What is a ground protection mat?
A ground protection mat is an elongated panel laid temporarily on the ground so that vehicles and machines can drive over grass, sand, soil or other soft ground. The panel spreads the wheel load over a much larger area, so tyre pressure does not bear directly on the soil. Other names are trackway panel, road plate and running plate; the Dutch term is rijplaat.
They are used for site roads, crane standing areas, event grounds, works in verges and parks, and anywhere the ground has to be protected or made trafficable without laying a permanent surface.
Materials
- Steel — the traditional choice. Very stiff and strong, suitable for the heaviest machines and for bridging trenches. The drawback is weight: a crane or lorry-mounted crane is needed to lay them
- Plastic — increasingly common. Much lighter, often movable by two people, and thanks to the textured top surface, in practice surprisingly good to walk and drive on. Less stiff than steel, so the panel follows the ground
- Timber-based panels — for example laminated hardwood, intermediate in stiffness and weight
Types
- Plain flat panel — laid loose side by side
- Interlocking or puzzle version — with interlocking edges or coupling lugs, so the panels cannot slide apart and load is shared between them
- Crane or dragline mat — the heavy-duty version, originally for excavators and cranes; thicker and stronger than a standard panel
Practical points
- Select on the heaviest machine, not the average. A mobile crane on outriggers imposes far higher point loads than a lorry
- Level the ground first. A panel bearing on only two points will rock and may break or tip
- Plastic on wet grass can be slippery; choose a version with a pronounced tread pattern, or lay anti-slip matting on walking routes
- Lay overlapping or coupled on bends and on ramps
- Hiring is usually cheaper than buying. Expect a hire rate per panel per week in the order of tens of euros, plus transport and laying costs, which often outweigh the hire itself
- Check that buried services along the route can take the load, and have the utilities located before you start
Related terms
- Driven pile
- Formwork
- Crawl space
- Renovation
- Facade
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