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Paradox Access Solutions Inc. Paradox Access Solutions Inc. Paradox Access Solutions Inc. Paradox Access Solutions Inc.
  • Markets Served
  • Matting
    • Access Mat / Swamp Mat
    • Steel Frame Rig Mats
    • Crane Mats
    • Cornerstone® Mat Leasing
    • Mat Comparison
    • Matting Glossary
    • All Matting Products
  • Tough Cell Geocells
    • Tough Cell Cellular Confinement Systems
    • Tough Cell High Performance
  • Solutions
    • Railway Construction
    • Road Construction Solutions
      • Gravel Road
      • Paved Roads
      • Temporary Road Construction
      • Unpaved Road Design
  • Products
    • Geosynthetic Solutions
    • Matting
    • Tough Cell (PRS-Neoweb)
      • Tough Cell: Technical
      • Tough Cell vs The Others
      • In The Media
    • Geotextiles
    • Pipeline Crossings
  • Services
    • Cornerstone® Mat Leasing
    • Earthworks Services
    • Energy Services Certified Labourers
    • Engineering Services
    • Geosynthetic Installation Services
    • Heavy Equipment Transport & Earth Moving Equipment
    • Mat Washing & Decontamination Services
    • Transportation Services
  • Resources
    • Brochures
    • Careers
    • Environmental eBook
    • Projects
    • Videos
      • Matting Videos
      • Pipeline Crossing
      • Tough Cell Videos
  • Contact
    • Careers
    • Lunch & Learn
    • Request a Quote
  • About
    • Benefits
    • Client Testimonials
    • Evergreen Learning & Innovation
    • Indigenous Inclusion
    • Mud Ugly
    • Our Markets
    • Safety

Home » Matting » Mat Comparison

Oak vs. Fir & Hybrid Mats

  • Oak Mats
  • Fir & Hybrid Mats

Oak Mats

Oak Mats

Each of our premium 3-ply oak access mats (also known as ‘swamp mats’) is secured with 172 carriage bolts, and has a solid core with almost no wane. Also, oak mats absorb less water and mud than the other wood access mats, resulting in less weight and lower removal costs, making them perfect for the swampy, muddy conditions commonly encountered in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.

Oak is the superior choice for access matting because:

  1. It lasts longer, so you can depend on mats made of this wood
  2. It’s a much more durable wood, which means lower damages costs and safer access solutions
  3. It will absorb less water and mud than fir or spruce, making it easier to demobe, ultimately costing less for transportation

 

Oak Mat Specifications

Size 8’ x 14’ x 5 5/8”
Weight 2,800 lbs
Super B Load 32 mats/load

 

Access matting types:

Oak (imported from the US)

  • Strongest wood for access matting (also commonly referred to as ‘swamp mats’)
  • Long lifespan (4 – 7 years, depending on service application)
  • Paradox Access Solutions’ oak mats have a proven life of 6.5 years
  • Our oak mats are easy to maintain

Softwoods (local – virtually phased out)

  • Local labor may be used to construct these weaker, more fragile access mats (usually constructed from spruce)
  • Short lifespan (less than 1 – 2 years)
  • Easy maintenance

Rig mats with steel frame (typically used under substructure of oil and gas drilling rigs)

  • High cost
  • Difficult maintenance

See below to learn more about the superiority of Paradox Access Solutions’ oak mats in comparison to spruce or fir mats.

Fir & Hybrid Mats

Fir & Hybrid Mats

Not all projects require the same type of access mats (sometimes also called ‘swamp mats’). That is why Paradox Access Solutions carries a variety of the highest quality wooden mats such as light-weight fir mats and hybrid mats. A hybrid mat is simply a fir mat with an oak outer lining to add some durability and strength. These mats can be used in a variety of industries including:

  • oilfield
  • forestry & forest products
  • construction
  • pipeline construction & maintenance
  • emergency access
  • power transmission & distribution

 

Fir & Hybrid Mat Specifications

Size 8’ x 14’ x 5 1/8”
Weight 1,800 lbs
Super B Load 50 mats/load

 

Access matting types:

Oak (imported from the US)

Strongest wood for access matting (also commonly referred to as ‘swamp mats’)

  • Long lifespan (4 – 7 years, depending on service application)
  • Paradox Access Solutions’ oak mats have a proven life of 6.5 years
  • Our oak mats are easy to maintain

Softwoods (local – virtually phased out)

  • Local labor may be used to construct these weaker, more fragile access mats (usually constructed from spruce)
  • Short lifespan (less than 1 – 2 years)
  • Easy maintenance

Rig mats with steel frame (typically used under substructure of oil and gas drilling rigs)

  • High cost
  • Difficult maintenance

See below to learn more about the superiority of Paradox Access Solutions’ oak mats in comparison to spruce or fir mats.

