What Is an Insulating Mat? Classes and Selection Criteria
An insulating mat is a floor covering that insulates a person working in front of a panel or cell from the floor, making it harder for current to pass through the body to ground.
An insulating mat is a floor covering that places an insulating layer between the floor and the feet of a person working in front of an electrical panel or cell, making it harder for current to flow through the body to ground. It is laid in front of low- and medium-voltage panels in substations, panel and generator rooms, where the operator stands during switching and maintenance. It does not replace gloves, voltage testing or the rules for working de-energised.
How it differs from similar floor products
| Product | Purpose | Does it replace an insulating mat? |
|---|---|---|
| Insulating mat | Insulates the worker electrically from the floor | — |
| Antistatic (ESD) mat | Drains static charge to the ground in a controlled way; conductive or static-dissipative | No |
| Insulating stool | A portable insulating platform placed at the switching point | Used for spot work; does not replace the mat laid in front of the panel |
Selection criteria
- Working voltage, not test voltage: A mat is factory-tested at a voltage far above the one it is used at. For mats classified to IEC 61111, supplier data sheets give the test voltage of classes 0, 1, 2 and 3 as 10, 20, 30 and 40 kV; a class 0 mat, for example, is tested at 10 kV but is used only in installations up to 1 kV. Choose the mat by a working voltage that covers the highest operating voltage of the installation.
- Class and documentation: If the specification calls for IEC 61111 and a specific class, ask the manufacturer for the product's test report or certificate of conformity before ordering.
- Area to cover: The mat should cover the whole area in front of the panel where the operator may stand during switching and maintenance; size it by the panel length and the swing area of the doors.
Common mistakes
- Taking the kV value on the product for the working voltage: A mat tested at 10 kV does not protect in a 10 kV installation.
- Leaving gaps between sections: Bare floor at the joints creates an uninsulated place to step.
- Continuing to use a damaged or dirty mat: Holes, cuts, cracks, embedded metal swarf and moisture impair the insulation; inspect the mat visually before each use and follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and periodic testing.
- Leaving it in the sun, next to a heat source or on an oily floor: Elastomer insulators degrade over time with light, heat and oil.
Insulating mats in the Welibaba catalogue
All 7 active products in the Insulating Mats category are from MAS and are sold per piece: with yellow warning stripes in 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm (MAS-IZLIKZ) and black in 3, 4 and 5 mm (MAS-IZL). The value stated by the manufacturer is 10 kV for 2 mm, 20 kV for 3 mm, 30 kV for 4 mm and 40 kV for 5 mm.
The catalogue does not state whether this value is a test voltage or a working voltage; the values follow the same steps as the IEC 61111 class 0–3 test voltages. Confirm the working voltage with the manufacturer. The products are supplied on lead time and cannot be added to the cart; for price and delivery, use the product adviser, WhatsApp or e-mail option on the product page.
Insulating gloves, MV voltage detectors and operating sticks are in MV Insulated Safety Equipment, Gloves and Warning Signs, and low-voltage testers in Voltage and Continuity Testers.
Frequently asked questions
How thick should an insulating mat be?
What matters is not the thickness but the working voltage, which must cover the highest operating voltage of the installation; across brands, thickness alone does not indicate the class. Read which thickness suits which installation from the manufacturer's working voltage information.
Can a mat marked 20 kV be used in a 20 kV installation?
Not if the value is a test voltage. The test voltage is well above the working voltage: in the IEC 61111 tables in supplier data sheets, a 20 kV test voltage corresponds to class 1, whose working voltage is 7.5 kV.
Can an antistatic mat be used instead of an insulating mat?
No. An antistatic mat is conductive or static-dissipative to drain static charge to ground; an insulating mat stops current passing through the body to the floor.