by gjmats | 25 Jan, 2019 | Civil engineering, Information
Protect your pipeline with quality cover slabs
Using the right pipeline protection is crucial for safeguarding underground services. The pipelines under our feet keep the country going. Water, electricity and gas supplies rely on this network – any damage from rogue excavations or heavy use of the ground above can compromise their integrity.
Although pipelines should be demarcated, there’s always the potential for someone to make a mistake and dig in the wrong place. Third party damage to underground pipelines puts workers at risk, disrupts services, affects the environment and can cost inordinate amounts of money to repair. Covering a pipeline with high-quality protection slabs means any threat from above is minimised and that rogue excavator hits the concrete, not the pipe.
Why choose concrete pipeline protection?
Pipeline installation is governed by the Pipeline Safety Regulations 1996 (PSR 1996) which requires operators to reduce the potential for damage to occur. That’s where GJ Bog Mats’ concrete pipeline cover slabs come into their own.
Individual jobs all have their unique requirements and we pride ourselves in being able to provide pipeline protection slabs in a variety of sizes and thicknesses to suit a range of applications. Whether you want to prevent an errant digger from tearing through your water mains or reduce the risk of heavy vehicles above disturbing the earth enough to cause stress and damage to the pipeline, our slabs will provide the right protection. Our flexible service means we can even tailor the slabs to meet your requirements where the job demands it.
Robust and reliable, our pipeline protection cover slabs are made from high-quality concrete. As this means weight and manoeuvrability are factors to consider, they can be made easier to install and remove with the incorporation of lifting sockets and lifting loops where needed. Of course, when installing pipelines and protection slabs, you’ll also need reliable bog mats for your crew to work on and to keep things accessible. We have an extensive range of timber mats for sale or hire and can advise you on the best ones for both your project and your budget.
Contact GJ Bog Mats for expert advice on pipeline protection
If you’d like to know more about how GJ Bog Mats can help you with pipeline protection, you can get in touch with our experienced team via our online contact form, send us an email or give us a call on 07896 265 981 or 0800 7747751. We’re always happy to advise our customers and work hard to give you the most suitable, high-quality cover slabs for the best price.
by gjmats | 5 Sep, 2017 | Information, Oil, gas & energy services
Bogmats are not just for mud
Based here in South Wales, you’d be forgiven for thinking that all our work is UK based. In fact, GJ Bogmats has a thriving export section. We are able to provide our bog mats and crane mats internationally, and have been involved in a couple of major projects abroad.
Working in the desert in Oman presented our team with particular challenges from the point of view of climate and the geography – very different from the green valleys of home… We are supplying 10,000 timber pipeline skids to a gas pipeline project, a very prestigious contract to be involved with. The pipeline skids are used to support the pipeline during installation and then during operation – yet another use for timber mats, and in this case, vitally important to ensure the successful supply of gas.
Not all sand is the same
One thing we have learned as a result of our involvement in this project is that not all sand is the same. We thought we’d share 10 surprising facts that we’ve discovered about sand which you might be interested in.
- The composition of mineral sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions. Sand also comes in a wide variety of colours – from the bright white sands of New Mexico to the black sands rich in magnetite found in volcanic areas such as the Canary Islands
- Sand is defined by size, being finer than graveland coarser than silt
- the most common constituent of sand silica- usually in the form of quartz, followed by calcium carbonate,
- Calcium carbonate based sand is mostly created by various forms of life, likecoral and The process takes millions of years.
- Not all sand is suitable for construction, and the increased demand for sand resources due to an increase globally in the need for more building has led to ‘sand wars’ and the attendant ecological and economic impact of natural resources running low.
- Sand is the principal component in common glass
- Sand used to be used as a thermal weapon – heated and poured on invading troops who dared to storm castles in the classical and medieval periods.
- Some animals don’t have a proper skeleton of their own so they incorporate sand for structural strength
- Sand can sing – get the conditions right, and sand of a certain size will produce a soundfrequency close to 450
- Quicksand is a colloid hydrogel formed from sand and salt water in areas of high pore water pressure. People and animals caught in quicksand often find it almost impossible to escape from unaided.
Despite the challenges of working in desert conditions, we are delighted to be involved in this international project. Our logistics operation has meant smooth delivery, and the mats have stood up to the challenge of the tough environment. We are looking forward to working on similar projects where our experience we’ve gained of working with sand give us the advantage!
If you’d like to talk to us about our bog mats – whether you need them for an Omani desert or something a little closer to home, get in touch with us here at GJ Bogmats – we’re here to help.
