Heat Mat under Bunsen Burner

[sunray18]

Teachers insist that students place the heat mat UNDER the Bunsen burners when they are doing a prac.
It is also in pictures in text books.
HAS anyone ever thought about this?
Bunsen burner bases do not get hot. They do not need a heat mat under them.
The heat mat is there to put the hot equipment ON when you remove it from the heat.
Does anyone else get irritated by this?

[Labbie]

We have inlayed tiles on our bench's in the class room, they put the Bunsen on that, same as a heat mat, I guess.

[lada]

Yes, same here, but the tripod can get hot, so maybe the heat mat is not such a dumb idea.