Matting & Ground ProtectionPVCSKU IPM-FTX-LGY-10X1
Switchboard Matting – 5mm Extra-Thick Electrical Insulation Mat, 7,500 V AC Working Voltage (ASTM D178 Class 1), Broad-Rib Anti-Slip PVC | 10m × 1m Rolls, 4 Colours
The mat that stands between an engineer and 7,500 volts — extra-thick insulating PVC laid in front of every switchboard, panel and control cabinet.
Anyone who opens a live panel is standing on the one thing that decides whether a fault goes to ground through the floor or through them. Concrete, steel deck and damp screed all conduct. This matting does not. Laid along the front of switchgear, motor control centres and distribution boards, it puts 5mm of tested insulating vinyl under the operator's feet, with a broad-ribbed tread so the same mat is also the safe, slip-resistant standing surface for the job.
It is the extra-thick grade of our ribbed vinyl safety matting. Tested to ASTM D178 it achieved an overall Class 1, Type IIB rating with a maximum working voltage of 7,500 V AC, and Type IIB means the compound also passed the flame-resistance test. Choose light grey, blue, brown or black; every colour comes as a 10m × 1m roll that cuts on site to the length of the switch room.
7,500 V AC WORKING VOLTAGE
Tested to ASTM D178, overall Class 1, Type IIB. Class 1 is rated for a maximum use voltage of 7,500 V AC, which covers every low-voltage installation and most 3.3 kV and 6.6 kV switchgear.
EXTRA THICK, 5MM
A full millimetre thicker than the standard 4mm grade, at 5.5 kg/m². The extra section is what lifts the rating and gives the mat a longer service life in front of busy panels.
BROAD-RIB GRIP
Textured broad ribs along the roll give a firm footing for an engineer working with both hands inside a panel, and channel dust and small spills away from the standing area.
FLAME RESISTANT, CHEMICAL RESISTANT
Did not ignite in ASTM D1692 testing (Type IIB). Resistant to most acids, alkalis and oils. Phthalate free, REACH SVHC free and 100% recyclable.
WHICH GRADE?
| Extra-thick switchboard matting (this page) | Standard 4mm ribbed vinyl | |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 5mm | 4mm |
| ASTM D178 rating | Class 1, Type IIB, 7,500 V AC working voltage | Class 0, 1,000 V AC working voltage |
| Weight | 5.5 kg/m² | 4.4 kg/m² |
| Choose it for | Switch rooms, MCCs, HV and LV switchgear, plant rooms where a rated mat is specified | General ribbed safety flooring where a low-voltage rating is enough |
Rule of thumb: if the mat is going in front of switchgear and someone will ask for the rating, buy this grade. It is the one with the paperwork to match. Tell us if your site requires certification to BS EN 61111 rather than ASTM D178 and we will confirm before you order.
HOW MUCH DO I NEED?
| 10m × 1m roll | Covers 10 m². About 55 kg. Runs the full length of a typical switch room in one piece, 1m deep along the panel front. |
| Planning the run | Measure the length of the panel front and add 0.5m each end so the mat extends past the outermost door. One metre of depth covers the operating position; for withdrawable breakers or deep-drawout gear, lay two widths side by side. |
| Worked example | A 7m switchboard: 7m plus 0.5m each end = 8m of roll, leaving 2m for the distribution board in the corridor. |
| Cut lengths | Not listed here. Send us the lengths and we will price them cut to size. |
COLOURS
Four stock colours, the same mat and the same price in each. Use the colour selector above to see each one in place.
- Light grey — the switch-room standard. Shows dropped fixings and tools at a glance and keeps a plant room looking clean.
- Blue — marks the operating zone clearly on a grey floor; a common choice where the site colour-codes safety areas.
- Brown — hides soiling in workshops and transport maintenance bays.
- Black — disappears in front of dark cabinets and on dark floors; the usual choice for retrofit runs.
