If you have seen “Pedisystems”, “Pedimat” and “Pedigrid” all show up on the same set of drawings, you are not alone. Estimators and project managers in the GTA ask us about this regularly, usually when a spec section calls for “C/S entrance flooring” without much detail. This guide sorts out the names and explains how the main Construction Specialties (C/S) entrance systems differ, so you can carry the right product and frame into your bid.
Pedisystems is the family, not a product
Pedisystems is the brand name C/S uses for its entrance flooring range. It is not something you order on its own. Under that umbrella, C/S groups its North American products into a few families:
- Mat systems such as Pedimat, plus Helix and DesignStep. These can be recessed or surface mounted.
- Tread systems such as PediTred, which sit between a mat and a grid in profile.
- Grid systems such as Pedigrid (aluminum) and GridLine (stainless steel). C/S lists its grid systems as recessed mounting only.
- Specialty flooring such as Floormations, aimed at design-led lobbies.
So the real question on most jobs is Pedimat versus Pedigrid (or GridLine), and which frame goes with it.
Pedimat: the low-profile mat
Pedimat is an aluminum rail mat with tread inserts between the rails, joined by hinge connectors. C/S describes the M1 version as a mat that can be either surface mounted or recessed, which is a big reason it shows up on renovation work where cutting a deep recess is not practical.
Points worth knowing from the C/S data sheet for Pedimat M1:
- The mat itself is thin (7/16″ per the product data), so recesses are shallow.
- Tread inserts include heavy-duty carpet, exterior carpet and rubber.
- Frame choices include surface-mounted tapered vinyl or aluminum frames, recessed level base and tapered angle frames, and a threshold frame for a flush transition at the door.
- C/S publishes a rolling load rating per wheel on the data sheet; confirm it against the carts and equipment that will actually cross the mat.
Pedimat is a good fit for offices, interior vestibules and moderate-traffic entrances, especially where the floor is already poured and you need a surface or shallow-recess solution.
Pedigrid: the recessed grille
Pedigrid is an aluminum grid with heel-resistant treads that scrape footwear while dirt, slush and water drop through into the well below. C/S positions it for high-traffic entrances that see mud, slush and snow, which describes most Ontario entrances from November to April.
From the C/S literature for Pedigrid G1 and SA G8:
- It is recessed only, so it needs a mat well in the slab.
- Tread options include heavy-duty carpet, exterior carpet, rubber, abrasive recycled rubber, logo rubber, and an aluminum serrated tread on the SA G8.
- Frame options include level base, shallow pit, deep pit, radius and recessed Z-edge frames, with optional drain pans.
- The deep pit frame can be supplied with a slope to drain, and C/S gives a lower rolling load rating for deep pit applications than for standard frames.
The extra depth of a deep pit frame gives more room to hold debris and meltwater between cleanings, which matters at busy doors in winter. The trade-off is a deeper recess that has to be planned before the concrete pour.
PediTred and GridLine: the in-between and the heavy-duty options
PediTred is C/S’s tread system. Its profile is deeper than Pedimat but shallower than a Pedigrid grid, so it can suit projects that want more scraping action than a mat without a full grid recess.
GridLine is the stainless steel grid line. C/S offers it in Type 304 or 316 stainless, in more than one depth, with level base and deep pit frames and aluminum or stainless drain pans. The G6 model carries the highest per-wheel rolling load rating of the products covered here, which makes it the one to look at when hospital beds, loaded carts, scissor lifts or pallet jacks will cross the entrance regularly.
Which system suits which building?
Every project has its own spec, but these patterns come up often:
- Hospitals and long-term care: wheelchairs, stretchers and supply carts mean rolling load is the first question. A recessed grid with a frame rated for the traffic is common, and stainless is worth considering where cleaning and corrosion are concerns.
- Schools and campuses: heavy winter foot traffic at a few main doors. A recessed grid with a drain-capable frame handles slush better than a thin mat.
- Transit and public buildings: high traffic and heavy maintenance equipment. Stainless grids and deep pit frames show up often on these specs.
- Offices and lobbies: moderate traffic and a focus on finish. Pedimat in a shallow recess, or a specialty product, is often enough, especially at an inner vestibule.
Whatever you choose, keep any surface-to-floor transition within accessibility limits. C/S notes its systems use openings under 1/4″ and that recessed systems should sit flush with the finished floor.
Questions to settle before you price it
- Is the slab already poured? If yes, surface mount or shallow recess may be the only practical choice.
- What rolls across it, and how heavy is it? Check the per-wheel rating for the exact frame, not just the product.
- Does the location need a drain or drain pan? C/S suggests these mainly for higher-than-average snow or rain exposure.
- Which tread insert, finish and colour does the architect want? Get that confirmed before shop drawings.
- Who field verifies the recess, and when?
A recent GRIT example
At York University’s Markham Campus in 2024, GRIT supplied and installed seven stainless foot grilles across three floors, plus a perimeter trench cover. Coordinating recess sizes floor by floor and confirming dimensions before fabrication kept the install straightforward. You can see more on our projects page.
Need help choosing or pricing a C/S entrance system?
GRIT Construction Services supplies and installs Pedimat and other C/S entrance systems, along with GritLine deep pit grilles and stainless trench covers, across Ontario and the GTA. We carry $5M CGL insurance and WSIB clearance, and we quote within 48 hours of receiving drawings. Visit our entrance grilles page, call (647) 382-8256, or send us your drawings.
Sources: C/S Entrance Flooring Solutions; C/S Pedigrid G1; C/S Pedimat M1; C/S GridLine G6.