TerraLam® 300/500/700
As TerraLam mats offer numerous benefits over bolted access and timber mats, it is important that users understand the product’s features and intended uses to ensure every advantage is realized on the jobsite. Therefore, this guide intends to educate everyone, from the specifier to the end user, on the product’s features and proper use.
TerraLam utilizes CLT (cross-laminated timber) construction to meet the unique demands of the matting industry. CLT technology was introduced in Austria and Germany in the early 1990s as an engineered wood product geared towards residential and non-residential building markets.
Seeing the inherent inefficiencies and environmental waste caused by bolted hardwood mats and the lack of innovation across the industry, Sterling explored a variety of alternatives. Ultimately, the combination of Sterling’s decades of lumber expertise and CLT technology resulted in a new site access mat called TerraLam.
Today, patented TerraLam mats represent the latest engineering in matting technology and provide exceptional value and cost-savings while improving safety outcomes and protecting the environment.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
CONSTRUCTION
TerraLam mats are manufactured with three, five, or seven perpendicular layers of boards and adhered with a proprietary glue and press system as seen in Figure 1. This cross-laminated construction creates a more durable and lighter product than traditional bolted hardwood timbers.
Made with sustainable, grade #2 or better southern yellow pine (SYP) from managed forests, TerraLam mats maximize strength while evenly distributing point loads for less impact on sensitive environments.
TerraLam mats are highly versatile and can be utilized in many configurations as required to accommodate a variety of ground conditions for access roads, drilling and equipment staging platforms, and other ground protection uses.
Fig. 1 Example of cross-laminated timber construction.
PRODUCT DETAILS
Design and Construction |
|
Engineered |
Yes, See Specifications in Appendix A |
Manufacturing |
Automated assembly |
Mats per day |
1,000+/day per CLT line |
Sizes (Nominal) |
3-ply: 8' x 14', 8' x 16' 5-ply: 4' x 16', 4' x 18', 8' x 16', 8' x 18' 7-ply: 8' x 16, 8' x 18' |
Raw Materials |
Southern yellow pine, Grade #2 or better |
Fasteners |
Moisture-activated polyurethane |
Construction |
Solid glued and pressed mat |
Independent Testing |
Brindley Engineering, USDA Forest Products Laboratory, and San Diego State University, have validated the strength and durability |
Usage |
|
Handling |
Chamfered edges |
Installation / Removal Speed |
Up to 30 LF/minute - depending on terrain |
Cleaning/Maintenance |
Debris should be cleaned from surface for safety |
Safety (Setup) |
No workers in line of fire |
Safety (In-use) |
No board gaps or bolts reduce tripping/puncture hazards |
Environmental Impact |
|
Raw Materials |
Southern yellow pine regrows every 25-30 years |
Fasteners |
Glue is chemically inert after curing |
Truck Loads |
Substantially less than timber mats, see Truck Hauling Capacity |
Pumping |
Every 8' between mats |
Cross-Contamination |
Solid construction allows for easy cleaning, prevents cross-contamination |
Disposal (End of Life) |
Can be ground into mulch on site |
TERRALAM® 300
TerraLam 300 3-ply mats are a direct replacement for traditional bolted access mats and plastic mats. They are well suited for temporary access roads, drilling/equipment staging platforms, general ground protection, and bridge decking.
Application Example
TerraLam 300 CLT mats are laid along a right-ofway during a transmission line replacement.
A |
Three-Ply Construction Built with three alternating layers of southern yellow pine |
B |
Chamfered Top Edges Allow for easier and safer handling by forked equipment |
C |
Dual Traction Channels Prevent lateral movement on right-of-way |
D |
Sealed Ends Mat edges are protected with an environmentally friendly moisture-inhibiting coating to ensure durability |
E |
Dimensions 8’ x 14’ x 4.25” (Nominal) (PN# MCN39614SL) |
TERRALAM® 500
TerraLam 500 mats are engineered for heavy-duty trucks and tracked machinery. These 5-ply mats are constructed in 4-foot (TerraLam 504) and 8-foot (TerraLam 508) wide mats to best fit the needs of your job site. TerraLam 500 mats directly replace traditional bolted timber mats to provide site access, construct temporary access roads, support drilling/equipment platforms, offer ground protection, and be used as bridge decking.
