EVIDENCE AND CRITERIA
Why the entrance matters
The role of the entrance in the transfer of organic residue, dust, microorganisms and outdoor substances: behaviours, systems and evaluation criteria.
Entrances concentrate movement
People, animals and footwear cross a limited number of points before spreading through indoor spaces. That makes the threshold a rational place to observe and, when useful, intercept dirt, moisture and material carried from outside.
The principle already exists
Doormats, walk-off systems, vestibules and shoes-off practices already manage the outdoor-to-indoor transition. Standards such as LEED and WELL v1 formalise the role of entryway systems in capturing dirt and particulates.
A combination of practices and systems
Entrance hygiene combines routines, design, maintenance, passive systems and, where validated, active treatment. Each solution should be evaluated within its intended routine and setting.
Three scales, one principle
Pet Entry Hygiene addresses paws and return-home routines. Footwear Hygiene addresses soles, moisture and the home. Building Entry Hygiene addresses flow, architecture and operations. Metrics differ, but the transition principle remains.
Measure before promising
Visible cleaning, particulate removal, moisture management and microbiological reduction are different endpoints. A reliable assessment keeps them distinct and requires specific evidence for each stated outcome.
How to interpret conclusions
Sources, limitations and evaluation criteria help distinguish what is documented from what needs testing. Evidence about entrances does not demonstrate the performance of HYGEN KLINX products, which are still in development.