What are outrigger pads and what are they used for? You may have seen them a dozen times and not noticed, but outrigger pads are quite common with heavy machinery. An outrigger pad is a sturdy, heavy duty mat or pad that helps distribute the weight of heavy machinery more evenly across a surface by creating a larger surface area for the machine&#;s outriggers/stablizers to rest upon. This helps not only stabilize the equipment, but helps ensure safety and protects the machinery, especially on softer, less ideal terrain. Outrigger Pads are often used with any machine that uses outrigger arms, down-jacks, or stabilizers such as Cranes, R.V.s, Boom Trucks, and other types of lifts.
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In this article we are going to discuss the types of materials that are used for outrigger pads, as well as the difference in shapes. After reading through this, you should have the knowledge to help decide which outrigger pad will be a good choice for you.
Firstly, you must decide the material that is best fit for the job and meets safety requirements. There are quite a bit of differences between the materials out there and sometimes the heaviest duty may not be the best job and vice versa. Read below to learn more.
Wood - While wood may be inexpensive and sometimes more accessible, there are quite a bit of drawbacks. Compared to other materials such as plastics and steel, wood is porous and absorbs liquids/chemicals easily. This can weaken the wood causing it to break apart quickly and become unreliable. Another drawback of wood&#;s porous nature is, as water is absorbed, the wood becomes much heavier, while offering less safety. The heavier your outrigger pad is the more likely someone is to injure themselves while handling it.
Steel - While steel may be the strongest material out there, it's not always best for the job. Steel has been in the industry for years and has always been known for its strength, but is also burdened by its weight. Because steel mats are so much heavier than other materials, they often require additional resources to handle. This could mean extra employees, vehicles, equipment and so forth. Not only does this add significant costs to your operations but it may not be the best choice for the job anyways. But nevertheless, for some of the toughest, heaviest jobs out, steel will always have its place.
Synthetic - Now that we have looked at both the wood outrigger pads and steel options, let's take a look at synthetic. While the thought of plastic being a reliable option may seem odd at first, it's more often than not the best option available and for many different reasons. First off, in terms of sheer strength, steel will always ultimately be stronger, but for most common jobs, composite plastics are not only just as strong, but also lighter and more maneuverable on the job site. Plus they are moisture and chemical resistant which can be a major issue with wood outrigger pads.
When really looking at the overall factors of what makes a good outrigger pad, the durability, and lightweight plus chemical and liquid resistant aspects make synthetic outrigger pads generally the best option for the job. Remember to always consider factors outside of just the job; weather, site conditions, employee count and so forth. Having this knowledge will not only help you get the right outrigger pad, but also ensures you. your team, and your equipment's safety.
Sizes & Shapes
Outrigger pads are built in different lengths, widths, thicknesses and shapes. When it comes to shapes, there are pros and cons depending on what you choose. For example, because large square outrigger pads have a large surface area, they are not as easy to move around on the job site as round outrigger pads, which usually can be rolled into position by one person but have less surface area.
With the exception of mobility and perhaps placement issues, there really isn't much to discuss when deciding shape. The square options are typically more common, but having an additional set of round outriggers will always come in handy. But past that, sometimes it just comes down to preference.
Summary
While there is still plenty to learn about how to properly size outrigger pads, after reading this article, hopefully you should have a much more clear idea of how outrigger pads work and the differences between them. Remember, if you need help or have any questions please reach out to us here at Orange Seal and we would be more than happy to answer any questions on outrigger pads that you may have. In the meantime, stay tuned for our next article where we will look more in depth at sizing, and check out our collection of outrigger pads at the link below. Enjoy folks.
View Our Collection Of Outrigger Pads Here
Should specifying mats to support outrigger cranes be more tightly regulated?
Mobile cranes apply high pressure onto the ground through their outriggers. With concerns about climate change and extreme variable weather conditions, ground load bearing test results for any given area can vary from day to day. Ground conditions under a crane outrigger pose the most risk of a crane overturning, which is why the outrigger load must be evenly spread over a larger area.
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Derbyshire-based Brilliant Ideas is an inventor and manufacturer of award-winning construction safety products. It believes the protocols for testing and selecting outrigger mats should be as robust as the rest of the design process.
