An access mat is a portable platform used to support equipment used in construction and other resource-based activities, including drilling rigs, camps, tanks, and helipads.
This category of mat reduces crew downtime, increasing the likelihood of timely task completion.
Swamp mats are based on a design developed by Joe Penland[6] in the late 20th century and consist of three layers of 2’ x 8’ lumber laminated together with steel bolts.
It is also usual to find hardwood mats in Canada, however the availability of durable coniferous species such as various firs, pines, and spruces make their use a more economical prospect.
Swamp mats are produced by many small and medium-sized manufacturers, and quality varies dramatically within the industry.
These mats are commonly made of spruce, pine, fir or a combination thereof encased in a steel frame,[7] though some suppliers also offer bamboo and fibreglass options.
One great advantage is the ease of repairing the wooden inserts which gives new life to an already long lasting and durable mat.
A lightweight, light-duty flexible mat suitable for distributing loads over firm ground to avoid rutting.
Examples of composite materials used in access matting include: Fibreglass offers high strength, long-term durability and is light weight.
[20] Rubber mats evolved by industries seeking sustainable products made from recycled materials.
The surface is textured and designed to provide excellent traction for all types of traffic and have been proven to be a viable and economical solution for long term use under some of the most unruly site conditions and usages across North America.
[5] This solid plastic, UHMWPE (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene), offers the highest impact strength while being highly resistant to corrosive chemicals.
Typically this means that a significantly greater number of solid mats can be loaded onto a truck resulting in a number of key benefits including larger working surface area per truckload, reduced number of transport trips per project, reduced fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions per project, and reduced transport costs per project.
Access matting has a variety of industrial and commercial uses, ranging from temporary, one-time use (for example, in the construction of pipeline access, where the mats are essentially destroyed in the process), reused over multiple projects over multiple seasons, or semi-permanent.