Please, contact us for more information.

Relative Strength of Wood Types

SYNCRUDE SUNCOR
Oak Access Mats Path
Mat
SYNCRUDE SUNCOR - Mobilization

Because we use oak mats for our matting rentals, we are able to promise a lower damages and repair bill upon completion of your matting project. There are several factors that can contribute to a high damages bill:

  1. The type of wood used to construct the mat
  2. Placement of the mats
  3. The stability and load-bearing of the ground
  4. The weight, volume, and speed of the traffic

Let’s examine each factor.

Type of Wood

Oak is a hardwood. Fir and spruce are softwoods. Hardwoods are more durable than softwoods. According to the Forest Products Laboratory of the US Department of Agriculture, oak endures much greater compression pressures, bends under greater loads before breaking, and absorbs greater side impacts than spruce or fir, which are woods more commonly used in access mats (hybrid mats are simply fir mats with an oak outer liner).

Depending on the type of oak used, it will endure between 20.7 MPa and 60.3 MPa of compression. The different types of fir provide a wide range of compression pressures from an average minimum of 15.9 MPa to an average maximum of 44.2 MPa, while spruce typically tops out at just 41.1 MPa.

Image
Image

Oak is also more elastic. It can handle up to 127 MPa of weight before its bend becomes a break. That’s almost twice as much as the best types of spruce and fir.

Click here to download the report from the US Department of Agriculture’s Forest Products Laboratory.

Because oak is stronger, it is more forgiving if it is handled roughly during transportation, mobe, and demobe. Spruce and fir mats, on the other hand, must be handled very carefully. Slight damage incurred during mobilization will result in much greater damage once those spruce or fir mats are subjected to traffic. And those damages will be added to your final invoice.

Mat placement & ground conditions

Similarly, unstable or weak ground beneath the mats will cause them to shift. Again, the mats constructed of weaker softwood will break if they shift badly. Since oak is more forgiving, it will be better able to manage loads even when shifted out of place.

Paradox Access Solutions’ skilled loader operators know how to place mats to resist shifting. They examine the terrain and the condition of the ground prior to placing the mats to ensure reduced movement. As professionals, they make sure to treat the mats with respect so they do not suffer any damage during placement, which means your final damages bill is greatly reduced.

Take a look at a before and after oak matting case below:

Before Oak Matting

BEFORE Oak Matting

After Oak Matting

AFTER Oak Matting

Traffic

Obviously, the volume of heavy traffic will affect the expected lifespan of a wood mat. Softwoods will handle fewer heavy loads than hardwoods, such as oak. But something that is often forgotten is how speed can increase the damages suffered by a mat. Heavy loads moving at speed will bounce on wood mats, causing them to flex. Constant flexing will eventually cause the mat to break. Oak mats can resist flexing better than spruce or fir mats can.

 

When comparing proposals for matting, always consider the type of mat being quoted on. Be sure to ask the sales representative what he or she expects the damages bill to be at completion of the project. If you need more clarification about wood types, feel free to contact us at 1.877.MUD.UGLY for more information.

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  • Paradox Access Solutions
  • 11246 261 St. Acheson AB T7X 6C7
  • 587-461-1500
  • 7809622256
  • info@paradoxaccess.com

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Peace River Ford Dealership Building - Peace River, AB

Client name: Corpex Construction
Schedule: February – March 2015
Project Value: $80,000

Scope:

Apply Tough Cell (PRS-Neoweb) indoors at Peace River Ford dealership. Carry out site grading and sub-grade preparation. Project completed by Paradox Access Solutions and Paradox’s engineering partners, Stratum Logics.

