Installing industrial rubber flooring, which is specially designed for footing safety, can help prevent slips and falls in the workplace. In addition, rubber floors are easy to clean and extremely durable, guaranteeing a long product life. But commercial rubber flooring isn’t solely for industrial uses. Some rubber floors are designed with anti-fatigue materials, a perfect solution for employees who have to be on their feet for hours at a time. And a growing number of environmentally conscious manufacturers sell recycled rubber flooring.

Before you purchase commercial rubber flooring:

1. Determine the dimensions of the area you want to cover with rubber floors.

2. Figure out which rubber flooring features are most important for your business.

3. Decide how you want your rubber flooring to look in terms of style and color.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Research industry-specific rubber flooring

Different types of businesses require unique commercial rubber flooring solutions. Is traction your main concern? What about shock and sound absorption? Do you need the rubber floors to be grease resistant? Would a rubber mat that can be removed for cleaning underneath be your best bet?

I recommend: Allied Products offers commercial rubber flooring specifically designed for surfaces that require resilience and traction as well as shock and sound absorption, like health clubs and weight rooms. If you own a commercial kitchen and want to secure your wet workstation, check out these interlocking rubber floors made of anti-fatigue materials from Best-Mats.com. Rubber-Cal provides rubber floors used in pet care operations.

Consider recycled rubber flooring

Whether or not you want your business to be 100 percent eco-friendly, recycled rubber floors can oftentimes offer a more economic solution with the same safe results.

I recommend: ECOsurfaces creates rubber flooring from post-consumer material collected at landfills. Available in 70 color combinations, they come in rolls or tiles that can be cut and shaped to any length. RB Rubber Products also offers recycled commercial rubber flooring products that are ergonomically designed to provide anti-fatigue benefits.

Don't need wall-to-wall rubber floors? Try mats

Rubber flooring is just as important outside as it is inside. Entrances can be a precarious spot for both consumers and employees as they battle the elements in a race to enter your business. Placing a rubber entrance mat out front will help them avoid a fall.

I recommend: Musson Rubber supplies rubber flooring options, such as rubber entrance mats that allow for water drainage, air circulation and shoe wiping regardless of traffic direction. Durable Corp. also supplies a large variety of rubber entrance mats.

Customize your rubber flooring

Who says rubber floors have to be boring? With hundreds of options available in terms of style and color, you can find something that fits your business image. In addition, you can pump up the marketing power of your rubber flooring by adding your company logo in your lobby.

I recommend: ROPPE and R.C.A. Rubber Company offer custom rubber flooring logos in addition to a wealth of rubber flooring products for floors and stairs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure a customer's first trip to your business doesn't result in an actual trip by installing rubber flooring both inside and outside your establishment.
• •  Keep your employees safe and comfortable by investing in anti-fatigue rubber floors for areas where they will be standing all day and also in areas where they go to relax during breaks.
• •  Don't forget to use rubber flooring on stairs, risers and landing tiles.