Learn how ground protection equipment serves as a vital safeguard against damage and hazards, whether on a construction sites or employed at outdoor events
Posted on 15 June 2024 by The SEL Team
Road Plates and Trench Covers are designed to cover excavations and trenches, so that whilst construction crews dig up roads or pavements, they provide safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, ensuring all can safely cross without risk or injury.
Ground Protection Mats (or “Turf Mats”) can be used to cover uneven surfaces at outdoor events such as festivals, concerts and roadshows, whilst also protecting the ground underneath from vehicle movement and heavy footfall.
When it comes to ground protection equipment, Site Equipment Ltd provides a number of options.
Anti-skid Road Plates
These anti-skid road plates are made from steel, with a resin-adhered bauxite-coated surface, reducing the risk of slips, trips and falls in bad conditions, increasing grip for vehicles and pedestrians. At 20mm thick they are suitable for heavy duty vehicle traffic and come supplied with lifting eyes in each corner for easier handling during installation and removal. Holding down bolts can be provided to keep road plates securely in place when in use.
Steel Road Plates
Our steel road plates are 20mm thick and are very durable. These are available in 2.4m x 1.2m and 1.2m x 1.2m sizes and can also be supplied with holding down bolts. Lifting eyes are present on all steel road plates for loading and unloading purposes and for moving around site.
Ground Protection Mats
Ground Protection Mats allow vehicles up to 60 tonnes, both tracked and wheeled, to cross stable ground. Ground mats are perfect for preventing damage to the ground or turf from vehicles and pedestrians during outdoor events or festivals.
PVC Ground Mats are 2.4m x 1.2m in size. Each mat weighs 39kgs and mats can be joined together with anchor pins.
The Ground Mats available at Site Equipment Ltd are:
- quick and easy to install
- designed to be lightweight, yet robust
- proven to improve grip, even in wet and muddy conditions
- suitable to protect the ground in all types of weather
Considerations when hiring Road Plates and Trench Covers
Both steel and anti-skid road plates require an appropriately qualified person to calculate the required size and thickness of the steel road plate needed. The type of traffic must also be carefully considered. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure the road plate is suitable for the job intended, including considering the loading data to determine if the plate can support the expected weight. We suggest consulting a structural engineer or another suitable professional (or contact us!) to verify the road plate’s suitability for your specific needs.
As a general rule:
- For pedestrians: 13mm road plate thickness
- For vehicles: 20mm-25mm road plate thickness
Road plates and trench covers will need to be secured to the road surface to ensure that the plates remain firmly in place whilst in use.
At Site Equipment Ltd we recommend that any change in road level is minimised by either sinking the plates into the surface in order for the plates to sit flush, or by creating a ramp. If this is not possible, warning signs should be used to alert drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians of hazards caused by a lip or ridge.
Click here to see the full range of road plates available for hire or for sale at Site Equipment Ltd.
How to hire or purchase Road Plates and Trench Covers from Site Equipment Ltd
To hire or purchase anti-skid road plates, steel road plates or ground protection mats, contact us directly from our website or call us on 0117 982 8236. All our equipment is regularly checked by our experienced team, and we have the necessary expertise available should any calculations be needed for road plates.
