Reducing crane mat weight is not critical for me so why should I pay more for your product?
Great, question. Here are a few examples.
- DICA is in the business of providing solutions to customer’s needs. We eliminate the guesswork.
- Many customers have shared with us that after evaluating their total cost of engineering, materials, time and construction of their own crane outrigger pads, FiberMax Crane Pads cost less.
- Set-up, tear down and storage time is minimized with DICA’s lifting hardware and accessories. That saves you labor costs every time you use your pads.
- FiberMax pads are a fully engineered and proven solution that will provide years of service.
- Why assume the liability risk of a homemade pad when you can shift the liability risk to a 3rd party?
Can your crane mats be setup on a gravel or rocky surface?
Setting up on gravel or a rocky surface is NOT a problem. However, setting up any brand or material of crane mat on a concrete surface with a rock, or rocks scattered under the pad and on the concrete is not advisable “period”. (see OSHA information below).
If you were to set up a crane mat on concrete with rocks on of the concrete in sizes greater than 1” in diameter, and you were to apply high loads to the pads one of three things below would happen.
- The pad and concrete would win and the rock would be crushed and broken into small pieces.
- The rock would win and either the pad or the concrete would sustain some level of damage.
- Nothing would give and the total load would be completely point loaded on the rock. (This is highly unlikely)
Is it possible for rocks to puncture your crane mats?
To avoid puncture damage do not set up the pads on a hard surface (such as concrete) with rocks on the surface. Actions like this may violate the following OSHA rule: OSHA 1926-1402 BASIC RULE: You must not assemble or use a crane unless ground conditions are firm, drained, and graded to a sufficient extentso that, in conjunction (if necessary) with the use of supporting materials (such as blocking, mats, cribbing, or marsh buggies (in marshes/wetlands), the equipment manufacturer’s specifications for adequate support and degree of level of the equipment are met. The requirement for the ground to be drained does not apply to marshes/wetlands.
Important Notes
- Setting up on gravel or a rocky surface in general is NOT a problem.
- Always follow OSHA Rules and Guidelines.
- Operators should never set-up on a concrete surface with large rocks on it.
- This violates OSHA 1402 Regulations
- Since 2014, there have been no reports of FiberMax Crane Mats having been punctured.
- If for some unforseen reason a puncture happened:
- The structural integrity of the pad would not likely be impacted.
- It is highly probable a repair could be made to keep water out of the mat.
We use 8” thick engineered steel crane mats. How does the bending stress of a 6” thick Mega Duty compare with bending stress of our 8” thick steel crane mats?
FiberMax Crane Pads have a crush rating and maximum rated capacity for each thickness.
What are FiberMax Crane Pads made of?
The crane outrigger pads are made of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP). This is a composite material made of a vinylester polymer that is reinforced with specially designed fiberglass.
What is inside your crane mats?
The overall structural configuration of the crane mats is a sandwich construction consisting of top and bottom layers that are molded with an internal core. The fiberglass reinforcement in the top and bottom surfaces of the crane mat are E-glass fiberglass fabrics. These fabrics are arranged to engineer the structural properties to most efficiently handle the applied loads on these construction mats for sale. The inside of the crane outrigger pad is a grid of Bi-Directional Shear Webs (Primary and Secondary) and closed cell foam. The purpose of the crane mat’s foam is to fill space, create a mold (cavity) for the resin and to hold the fiberglass laminate in-place. The shear webs (Primary and Secondary) are fully molded and integrated with the top and bottom face sheets to create a single body fully integrated mobile crane outrigger pad.
How thick are the shear webs?
Shear web thicknesses range from 1/16” of an inch to ¾”. Web spacing varies from 3” to 8”. The shear webs are sized for to most efficiently handle the applied loads. Primary shear webs running longitudinally are thicker than the secondary shear webs that run perpendicular inside the crane outrigger pad.
What are top and bottom layers made of?
The top and bottom FRP layers are part of the overall crane outrigger pad construction and designed to most efficiently handle the applied loads. Standard (non-HD) skin thickness varies from 3/8” to 1” and can be adapted as needed.
What is a bi-directional core?
A bi-directional core is a core that is configured in two directions.
What are the bending stresses of your crane outrigger pads?
