Series mat material indicated between 2.3X and 3.2X more resilience than two leading competitor mats.
Specifically, we had the AcroMat 100-1 Series, 100-Cleanroom Series, and 100-ESD Series mat material tested alongside two of the top-selling industrial anti-fatigue mats available. The AcroMat material is molded, closed cell, nitrile rubber foam. The two competitor mats are made from extruded PVC foam, one with the traditional foam surface and the other with a vinyl diamond-plate covering.
The competitor mats are not named or pictured here to protect privacy; instead, our focus is on the material (PVC foam) compared to AcroMat's nitrile rubber foam.
The AcroMat 100-1, 100-Cleanroom, and 100-ESD Series mats, made from molded nitrile rubber foam, were tested alongside two leading competitor mats, a traditional PVC foam mat and a PVC foam mat with vinyl diamond-plate covering.
The AcroMat 100-Series nitrile material maintained over 98% of its original thickness after 80,000 compressions. Conversely, the two competitor mats suffered 4.4% and 6.1% loss.
The key metric in this test is loss of thickness (%). Competitor Mat 1 lost 6.1% of its thickness after 80,000 compressions, while Competitor Mat 2 lost 4.4% of its thickness after 80,000 compressions. The AcroMat 100-Series nitrile material lost just 1.9% of its thickness. Collectively, the AcroMat 100-Series proved to be 3.2X more resilient than Competitor Mat 1 and 2.3X more resilient than Competitor Mat 2.
A 98%+ thickness retention indicates permanent resistance to deformation, while loss greater than 2% indicates higher likelihood of permanent deformation.
According to an engineer with DDL, "A low loss in thickness means the sample holds its shape." This insight is affirmed by Darcie Jaremy, Board Certified Professional Ergonomist and owner of ergonomicsHelp: "What sets [the AcroMat 100-Series] apart is that it is quite robust to stand on; it holds its shape very well ... After standing in one location for a while the mat doesn’t flatten and doesn’t require you to relocate your feet to get cushion and relief."
Further, the mats were measured at 60 minutes and 24 hours throughout the compression process to assess whether they regained or continued to lose thickness over time. Competitor Mat 1 and Competitor Mat 2 measured thinner at 24 hours than at 60 minutes – indicating continued loss of thickness. The AcroMat 100-Series nitrile material regained thickness from 60 minutes to 24 hours – indicating a return to its original shape despite constant pounding.
Screenshot from the report provided by DDL showing how the AcroMat 100-Series nitrile material regained thickness over the course of 80,000 compressions, indicating a return to form despite constant pounding and verifying indefinite resilience.
Screenshot from the final report showing how Competitor Mat 1, PVC foam with traditional surface, became thinner over time as the force compression pounding wore on – indicating rapid and permanent break down from heavy use.
ASTM D3574-17 Test Results Summary:
-The AcroMat 100-Series mat material, molded nitrile rubber foam, was tested alongside two of the top-selling industrial mats on the market; one a PVC foam mat (Competitor Mat 1), the other a PVC foam mat with vinyl diamond-plate surface (Competitor Mat 2).
-The ASTM test involved 80,000 compressions (constant pounding) of 170 lbs. over 24 hours, measured after 60 minutes and 24 hours.
-The 100-Series nitrile material maintained >98% of its thickness. A 98%+ thickness retention indicates permanent resistance to deformation.
-The PVC foam competitor mat lost 6.1% of its thickness, while the PVC foam mat with diamond-plate surface lost 4.4%. Greater than 2% loss indicates likelihood of permanent deformation.
-The PVC foam mat lost 221% more thickness than the 100-Series nitrile material; the PVC foam mat with diamond-plate cover lost 131% more thickness than the 100-Series.
-The 100-Series nitrile material was the only mat to steadily regain thickness from 60 minutes to 24 hours, indicating a return to form and shape despite constant force. The competitor mats continued to lose thickness over time.
For comparison, various molded polyurethane automotive seating foams for Ford, Chrysler, and GM vehicles underwent the same ASTM D3574-17 testing process. Polyurethane is a material that is also often found in anti-fatigue mats. The seating foams lost between 2.5% and 3.8% thickness, all higher than the AcroMat nitrile material.
-Based on percentage of thickness maintained/lost, the 100-Series nitrile material is 2.3X more resilient than the PVC foam mat with diamond-plate covering and 3.2X more resilient than the PVC foam competitor mat with standard surface.
-At AcroMat, we promise our molded, closed cell, nitrile 100-Series mats will remain permanently resilient and never sink, flatten, or lose their ergonomic cushion. We back this up with a Lifetime Performance Warranty. The results of the ASTM D3574-17 Dynamic Fatigue Test reaffirm our promise with internationally recognized, standardized data.
3. What These Results Mean for Safety and ROI
For companies in need of reliable anti-fatigue mats that will perform for years without issue or interruption, the takeaway from the ASTM D3574-17 Dynamic Fatigue testing is straightforward: Not all anti-fatigue mats are created equal.
Mats that lose their structure quickly don’t just wear out – they compromise safety, halt productivity, and tax your safety budget. Conversely, by choosing mats with proven compression resistance like AcroMat’s 100-Series, you can be certain your mats will:
- Maintain ergonomic performance indefinitely
- Reduce injury risks linked to fatigue and poor posture
- Lower total cost of ownership with fewer replacements
- Improve safety compliance with mats that retain their structure
- Support workforce morale and retention by improving daily comfort
By combining AcroMat's custom-design capabilities with our premium nitrile material, this industrial manufacturer elevated safety and productivity while reducing year-over-year spend and total cost of ownership.
4. Final Thought: Proven Performance, Measurable Results
Whether you’re specifying mats for a new production line or replacing underperforming mats across an entire facility, making sure you find a material that will not sink, flatten, or bottom out on your people is critical to making the right investment.
With over 90% of standing workers feeling more valued when premium anti-fatigue mats are in place – It's not just about getting better mats, it's about building a better workplace.
Questions about the results above? Interested in a deeper dive into the testing process and data? Ready to experience the AcroMat difference with a free sample mat?
