What is a swamp mat / access mat?

Access or swamp mats are typically constructed of rough sawn oak timber. Fir mats are also common in Western Canada but are less durable than oak mats. Hybrid mats are built from a combination of fir and oak lumber. Swamp mats built in this fashion, are somewhat more robust than fir mats, but less so than swamp mats built entirely from oak. While usually referred to as swamp mats or access mats, they can also be known as oak mats, fir mats, hybrid mats, road mats, lease mats, and are sometimes more generically, but incorrectly called rig mats.

How large are swamp mats / access mats?

The most common swamp mats / access mats used in Western Canada, is 8í by 14í in dimension, and constructed from three layers of rough sawn oak 2í x 8í timbers, perpendicularly laminated, and held together by approximately 200 bolts. Three timbers on each mat extend on one end leaving a cavity on the other end of the access mat and allowing adjoining swamp mats to interleave. This feature provides enhanced stability and surface integrity when the swamp matting is placed in the field.

How much does a swamp mat / access mat weigh?

An oak swamp mat / access mat can weigh between 2,000 to 3,000 pounds. After field use and when moisture laden, the weight of swamp mats / access mats can exceed 3500 pounds. Fir matting on the other hand is significantly lighter (1500 to 2000 pounds/ fir mat) and hybrid matting weighs in at 1700 to 2200/per hybrid mat.

What is the difference between rig mats and swamp mats / access mats? Rig mats are constructed of both structural steel and wood and are typical 8í by 20í, 8í by 30í, or 8í by 40í in dimension. As a result, swamp mats / access mats can be handled by wheel loaders and grapple equipped excavators. Rig mats, on the other hand require crane and winches to move and handle.

How are swamp mats / access mats transported? Swamp matting / access matting is transported in quantity from the manufacturer to the region of deployment by rail, and then transferred to transport trucks for furtherance to specific locations of deployment.

How are swamp mats / access mats handled on site?

When the swamp mats / access mats reach their destination of mobilization, the matting is unloaded and placed by Rubber Tired Loaders and Excavators equipped with grapples specifically designed to handle swamp mats / access mats. When the resource company has completed their work, the swamp matting / access matting is once again loaded on transports for relocation to the next project.