DICA has physically tested each pad design in an independent third party laboratory in well-defined scenarios. The physical test data has been correlated with our independent third party Finite Element Analysis (FEA) models to more accurately generate projected performance results in different ground conditions and under different loads and pressures. This modeling technology allows us to generate and present information on many different types of materials used for foundation support. The FEA’s allows us to model ground support, intermediate foundation support (outrigger and crane pads) and exerted loads. The output provides a realistic view of stress and strain within the foundational materials and to project ground displacement, ground pressures, and material deflection. The results from this approach provide the user with a more accurate understanding of the modeled environment and results.
Do I need to set up my float inside the round black target? What happens if I don’t?
Outrigger Floats placed outside the circle will have non-uniform ground bearing pressures.
If I set up outside the float target, will it void the warranty or change the capacity?
No, this act alone will not void the warranty. However, this can be a serious safety risk that will cause concentrated ground bearing pressure. The risk is fully dependent upon how the ground under the pads reacts. If the ground gives way and causes the pad to be driven into the ground serious damage to the pad can occur, which will not be covered by our warranty. If this was to happen more severe consequences such as the crane overturning can occur. This is not a crane mat issue, this is a physics issue.
Why do you put a wear surface on the top side?
We use our standard wear surface on the top surface only. The purpose of the wear-surface is to provide better traction to prevent an operator from slipping on the surface under wet conditions.
What ability do FiberMax Crane Pads have to resist damage caused by point loading from rocks?
FiberMax top and bottom face sheets are designed to withstand significant loads and to endure the rough conditions that crane pads are used in. Puncture of the top or bottom face sheets can and should be repaired if it were to occur. To avoid puncture damage do not set up the pads on a hard surface (such as concrete) with rocks on the surface. Always remove any hard debris from under the pads prior to use.
What ability do FiberMax crane pads have to resist damage caused by forklifts impacting the sides?
A protective steel frame around the entire perimeter of the crane mat prevents forks from damaging or penetrating the interior. The steel frame is simply a protector of the pad and a way to affix lifting hardware and other accessories.
Are there any chemicals to avoid when using FiberMax Crane Pads?
No. This is one of the significant advantages of fiberglass materials. These same materials are used in the most corrosive environments in the world and will outperform steel crane pads and wood crane pads in the most common situations. Nothing encountered on a typical job site will have any effect on the fiberglass materials used in FiberMax crane pads.
What is the expected lifetime of FiberMax crane pads in wet or dry environments?
Wet or dry environments have no effect on our fiberglass materials and will not limit their service life. The same material is utilized for applications in submerged salt water and extremely dry desert environments. The typical failure of these pads would be from damage during handling. You can expect 20+ years of service life from FiberMax crane pads.
Are FiberMax crane pads susceptible to UV deterioration?
UV will not affect the structural integrity of the crane mats for at least 40 years. The resins in the crane mats have UV inhibitors that greatly slow UV degradation. We also apply a secondary coating that also has extremely good UV stabilization.
What makes FiberMax crane pads work at such a reduced weight?
The fully molded solid laminate surfaces and Bi-Directional Shear Web Design are the major components. They deliver the performance that allows the pads to weigh up to 60% less than steel crane pads – while being just as strong. This technology was originally developed and used for bridges.
Are additional lifting hardware options available for FiberMax crane pads?
Yes, Crosby® lifting points, D-rings, and stack & pin options are available.
Will my FiberMax crane pads ship regular freight or flatbed?
We work with you to determine the best freight method for your shipment.
Are all FiberMax crane pads individually load tested?
FiberMax crane pads have undergone extensive independent physical testing at North Carolina State University, additional information specific to each size is available in our Owners Manual.
Can our company name be added to FiberMax crane pads?
Yes, your company name will be added to the rating plate on each FiberMax crane pad.
What are the minimum and maximum temperature operational ranges of FiberMax crane pads?
-40°F to 131°F / -40C to +55C. FiberMax crane pads will work outside this range, but there will begin to be a reduction in performance. Please contact us if this is a concern for you.
Are FiberMax crane pads subject to creep?
Fiberglass materials are typically not subject to creep (the tendency of a solid material to move slowly or deform permanently under the influence of mechanical stresses) unless under high temperature (much higher than the operating range detail) and high loads.
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