CROSS-GRAIN TECHNOLOGY
Sterling’s patent-pending Cross-Grain Technology™ has changed the way CLT mats are built. Cross-Grain Technology aligns the grain of the top boards with traffic to create a longer-lasting CLT mat when used with tracked equipment with steel grousers.
Cross-Grain Technology™
The first, third, and fifth layers run the width of the mat, extending the life of the mat when used with tracked equipment.
Long Grain
The first, third, and fifth layers run the length of the mat, making the mat stiffer, optimizing strength.
USAGE EXAMPLES
TerraLam 508 mats on a pipeline project.
TerraLam 504 mats laid out as runners with caps to minimize impact on wetlands.
TERRALAM® 700
Designed to handle large mobile cranes and exceptionally heavy equipment, TerraLam 700 CLT mats are engineered as a more efficient, durable, and sustainable replacement for 12” crane mats. Because they provide exceptional strength with significantly less weight than a timber mat, TerraLam 700 mats are easily moved around on rights-of-way.
As an engineered and consistent product, TerraLam 700 mats have specifications to demonstrate through calculations that it can handle the heaviest of equipment.
Application Example
A 1.4-million-pound mobile crane walks down a temporary access road of 7-ply TerraLam mats.
A |
Seven-Ply Construction Built with seven alternating layers of southern yellow pine |
B |
Sealed Ends Mat edges are protected with an environmentally friendly moisture-inhibiting coating to ensure durability |
C |
Chamfered Top Edges Allows for easier handling with forked equipment. |
D |
Dimensions 8’ x 16’ x 10” (Nominal) (PN# MCN79616SL) |
Terralam Durability Test
TERRALAM® CONNECT SYSTEM
Wherever your projects take you, rest assured that the TerraLam Connect System will help maintain the integrity of your TerraLam access roads and work pads.
Designed to keep TerraLam mats in place, less maintenance is required, lowering service costs and work interruptions. This is an ideal solution in wetlands and areas that are
experiencing heavy rain or flooding, where mats may shift or even float away.
TerraLam Connect System will be delivered in durable, reusable bins. The system consists of a strap made from a durable polyester webbing with a breaking strength of 12,000 pounds, with steel bolt plates at each end. Corrosion-resistant lag screws are included to attach the bolt plates to the mat.
The TerraLam Connect System can be installed by one person and requires no special equipment or training
No pre-drilling required. Straps are attached to adjacent mats using an impact driver to install a lag screw into the bolt plate at each end of the strap
At the conclusion of the project, remove the straps and screws from each mat, and return to Sterling in their original storage bin
SITE CONDITIONS
SOIL TYPE DETERMINATION
Experienced installers should have a good sense of soil conditions on any given site; however, with an engineered solution, a soil analysis is suggested.
Whenever there is a question or concern about the integrity of the soil, an expert should be consulted, and precise ground bearing capacity measurements should be taken in advance of installing the mats.
GROUND SURFACE PREPARATION
Prior to installing any matting product, ground conditions should be evaluated. If the ground is not level, care must be taken to prepare the site to ensure a uniform bearing surface for the mats to provide maximum ground protection. TerraLam mats are engineered using CLT technology, giving them superior load distribution characteristics. To realize this benefit, the mat must be stable and sufficiently supported to transmit the load from the mat’s surface to the ground beneath it.
TRUCK HAULING CAPACITY
One of the most significant benefits of TerraLam mats is reduced mat weight. As a result, the matting required for your job can be shipped with up to 60% fewer truckloads required to traditional bolted hardwood mats.