 

Construction Section:

Woven geotextiles
Area: 2000 m2
150 mm Tough Cell (PRS-Neoweb) complete with gravel in-fill
Gravel base course section between and over top Tough Cell (PRS-Neoweb)

MD of Provost Municipal Road - Provost, AB

 

Client name: MD of Provost
Schedule: Summer 2014
Project Value: $125,000

Scope:
MD of Provost needed 2 heavy haul roads built over existing road to handle an average daily traffic of 30 trucks. Tough Cell (PRS-Neoweb) supply and installation, sand in-fill, and gravel surfacing. Project completed by Paradox Access Solutions and Paradox’s engineering partners, Stratum Logics.

Construction Section:

  • Non-woven geotextiles
  • Road 1: 250 m by 8 m wide
  • Road 2: 400m by 8m wide
  • 150 mm Tough Cell (PRS-Neoweb) complete with in-fill
  • 40 mm gravel wearing course
  • In the past two years the MD of Provost has used PRS-Neoweb in two separate projects within the MD.

    The projects were to rehabilitation two existing road structures 250 m and 400 m respectively. These sections have now been in place for 2 years and are performing as required. Pot holes and rutting have been kept to a minimum, and the MD is very pleased with the project and the money invested.

    The sections of road that have been rebuilt have typically been prone to rutting and pot holes due to the high water table, soft subgrade and proximity to muskeg in the region.

    I have been pleased with the performance of both projects and recommend Paradox and the PRS-Neoweb product for consideration on future projects.

    Wayne MacLean
    Director of Public Works, MD of Provost No 52

Canfor Log Yard, Phases 1-3 - Fort St. John, BC

Client name: Canadian Forest Productions Ltd.

PHASE 1 PHASE 2 PHASE 3
Schedule April 2013 November 2013 June to September 2014
Project Value $900,000 $1.8M $6M

Scope:

  • Site grading
  • Subgrade preparation
  • Tough Cell (PRS-Neoweb) supply and installation
  • Gravel base course section between and over top Tough Cell (PRS-Neoweb)

Tough Cell (PRS-Neoweb) Installation process

Construction Section

PHASE 1: 14,700 m2 –600 mm depth total section

  • Woven and non-woven geotextiles
  • Two layers of Tough Cell (PRS-Neoweb)
  • 40 mm granular cover

PHASE 2: 27,900 m2 –550 mm depth total section

  • Woven and non-woven geotextiles
  • Two layers of Tough Cell (PRS-Neoweb)
  • 75 mm granular cover

PHASE 3: 57,900 m2 –600 mm depth total section

  • Woven and non-woven geotextiles
  • Two layers of Tough Cell (PRS-Neoweb)
  • 40 mm granular cover
  • For many years the Canfor’s Fort St. John mill battled extreme muddy and contaminated soil conditions. As a result, 988 Cat mobile loaders were unable to transfer logs to the mill during spring and fall seasons resulting in disruptions to lumber production.

    Paradox Access Solutions engineered, supplied, and installed a turn-key reinforcement solution for our log yard storage and transfer areas.

    The multi-million dollar project eliminated all downtime related to log supply soil conditions while improving mill production, employee morale, safety and reducing mobile equipment operating costs.

    Initial cost savings estimated (yr):

    • Fuel savings $50k
    • Loader maintenance $125k
    • Tires and wearable parts $75k
    • Avoided production loss $750k
    Mel Jones
    Plant Manager, Canfor FSJ

MEG Energy Christina Lake - North of Conklin, AB

Client name: MEG Energy
Location: MEG Energy Facility, Christina Lake, north of Conklin, Alberta
Schedule: July & August, 2012
Project Value: $4M

Construction Section: Total section varied between 325 mm to 695 mm depending on ground conditions.

  • Woven and non-woven geotextiles
  • Single and double layers of Touch Cell (PRS-Neoweb) with in-situ sand infill
  • 40 mm gravel wearing course

 

Highlights:

  • 250,000 ESAL loading
  • CL-800 trucks
  • 777 Rock truck – 74,000 kg
  • 1,200 Track hoe – 111,000 kg
Image
Scope:
Construct 3.20 km X 8.0 m wide access road within 14 m ROW over top through existing muskeg and poor soil conditions with no disturbance of existing ground. The existing ground conditions had CBR (California Bearing Ratio) values of <1.