Other colours are produced to order for larger projects.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
- In front of low-voltage switchboards, motor control centres and distribution boards
- HV and LV switch rooms and substations up to the rated working voltage
- Control rooms, plant rooms and electrical workshops
- Test bays and repair benches where live equipment is worked on
- Battery rooms, UPS rooms and data-centre power rooms
- Transport maintenance and traction workshops
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
| Composition | Flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC), 100% vinyl, phthalate free |
| Surface | Textured broad-rib, ribs running along the roll |
| Thickness | 5mm (13/64") |
| Roll size | 10m × 1m (10 m²) |
| Tolerances | Height ±0.5mm | length 0 / +0.3m | width ±1cm. All dimensions nominal |
| Weight | 5.5 kg/m² (1.26 lb/sq.ft) |
| Colours | Light grey, blue, brown or black. Other colours to order |
| Electrical (ASTM D178) | Overall Class 1, Type IIB. Maximum working voltage 7,500 V AC |
| Fire (ASTM D1692) | Did not ignite, Type IIB |
| Tensile strength (ASTM D178) | 1,127 psi (Type I and II) |
| Elongation (ASTM D178) | 256% (Type I and II) |
| Tension set (ASTM D178) | 10% |
| Moisture absorption (ASTM D178) | +0.6% |
| Service temperature | -23°C to +60°C. Slight size variation may occur at temperature extremes |
| Chemical | Resistant to most acids, alkalis and oils — ask for the chemical resistance sheet if you need a specific check |
| UV | Resistant to PVC degradation |
| Reversion | Allow up to 2% thermoplastic shrinkage when cutting to a fixed length; faster in hot locations |
| Environment | 100% recyclable; contains no SVHC substances under REACH; phthalate free |
FOR SPECIFIERS
Suggested clause: Electrical insulating switchboard matting, flexible PVC, broad-rib textured surface, 5mm thick, 5.5 kg/m², tested to ASTM D178 overall Class 1 Type IIB with a maximum working voltage of 7,500 V AC, flame resistant to ASTM D1692, service temperature -23°C to +60°C, phthalate free, REACH SVHC free, loose laid along the operating face of the switchgear. 10m × 1m rolls, colour [light grey / blue / brown / black].
Tell us the switchgear voltage, the length of the panel front and the room layout and we will return a marked-up quantity and the data sheet.
INSTALLATION
- Lay it loose. Unroll along the operating face of the switchgear and let it relax flat. The weight and the ribbed underside hold it in place; no adhesive is needed and none should be used, because a bonded mat cannot be lifted for inspection.
- Cover the whole operating position. The mat should extend past the outermost panel door at each end and be deep enough that the operator's feet stay on it with the door open.
- Cut on site. A sharp knife along a straightedge. Cut fractionally long to allow for reversion.
- Keep it as one piece where you can. Where two lengths must meet, butt them tightly; never overlap.
- Inspect it. Check the mat for cuts, embedded metal and contamination as part of the switch-room inspection routine, and replace any damaged length.
CLEANING & MAINTENANCE
Routine: vacuum or sweep along the ribs, then damp mop. Non-porous vinyl, nothing soaks in.
Deeper clean: an alkaline floor cleaner diluted to the maker's instructions, rinsed off. Avoid solvents.
Oil and coolant: wipe up promptly. The compound resists oils, but a contaminated surface is a slip surface.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does Class 1, Type IIB mean?
ASTM D178 grades insulating matting by the voltage it is proved against. Class 1 is rated for a maximum working voltage of 7,500 V AC. Type II means the compound also passed additional tests, and the B suffix is the flame-resistance test. This mat passed all of them.
Is it certified to BS EN 61111?
It is tested and rated to ASTM D178, the American standard, which is widely accepted on UK sites. If your site or client specifies BS EN 61111 class matting, tell us before ordering and we will confirm what can be supplied.
What is the difference from the standard ribbed vinyl?
Thickness and rating. The standard grade is 4mm and rated Class 0 at 1,000 V AC. This grade is 5mm and rated Class 1 at 7,500 V AC, and it wears longer in front of busy panels.
Can I glue it down?
Do not. It is designed to be loose laid so it can be lifted for inspection and cleaning. Its weight and ribbed underside keep it in place.
Is it anti-static or ESD matting?
No, it is the opposite. This mat insulates the person from ground. For electronics benches where static must be drained away, use our ESD anti-static matting instead.
How do I cut it?
A sharp utility knife along a straightedge, on a sacrificial board. Or ask us to cut lengths before dispatch.
Does it come in other sizes?
The 10m × 1m roll is stocked. Cut lengths are supplied to order, and other colours can be produced for larger projects.
NOT SURE WHAT YOU NEED?
Send us the switchgear voltage, the length of the panel front and a photo of the room. We will confirm the grade, the colour and the number of rolls, and price any cut lengths.
Product details
| SKU | IPM-FTX-LGY-10X1 |
|---|---|
| Material | PVC |
| Form | Mat |
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Fast, no-obligation price from our UK team for:Switchboard Matting – 5mm Extra-Thick Electrical Insulation Mat, 7,500 V AC Working Voltage (ASTM D178 Class 1), Broad-Rib Anti-Slip PVC | 10m × 1m Rolls, 4 Colours