The entire matting order will be delivered to your site more quickly, and you will maintain your project schedule by eliminating costly trucking delays. Additionally, you will improve job site traffic safety by reducing the number of trucks on the road, minimize lane-closure time, and reduce other on-site hazards associated with moving, loading, and unloading trucks.
You will also prevent additional carbon emissions up to 50% based on the decreased number of trucks required to fulfill the order.
This table quantifies the number of new mats per truckload, assuming a 48,000 lb. load capacity.
Weights for used mats will vary depending on site conditions. Sterling recommends a minimum reduction of 10% for outbound loads.
| TerraLam Model | Ply | Stock Size (Nominal) | Mats/Truck Load | Part Number |
| TerraLam 300 | 3 | 8’ x 14’ LG 8’ x 16’ LG |
40 34 |
MCN39614SL MCN39616SL |
| TerraLam 504 Cross-Grain | 5 | 4’ x 16’ XG 4’ x 18’ XG |
36 32 |
MCN54816DX MCN54818DX |
| TerraLam 508 Cross-Grain | 5 | 8’ x 16’ XG 8’ x 18’ XG |
20 16 |
MCN59616DX MCN59618DX |
| TerraLam 504 Long Grain | 5 | 4’ x 16’ LG 4’ x 18’ LG |
36 32 |
MCN54816SL MCN54818SL |
| TerraLam 508 Long Grain | 5 | 8’ x 16’ LG 8’ x 18’ LG |
20 16 |
MCN59616SL MCN59618SL |
| TerraLam 700 | 7 | 8’ x 16’ LG 8’ x 18’ LG |
13 11 |
MCN79616SL MCN79618SL |
LOADING | UNLOADING
When loading or unloading TerraLam mats, it is important to remember these mats are up to 60% lighter than their traditional counterparts. As a result, transport, loading/unloading, and laying equipment will typically accommodate up to twice as many mats per touch.
During the loading process, it is recommended that the TerraLam mats are separated by dunnage, wood used to separate mats in certain intervals to improve handling, on the trailer every five mats to provide improved handling and increased safety during the unloading process.
Mats should always be loaded/unloaded in an open, level setting. If using forked equipment, ensure that the forks are parallel to each other with a minimum spread of five feet on-center. When utilizing TerraLam mats in eight-foot widths, ensure forks are a minimum of five feet in length, and that the mats completely engage the backrest of the equipment.
It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure their load is correctly secured before leaving the yard or site. Sterling’s Safety department recommends four straps per stack of mats.
EQUIPMENT | HANDLING
Like any project, safe and efficient installation begins with the right equipment. To ensure safe installations, intermediate moves, removals, and product longevity, skilled operators must use properly sized and configured equipment.
When installing TerraLam mats, proper equipment is recommended to sufficiently grip, secure, and protect the mats from damage during the unloading, transport, and installation process. Typical equipment includes skid steers, wheel loaders, excavators with thumbs or specialized mat grapples, picker trucks, and forwarders.
ON-SITE UTILIZATION AND SAFETY
To ensure crew safety and experience optimal lifespan of TerraLam mats, follow these steps whenever mats are on an active jobsite:
Grading of uneven terrain may be required to allow for safe and reliable access. Mats should never be laid over stumps, rocks, or open ruts.
Regular visual inspections will ensure the continued safety and integrity of the mats.
All mats have the potential to become slippery when wet. Promptly remove mud, ice, and snow before traveling on them to avoid track-out and packing.
De-icing agents are effective, especially when used preventively and in tandem with sand.
During slippery conditions footwear should include cleats. Heavy equipment should utilize show chains or cleats as appropriate.
Foot traffic should not share the same mats with moving equipment. Mats may move suddenly causing a fall. Step off the mat while a vehicle traverses the mat.
When necessary, reposition mats to achieve proper spacing and transition.
