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Stop dirt and water at the door. Keep people and spaces safe, simply, and cut cleaning time.
A single mat at the door is not a system. The 3-Zone approach uses three short areas that work together to scrape, wipe, and dry. It’s simple. It works. And it’s easy to plan.
What is a 3-Zone system?
- Zone 1 — Scraper Zone: heavy scraping before the threshold.
- Zone 2 — Wiper Zone: scraper-wiper to remove fine grit and start drying.
- Zone 3 — Drying Zone: textile to finish drying and protect floors.
Why three zones? Because each step removes a different type of soil and moisture. Treat the entry as a sequence, not a spot.
How long should it be?
Design for multiple steps of walk-off. If space allows, aim for 3–6 metres from first contact to clean floor. Industry guides show removal improves with distance: about 50–60% after 1 m, ~75% after 3 m, ~90% after 6 m.
What goes in each zone?
Zone 1 – Exterior scraper
- Robust scraper that sheds water and grit.
- Open construction and drainage so it doesn’t hold water.
- Sits flat, no lips.
Zone 2 – Interior scraper – wiper
- Tough surface that lifts fine grit and starts drying.
- Sits within a frame or recess so feet and wheels pass smoothly
Zone 3 – Textile Dryer walk-off
- High absorption to finish drying before people hit the main floor.
- Often carpet-like tiles or matting that blends with the lobby finish.
Planning tips that make the system work
- Think traffic and weather. Map doors that get rain and dirt. Put your longest walk-off where exposure is highest.
- Recess whenever you can. Flush transitions reduce trips and help with trolleys and prams.
- Use a maintenance rhythm. Daily vacuum, prompt spill response, and periodic deep cleans keep performance high.
- Document it. Keep specs, photos, and cleaning logs. That helps with inspections and WHS duties.
What results should you expect?
A correctly sized 3-Zone setup traps most water and soil before it reaches your lobby, which helps reduce slip risk, cleaning hours, and floor wear. Many facility guides and vendors describe the same three-part framework because it’s proven and easy to maintain.
Want a quick visual?
This short explainer shows how the zones work, and which mat types belong in each area.
