on machines and often pay for themselves by preventing downtime due to bad weather.
On one construction project in humid southern Louisiana, mats allowed work to continue despite a series of downpours
Ground protection mats reduce soil compaction by spreading out the pressure exerted by wheels and tracks and can play a key role in helping comply with a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan( SWPPP) and avoid fines for noncompliance. that dropped nearly a foot of rain over three weeks. After each rainstorm, the mats enabled lift operators to continue to track in materials and continue to erect steel. The project owner estimated that the mats prevented nine to 13 days of weather-related downtime in just three months.
Protecting Equipment and Materials
Operating heavy equipment on a muddy construction site often creates ruts that get deeper as the work progresses. Bottoming out in a rut can damage hydraulic lines, break axles and wheel bearings and rip off mufflers. Forklifts carrying high value materials may drop the load if they hit a rut or a roll of dried mud.
Ground protection mats prevent the formation of treacherous holes and bumps. When mats are used to create laydown yards and staging areas, materials and prefabricated components remain clean. Plus, leveraging mats eliminates the burden of installing, maintaining and removing gravel and can be more cost-
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