How long do anti-fatigue mats last? PVC foam mats last 6-12 months. PVC/nitrile blends last 1-3 years. 100% nitrile mats have a life expectancy of up to 8 years.
That's the short answer. The extended answer is that life expectancy is complicated and too often ambiguous. What's clear is that it's a problem; from our survey of safety and production leaders, 52% expect their anti-fatigue mats to last at least 2 years – only 32% say they actually are. Why? There's a lack of clarity.
Here are 4 reasons your anti-fatigue mats aren't lasting, including steps to make sure you have a complete understanding of lifespan before investing.
1. Ambiguity on what life expectancy means
Say you recently purchased a premium ergo mat with a lifespan of 5+ years, but there is no literature clarifying what lifespan really means. It may mean cushion only. If the mat starts to curl in 3 months, creating a clear trip hazard, that's the end of its useful life.
Action step: Always get clarity on what life expectancy actually means before hitting the buy button. For example, does "2 years" mean 2 years in an 8:00-5:00pm Monday-Friday facility, or 2 years in a 24/7/365 facility? The difference is thousands of hours of use for your team.
Ask mat providers directly and keep digging until you get clarity.
100% nitrile rubber foam lasts for an average of ~5 years in the toughest industrial settings, assuming 24/7 use (three shifts per day). In less intense environments, like a home office, kitchen or retail environment, 100% nitrile will last 10+ years without interruption. Pure nitrile is unique in that it never flattens.
2. Ambiguous warranties
Every anti-fatigue mat should have a warranty, one that is clear on what you are protected from and what happens if the mat doesn't work as promised. Be weary of a "lifetime limited warranty" and "manufacturer's warranty." Most often, these don't promise anything more than "The mat will be made correctly."
Before purchasing an anti-fatigue mat, you should know with certainty what you're being protected against.
- Your mats will NOT curl
- Your mats will NOT compress
- Your mats will NOT come apart at the seams
Less than 50 words. That's the AcroMat 2-year replacement warranty. Unfortunately, too many many warranties give suppliers the ability to say "sorry, not our problem" as soon as you unbox a mat. One example we see often, "not responsible for wear and tear."
Action step: Read the warranty fine print, then ask for clarity if it's still ambiguous.
3. Biased product pages
If you see "SpongeCell3000," "exclusive nitrile blended foam" or some other confusing, fancy name for the mat materials you're considering, the mat is most likely made from a combination of nitrile rubber foam and PVC foam.
This is the most common blend of materials used on the marked today. It's comfortable and versatile, but struggles in more intense environments.
For example, mats with a percentage of PVC (plastic) are not impervious to liquids and chemicals. In environments with any kind of spill or splash, PVC/nitrile blends are prone to cracking, curling, flattening, eroding and going flat. It's fine for products to have "fancy" names, just make sure they're not misleading and that all the literature you need to full understand the material is readily available.
Conversely, 100% nitrile (no PVC component) is impervious to liquids and chemicals; it's literally incapable of absorbing any liquid product.
We soaked 100% nitrile in water for 72 hours to see if it would absorb liquids. Here are the results.
Action step: Skip the promotional language from a product page, and just directly to the technical specifications (specs), warranty and FAQ. Always be sure to ask for a free sample, and test the mat in your environment for weeks if not months.
PVC foam mats last 6-12 months. PVC/nitrile blends last 1-3 years. 100% nitrile mats have a life expectancy of up to 8 years
Related: The 100% Nitrile Difference: PVC Foam vs. PVC/Nitrile vs. Pure Nitrile
4. Lack of independent certification
Independent testing and certification provides critical objectivity. It also gives you control during the research and buying process; you're relying on objective assessments rather than promises or promotions by the company.
When sampling or trialing anti-fatigue mats, you can refer back to certifications to help gain guy-in from leadership.
Example 1. The AcroMat 100-Cleanroom Series mat was independently tested for 500 hours to receive ISO-5 cleanroom Certification. Certification details.
Example 2. The AcroMat 100-Series and NitriTuf Diamond Series is "high traction" certified by the National Floor Safety Institute. NFSI is the nationally recognized standard for measuring an ergo mat's slip resistance. According to NFSI, "high traction" certification has proven to reduce wet-slip claims by 50-70%. Certification details.
Action step: Review certifications and the testing results. Certifications shouldn't be the end all, but understanding what they represent can help you make more informed decisions.
How long anti-fatigue mats last ultimately depends on the durability of the materials, whether they're right for your particular environment, and how you use the mats. The simple steps above, like asking pointed questions and make sure you put samples to the test in your working setting, can provide you with a better understanding of what to expect from your mats.
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Put an AcroMat mat to the test: Get a Free Sample Mat
Related: 5 Reasons Your Anti-Fatigue Mats Aren't Working
