Crane mats are materials that are put on the ground for two reasons:
Crane mats are mostly used by companies in the construction industry.
These could be companies like:
They&#;re used when heavy machine needs to access areas or work in areas where there is a risk of eroding the ground because of the extreme weight of the plant.
Because of this risk of ground erosion, the heavy plant has to be kept stable by the mats. The worst-case scenario is the machinery tipping over, which could damage itself or other property, or worse, injure or kill someone.
The types of machinery that use crane mats can be things like:
These are heavy-plant vehicles that have tracks, wheels, or outriggers that could sink into the ground.
Some examples of projects that need crane matts are:
There are three styles of crane mats that are used for different reasons.
Liftable crane mats have different shapes and sizes.
Timber is the most popular choice of liftable crane mat. It comes in lengths that often look like railway sleepers. They can be between 100mm-200m (4&#;-8&#;) thick.
Timber is a favourite for many reasons. It&#;s easily accessible, environmentally friendly, and durable.
Because timber crane mats last a few years, they often get sold on when finished with. And when they do eventually wear down, the wood naturally breaks down by decomposing.
A timber crane mat prepared on a gantry for holding a 49t excavator.Timber isn&#;t the only material used. Crane mats can also be made of composite materials, fibreglass, high-density plastics, metals, and rubber.
To summarise, liftable crane mats can be made of:
Liftable crane mats are either &#;handleable&#; or &#;non-handleable&#;. Handleable crane mats are small and light enough to be picked up and carried by hand, whereas non-handleable crane mats need to be lifted in place by a machine.
Loose, compactible hardcore materials get used to cover large areas, or areas where liftable mat segments won&#;t suffice. It also gets used on top of concrete, where the concrete is either too thin or not level (i.e., on a slope).
The types of common materials used in hardcore crane mats are:
Crushed concrete is predominately used as a crane mat for piling rigs. In this instance, the mat is generally called a &#;piling mat&#;. The rigs might need to cover large areas to drill the piles. These types of machines need level ground to work on, because the work involves extreme precision.
But it&#;s not just a case of throwing a lot of crushed concrete down and levelling it off. A lot of the time, waste material has to be taken out of the ground first.
Before that, a survey is needed to determine levels. This will tell the contractor how much muck has to be extracted and how much crushed concrete is needed to go back in.
The survey also determines what services are in the ground before digging out. When digging, contractors don&#;t want to damage things like drainage, cables, or gas or water pipes.
In places where a lot of water might rest, membranes are sometimes laid out under the mat to help prevent fine soils from seeping into the mat.
A Geogrid is often used under the mat. This provides stability and support for the mat. It can also be used to reduce the thickness of the crushed concrete. This is because it can be incorporated as part of the mat, increasing the mat&#;s strength.
The crushed concrete is then put down in Iayers and compacted.
A concrete base crane mat is useful for a crawler crane that is to stay in one position to do its lifting for a long period. It might be chosen if working on tarmac or existing concrete that is not level or too thin, and that the contractor doesn&#;t want to dig out.
Crushed concrete can be built up on the existing ground as a base, then concrete gets poured on top within formwork. Steel mesh gets placed withing the concrete for added strength.
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from ABOSN.
When finished, the concrete can be broken up and recycled to use as crushed concrete elsewhere.
Crane mat overall sizes are usually chosen within temporary works designs. The factors that affect the decisions are the size of and weight of the machinery, the type of ground, allowable ground bearing pressure, and outrigger load.
Also, with mats created with hardcore materials, the amount of loose material needed can vary. Again, this depends on the size and weight of the machinery, but also on how much waste needs to be extracted.
The amount of waste to be extracted can depend on the specific levels needed or if the ground is contaminated. A contamination test is often undertaken before excavation.
Crane mats are not the same as outrigger pads. A crane pad is a single piece of material up to 1m² that gets put under outrigger legs to spread the rig&#;s load.
Outrigger pads are usually light enough to be put in place by hand, but are strong enough to bear the weight of any type of mobile crane. They&#;re usually made of high-density plastics, like ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
However, if the crane is too heavy, wooden (or other material) mats get used instead to place under the outriggers. This is because the mats cover a larger area, so will spread weight further.
Crane pads are only suitable for bearing the weight of the outriggers, so the ground still needs to be suitable to bear the weight of the whole machine. If it isn&#;t suitable, this is where crane mats come in. Even a 1m² soft spot can be enough to unbalance a machine.
Hopefully, you now have a good understanding of what crane mats are and what they&#;re used for. If ever you do projects where mats are needed, you shouldn&#;t have to provide them yourself. The contractor doing the work will provide them. They will know all the specifications of what&#;s needed for what machine.
A crane mat is a mat that is typically made of large timbers used to provide ground protection for heavy equipment to sit on/work atop. Crane mats are sometimes referred to as timber crane mats, construction mats, or heavy equipment mats. Crane mats are designed to be durable and to have excellent load-bearing capabilities to support the weight and various duties of heavy machinery. Crane mats help heavy equipment operate with greater ease and safety by enabling them to remain stable and firm with adequate bearing. They are a solid choice for use on any type of landscape and can be particularly helpful in wetland areas, swamps, and marshes as well as uneven ground areas.
Crane mats are built to last, and many can be used for up to five years. Because of this, they are frequently sold used once they are no longer needed for a project. Purchasing used crane mats can be a great way to help cut project costs. And selling used crane mats when they are no longer needed can be a financially-savvy choice.
Crane mats are useful for numerous jobs, including:
Many projects that involve heavy lifting with the use of cranes
Renewable energy projects where extra support is needed for cranes to lift heavy portions of wind turbines
Projects where heavy machinery is required and added stability is necessary, including heavy civil, oil and gas, pipeline construction, and utility jobs
Bridge construction
Excavation projects
Projects involving crane access trestle
For bridge construction, crane mats are often used to create bridge decking and may also be called bridge mats. When used for bridge decking, crane mats allow for a safe and stable platform for workers and equipment. Excavation projects that make use of crane mats do so to create support for excavators and/or digging machines to help stop machines from losing their footing and slipping or toppling over. Crane mats can be used to construct crane access trestle, which enables cranes and other heavy equipment to get to areas that are otherwise difficult to reach. They may also be used to build temporary roadways that help get equipment and machinery safely from point A to point B.
Crane mats come in an array of sizes. Common sizes are between 15&#; and 50&#; in length, 4&#; to 8&#; wide, and 8&#; to 1&#; thick. Steel through-bolts, also known as lifting bolts, are used to support the width of mats. Types of timber used to create crane mats include Douglas Fir, oak, and mixed hardwood. The ends of crane mats may be painted with wax lumber. Composite mats also exist as an alternative to traditional timber mats. Composite mats may be made of materials like rubber, fiberglass, and plastic.
You can find used crane mats in several different sizes and in several different conditions with various load bearing capabilities. Some used crane mats are like-new. Others may have a little bit of wear and tear but are still functional. Mats that are worn, bent, or otherwise damaged are often significantly discounted. You may be able to use such mats as filler for better, stronger mats.
Eiffel Trading is your trusted source for heavy civil materials and equipment! In addition to used crane mats, we also offer used crane access trestle, used pile drivers, brand new wide flange beams, used pipe pile, and so much more!
All of our listings are constantly being updated, but if you don&#;t see what you&#;re looking for, create a wanted listing.
Ready to sell your used heavy equipment or construction material? List your products today on Eiffel Trading&#;s online marketplace.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call us at 1-800-541- or .
Are you interested in learning more about Crane Leg Supporting Pads? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!