Jan 11, 2023 | Access Mats, News, TerraCross Bridges
Contractors and project managers looking for access mats often refer to them as swamp mats. While swamp mats and access mats share similarities, they are quite different. Ordering the wrong mats for your project can result in frustration and delays, so before putting in your next order of site access mats, read the following blog to learn more about the different types of matting solutions you might need.
Access Mats
Starting with the most common type of matting option available, access mats. If you’re looking for a matting solution that can be used as temporary roads that help equipment move in and out of a job site, then you should be looking for access mats. They are manufactured in many sizes and can handle various weights. Generally, access mats come in either Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) design or the traditional bolted format.
Swamp Mats
While access mats are often referred to as “swamp mats,” they do serve different purposes. Swamp mats are usually installed to support heavy equipment operating on soft ground. In warmer climates where rain and moisture are very common, the ground starts to become very soft and requires swamp mats to stabilize the ground.
Rig Mats
For those looking for site mats to support oil rigs and large-scale equipment such as construction equipment, then you should be looking for rig mats. Projects that require camps, drilling rigs, tanks and helipads would often opt for rig mats as they are engineered to withstand the weight of heavy machinery and provide the support needed.
Crane Mats
Crane mats are similar to rig mats but are designed with a steel frame that can withstand more weight and provide more support to heavy equipment than rig mats. GFI Solutions proudly offers the TerraLam®’s 500 series mats that feature the TerraLam 504 and TerraLam 508. Both crane mats are lighter and stronger than comparative mats and increase your saving!
Access Bridges
Access bridges are very common in the oil & gas, construction, petrochemical and forestry industries. Remote job sites can make it very difficult for heavy machinery to cross the terrain or even to transport material safely. Access bridges become very beneficial in remote work sites where access mats cannot provide the reliability needed. If your worksite is in an area where there are rivers, creeks or any major gaps in the terrain, access bridges can help you bridge the gap.
Get your Durable Site Access Solutions from GFI
Whether you’re looking to rent or purchase your next order of site access solutions, GFI is available 24/7 to help you with all your access matting needs. We also offer mat washing, installation, delivery, planning and consulting services to ensure that all your access matting needs are met. Contact us today!
Sep 27, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Access mats protect your crew, equipment, and the environment by temporarily providing a pathway to and from your construction site. However, access mats can give additional benefits to your construction site. At GFI Solutions, we are proud to offer a range of Sterling Solutions TerraLam access solutions. Our high-quality, durable access mats allow your project to continue operating smoothly and safely while still being an affordable access solution. Below we’ll cover the benefits of using access mats on your construction site and when to use access mats. Keep reading to learn more!
While Navigating Challenging Terrain
Construction can take place in a range of challenging and remote environments. Access mats can assist in ensuring that your project site is navigable and accessible no matter the environmental conditions you face. Is your construction project in marshy territory, or is muddy terrain a concern? Fortunately, CLT access mats are up to the challenge! GFI Solutions’ TerraLam CLT access mats are durable in extreme weather conditions. So come rain or shine, these mats will guarantee that your site remains safe and accessible.
To Protect the Environment
From their capability to provide a foundation over rugged terrain to their manufacturing process Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) access mats are made with the environment in mind. Access mats prevent your crew from accidentally cross-contaminating and potentially damaging the environment you’re working in by providing a layer of defence between your equipment, team, and the ground. CLT mats are engineered through a novel process which utilizes an eco-friendly adhesive to bond perpendicular planks of Southern Yellow Pine together. Since CLT mats don’t use bolts and are sustainably sourced, their environmental impact is significantly less than traditional bolted mats. These mats also have a lifespan of 3-5 times longer than traditional bolted mats, so not only are you protecting the environment from cross-contamination, but you’re also using an access mat built to last. At GFI Solutions, our team of access solution experts can help you determine the appropriate number of access mats for your construction project. So you can keep your workers, equipment and the environment safe.