They could also follow the example of crane lifting plans, which are written by a qualified appointed person and detail equipment and personnel required for the work.
With crane technology advancing, and smaller cranes lifting more at greater radiuses and exerting heavier loads through their outriggers, does this mean crane mat technology has advanced at the same rate?
Not according to Brilliant Ideas business development manager Dan Westgate: &#;There doesn&#;t appear to be any formal protocol on material selection, certification or testing, whereas lifting chains are tested and ticketed every six months. It&#;s clear from our research that some manufacturers and distributors of crane mats are promoting the compressive strength of the material, even though all crane mat materials have high compressive strength. A far better question to ask is: &#;are they capable of safely spreading the outrigger load horizontally before distribution to the ground?&#;&#;.
There are two types of available systems, handleable and non-handleable. They come in steel, aluminium, composite, plastic (UHMW) and timber (D40 Oak).
Westgate says: &#;Our crane outrigger mat system, Alimats, is handleable and made from interlocking certified extruded aluminium modules. We&#;ve carried out multiple independent finite element analysis (FEA) simulations. One of these was a compression test to the point of failure on a single 60mm thick module, when applying a 500mm by 500mm square outrigger load &#; internal rib failure occurred at 463.94t.
&#;The FEA also simulated aluminium, timber and plastic as simply supported beams. Results concluded that timber (D40 Oak) bends five times more than aluminium, and plastic (UHMW) bends 50 times more than aluminium &#; which proves that Alimats are incredibly strong and safe.&#;
One disadvantage of non-handleable systems is that they have to be craned into position. This defeats the object of using crane mats. Cranes should only operate when the mats are insitu.
Brilliant Ideas believes one of the challenges to overcome, is the separation between design and procurement and the resulting need to close the knowledge and communication gap. Many temporary works designs specify the type of mat to be used, but these specifications can get broken during the procurement process, without changes being verified.
Westgate concludes: &#;We want to see the regulation of the crane mat market so that it mirrors similar high standards to other lifting accessories.&#;
Produced in association with Brilliant Ideas
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What are outrigger pads and what are they used for? You may have seen them a dozen times and not noticed, but outrigger pads are quite common with heavy machinery. An outrigger pad is a sturdy, heavy duty mat or pad that helps distribute the weight of heavy machinery more evenly across a surface by creating a larger surface area for the machine&#;s outriggers/stablizers to rest upon. This helps not only stabilize the equipment, but helps ensure safety and protects the machinery, especially on softer, less ideal terrain. Outrigger Pads are often used with any machine that uses outrigger arms, down-jacks, or stabilizers such as Cranes, R.V.s, Boom Trucks, and other types of lifts.
In this article we are going to discuss the types of materials that are used for outrigger pads, as well as the difference in shapes. After reading through this, you should have the knowledge to help decide which outrigger pad will be a good choice for you.
Firstly, you must decide the material that is best fit for the job and meets safety requirements. There are quite a bit of differences between the materials out there and sometimes the heaviest duty may not be the best job and vice versa. Read below to learn more.
Wood - While wood may be inexpensive and sometimes more accessible, there are quite a bit of drawbacks. Compared to other materials such as plastics and steel, wood is porous and absorbs liquids/chemicals easily. This can weaken the wood causing it to break apart quickly and become unreliable. Another drawback of wood&#;s porous nature is, as water is absorbed, the wood becomes much heavier, while offering less safety. The heavier your outrigger pad is the more likely someone is to injure themselves while handling it.
Steel - While steel may be the strongest material out there, it's not always best for the job. Steel has been in the industry for years and has always been known for its strength, but is also burdened by its weight. Because steel mats are so much heavier than other materials, they often require additional resources to handle. This could mean extra employees, vehicles, equipment and so forth. Not only does this add significant costs to your operations but it may not be the best choice for the job anyways. But nevertheless, for some of the toughest, heaviest jobs out, steel will always have its place.
Synthetic - Now that we have looked at both the wood outrigger pads and steel options, let's take a look at synthetic. While the thought of plastic being a reliable option may seem odd at first, it's more often than not the best option available and for many different reasons. First off, in terms of sheer strength, steel will always ultimately be stronger, but for most common jobs, composite plastics are not only just as strong, but also lighter and more maneuverable on the job site. Plus they are moisture and chemical resistant which can be a major issue with wood outrigger pads.
