Whether you’re organising an event or a construction project, ground protection mats are essential. They protect the landscape from heavy vehicles or foot traffic and ensure the safety of everyone on-site.

But before you start ordering, you need to make sure you know what size ground protection mat you need for your project. Ground protection mats come in a variety of sizes, so you need to carefully consider things such as the location of your event, the ground you need to cover, and the types of stress the mats will be put under.

Why does the right size matter?

Unfortunately, ground mats aren’t one size fits all (although it would make everyone’s jobs easier if they were!). Choosing the right size mat helps you:

• Manage your budget — you won’t be spending any more than you need to.
• Protect the landscape — mats that fit the site will provide the most suitable coverage.
• Keep everyone safe — sufficient coverage of the ground will help prevent slips and falls.
• Manage workload — mats often need to be carried by two or more people, so only using as much as you need will save you time and labour.

What to consider

The size of the ground protection mats that you should use will depend on several factors. Therefore, it’s best to consider the scope, location, and type of event or project that you’re planning.

The size of the site

One of the most important factors to take into account is the size of your location. If you only have to cover a small area, then smaller mats will do the job just fine. But if you have a larger area of ground to cover, then selecting a larger ground protection mat size will provide more coverage more quickly and efficiently.

Our largest ground protection mats are the TuffTrak mats at 3000mm x 2500mm x 38mm. Their size is matched by their strength, making them the best option for heavy-duty machinery, temporary roadways, or construction.

Vehicles

If you’re using your ground mats as a surface for vehicles, the size of the vehicles is a good guide for how large your mats should be. The mat should be wider than the widest wheels of your vehicles. Any smaller than that won’t be sufficient.

Transportation of the mats

Larger, heavier mats tend to be more difficult to install, and may need more people to carry them. At 2410mm x 1200mm x 12mm, Euromats are smaller than TuffTraks. They’re also much lighter but can still support loads of up to 80 tonnes. At only 35kg, they can be deployed by a two-person team. If you need any help with laying the mats out, we’d be happy to help — just let us know when you contact us.

If you’re still unsure what size ground protection mat would be best, then it’s better to err on the side of too large rather than too small. Overly large mats aren’t efficient, but they are usable, whereas undersized mats may be too small to use.

Professional advice and ground protection mat hire

If you’re planning an event but aren’t sure what size ground protection mat will be the best fit for you, don’t hesitate to get in touch with JAK Hire — we’ll be happy to provide advice for your project. Whether you need big or small, we can offer TuffTrak and Euromat hire in Devon and across the UK. We also have TuffTrak mats for sale if you want to invest permanently.