To Protect Your Crew and Machinery
Access mats provide a safe and stable foundation for your crew and heavy equipment. Our line of CLT access mats has a smooth surface without gaps between the wooden planks to reduce the chance of slip and trip hazards. CLT mats also provide a strong base for your project’s heavy equipment. They evenly distribute the weight across the entire mat, reducing the chance of damaging your machinery. GFI Solutions’ CLT access mats can make your construction site safer by preventing costly accidents before they happen.
A Safe Site Access Solution
If your construction crew faces challenging remote worksites or requires a stable foundation over rugged terrain, then CLT access mats from GFI Solutions have you covered. CLT access mats are the industry standard for exceptional safe site access solutions, as they outperform traditional bolted mats. As Canada’s premier supplier of Sterling Solutions TerraLam products, GFI Solutions is proud to offer our customers high-quality access solutions. In addition to our inventory of access solutions, we also offer delivery, installation, mat washing, 24/7 customer service and more! Looking to learn more about how GFI’s access mats make your construction site safe? Contact us today!
Aug 11, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Is your worksite prepared for this year’s sudden rainy summer weather?
Since May’s long weekend, Alberta’s seen heavy hails, thunderstorms and strong rain showers that have affected the terrain and caused uneven grounds throughout all worksites. Days that start out bright and sunny often turn cloudy, creating a light drizzle that seeps through the soil and leaves the landscape wet and muddy. With uneven and soft terrain, transporting materials and excavating grounds can be highly hazardous to your machinery and crew, especially if Alberta’s weather conditions affect your current access matting options.
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) worksite access mats will ensure the safety of your worksite and maintain the efficiency of your workflow. Customers in the power, oil & gas, forestry and construction industries rely on CLT products as their leading source for expert matting options. Read on to learn more about the numerous benefits of GFI Solutions’ temporary worksite access mats.
What Are CLT Mats?
Before diving into the benefits of CLT mats, we’ll quickly explain what CLT mats are and how they differ from traditional bolted mats. CLT mats are manufactured using a novel approach that engineers stronger and safer worksite mats than bolted mats. Instead of bolting planks of traditional Douglas Fir together, CLT mats are manufactured using Southern Yellow Pine wooden planks that are adhered together using an eco-friendly adhesive. This process makes CLT mats more flexible than bolted mats, allowing even distribution of weight throughout the entire surface and reducing the risk of breakage that might occur from concentrating the weights on the bolts instead of the mat.
Types of CLT mats
Given the strength of CLT mats, they are used in several matting options, including:
Worksite mats are generally used to create temporary roads over uneven grounds for workers and machinery to move seamlessly in and out of a job site. These mats are manufactured to handle a wide range of weights and can be customized to fit your worksite’s matting needs.
Rig mats or crane mats are very similar to access mats, but they are steel-framed to be primarily used for extremely heavy loads. For those working in the oil and gas or construction industry, rig mats are specially designed to carry heavy machinery like cranes, excavators, wheel loaders, track loaders, etc.
Portable access bridges are used in worksites that require crossing water, ditches and other environmental hazards that can hinder your workflow. TerraCross bridges are lightweight, can be delivered on a single truck and installed in as little as a couple of hours. Specs include:
TERRACROSS 40:
- Weight Limit: 100 tons
- Maximum Spanning Distance: 35′
- Total Length: 40′
- Matting: TerraLam® 500 bearing mats and TerraLam® 700 decking
TERRACROSS 56:
- Weight Limit: 65 tons
- Maximum Spanning Distance: 50′
- Total Length: 56′
- Matting: TerraLam® 500 bearing mats and TerraLam® 700 decking
GFI Solutions: Your Exclusive Source For Matting Solutions
We are proud to be the sole Canadian distributor of Sterling Solutions’ range of access matting products, including their 300 and 500-model access mats, bridges and more! Contact our team today to rent or buy temporary access mats.