When really looking at the overall factors of what makes a good outrigger pad, the durability, and lightweight plus chemical and liquid resistant aspects make synthetic outrigger pads generally the best option for the job. Remember to always consider factors outside of just the job; weather, site conditions, employee count and so forth. Having this knowledge will not only help you get the right outrigger pad, but also ensures you. your team, and your equipment's safety.
Sizes & Shapes
Outrigger pads are built in different lengths, widths, thicknesses and shapes. When it comes to shapes, there are pros and cons depending on what you choose. For example, because large square outrigger pads have a large surface area, they are not as easy to move around on the job site as round outrigger pads, which usually can be rolled into position by one person but have less surface area.
With the exception of mobility and perhaps placement issues, there really isn't much to discuss when deciding shape. The square options are typically more common, but having an additional set of round outriggers will always come in handy. But past that, sometimes it just comes down to preference.
Summary
While there is still plenty to learn about how to properly size outrigger pads, after reading this article, hopefully you should have a much more clear idea of how outrigger pads work and the differences between them. Remember, if you need help or have any questions please reach out to us here at Orange Seal and we would be more than happy to answer any questions on outrigger pads that you may have. In the meantime, stay tuned for our next article where we will look more in depth at sizing, and check out our collection of outrigger pads at the link below. Enjoy folks.
View Our Collection Of Outrigger Pads Here
Should specifying mats to support outrigger cranes be more tightly regulated?
Mobile cranes apply high pressure onto the ground through their outriggers. With concerns about climate change and extreme variable weather conditions, ground load bearing test results for any given area can vary from day to day. Ground conditions under a crane outrigger pose the most risk of a crane overturning, which is why the outrigger load must be evenly spread over a larger area.
Derbyshire-based Brilliant Ideas is an inventor and manufacturer of award-winning construction safety products. It believes the protocols for testing and selecting outrigger mats should be as robust as the rest of the design process.
They could also follow the example of crane lifting plans, which are written by a qualified appointed person and detail equipment and personnel required for the work.
With crane technology advancing, and smaller cranes lifting more at greater radiuses and exerting heavier loads through their outriggers, does this mean crane mat technology has advanced at the same rate?
Not according to Brilliant Ideas business development manager Dan Westgate: &#;There doesn&#;t appear to be any formal protocol on material selection, certification or testing, whereas lifting chains are tested and ticketed every six months. It&#;s clear from our research that some manufacturers and distributors of crane mats are promoting the compressive strength of the material, even though all crane mat materials have high compressive strength. A far better question to ask is: &#;are they capable of safely spreading the outrigger load horizontally before distribution to the ground?&#;&#;.
There are two types of available systems, handleable and non-handleable. They come in steel, aluminium, composite, plastic (UHMW) and timber (D40 Oak).
Westgate says: &#;Our crane outrigger mat system, Alimats, is handleable and made from interlocking certified extruded aluminium modules. We&#;ve carried out multiple independent finite element analysis (FEA) simulations. One of these was a compression test to the point of failure on a single 60mm thick module, when applying a 500mm by 500mm square outrigger load &#; internal rib failure occurred at 463.94t.
&#;The FEA also simulated aluminium, timber and plastic as simply supported beams. Results concluded that timber (D40 Oak) bends five times more than aluminium, and plastic (UHMW) bends 50 times more than aluminium &#; which proves that Alimats are incredibly strong and safe.&#;
One disadvantage of non-handleable systems is that they have to be craned into position. This defeats the object of using crane mats. Cranes should only operate when the mats are insitu.
Brilliant Ideas believes one of the challenges to overcome, is the separation between design and procurement and the resulting need to close the knowledge and communication gap. Many temporary works designs specify the type of mat to be used, but these specifications can get broken during the procurement process, without changes being verified.
Westgate concludes: &#;We want to see the regulation of the crane mat market so that it mirrors similar high standards to other lifting accessories.&#;
Produced in association with Brilliant Ideas
Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here.