Suggested or tested load
A supplier may state a suggested application figure or a test result. The test method, support conditions and load application determine what that number demonstrates.
TECHNICAL GUIDE · LOAD CAPACITY · SITE SUITABILITY
Ground protection mat load capacity. What the rating really means.
A ground protection mat load rating describes product capability under stated conditions. It does not approve a vehicle for a site. This guide separates supplier figures from the ground, footprint, traffic and layout that determine project suitability.
Product figureRead the source, test basis, wording and stated conditions.
Supporting groundUse measured project evidence where it exists, not postcode alone.
Contact footprintAxles, wheels, tracks and concentrated loads behave differently.
Operating planTraffic, turning, braking, speed, duration and weather all matter.
THE SHORT ANSWER
How much weight can a ground protection mat hold? There is no honest single answer.
The mat, its connections and layout form only one layer of the load path. The supporting ground must receive the load without unacceptable failure, deformation or settlement.
Four checks must agree.
1. Product capability: what the supplier has actually published, and under what conditions.
2. Ground support: the strength, condition, preparation, drainage and variability of the route or working area.
3. Applied load: not only gross vehicle weight, but axle loading, contact area, tracks, wheels and any point or concentrated loads.
4. Use: traffic frequency, turns, braking, speed, duration, season, inspection and maintenance.
A high product figure cannot turn weak, disturbed or unsupported ground into a suitable route. Mats spread load. They do not create unlimited bearing capacity.
READ THE WORDING
Four figures that must not be treated as interchangeable.
Search results often use load capacity, load rating, tested load and working load as if they mean the same thing. They do not.
Load-bearing guidance
A published vehicle or load figure can depend on ground conditions, panel configuration, connection and the complete installed system.
Compressive capacity
A pressure value for a panel core or material is not the same as an approved gross vehicle weight, axle load or outrigger duty.
Site suitability
The project-specific conclusion after ground, footprint, traffic, turning, duration, preparation, layout and escalation have been reviewed.
PUBLISHED PRODUCT GUIDANCE
Four TrackMatz classes. Supplier figures kept in their lane.
The table records current published guidance for product comparison. None of these figures is automatic permission for a vehicle, plant movement, crane duty or concentrated load on a particular site.
TM10 · Pedestrian-first
TM50 · Assessed vehicle access
TM120 · Higher-demand routes
TM200 · Highest-demand conditions| Class | Published guidance | TrackMatz project position | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| TM10 | Up to 10 tonnes suggested and tested up to 20 tonnes, depending on ground conditions. | Pedestrian-first. Occasional cars require ground and traffic assessment. Commercial vehicles, trucks and plant normally require a higher class. | CURRENT SHEET ↓ |
| TM50 | Isokon guidance is up to 20 tonnes on softer ground and more than 50 tonnes on firm ground. Capacity depends on ground conditions. | Assessed vehicle routes, temporary parking, compounds and event traffic. Cranes, outriggers, steel tracks and heavy repeated traffic require escalation. | CURRENT SHEET ↓ |
| TM120 | Loads up to 60 tonnes and vehicles up to 100 tonnes, subject to panel configuration and ground conditions. | Complete project review required. Very weak ground, concentrated loads, cranes, outriggers and steel tracks remain behind written or engineered review. | CURRENT SHEET ↓ |
| TM200 | Isokon load-bearing guidance is in excess of 200 tonnes, dependent on ground conditions. The cellular core has a separate compressive capacity of 415 tonnes/m² or 605 psi. | Detailed review for major access and working areas. Concentrated loads require engineering review. The system must not bridge unsupported ground. | CURRENT SHEET ↓ |
Important: the figures use different supplier wording and test bases. They are shown for transparent comparison, not to create a universal one-to-one ranking or fixed CBR-to-tonnage matrix.
WHAT CHANGES THE ANSWER
The six project factors behind a defensible recommendation.
Strength and condition
Measured CBR, plate or other project evidence is stronger than mapped context. Moisture, disturbance, made ground and local weak areas matter.
Footprint and concentration
Gross weight is only a starting point. Axles, tyre pressure, track area, attachments and point loads can change applied pressure materially.
Traffic and turning
Repeated passes, braking, acceleration, reversing and tight turns can govern performance more than a single straight movement.
System and connections
Panel orientation, overlaps, connectors, edges, transitions, passing areas and direction changes form part of the installed system.
Duration and season
Ground strength can change with rainfall, drainage and season. The review must consider the weakest reasonably expected condition across the project.
Inspection and escalation
Preparation, speed rules, route discipline, checks, maintenance and weather response help keep the agreed system within its project assumptions.
SAME VEHICLE · DIFFERENT PROJECT
Why a product headline cannot decide site suitability.
These two scenarios deliberately use the same vehicle without assigning a tonne allowance. The difference is the route and operation.
Prepared, level and controlled
- Project ground evidence is available for the route.
- The surface is level, supported and appropriately prepared.
- Movements are mainly straight with controlled speed.
- Traffic, duration, inspection and weather response are defined.
The available evidence may support an indicative class and a proportionate project review.
Saturated, disturbed and turning
- Ground strength is unknown or visibly variable.
- Soft areas, ruts, voids or unsupported features may be present.
- Repeated turning, braking or concentrated loading is expected.
- The programme crosses changing weather without a control plan.
A higher class alone may not solve the problem. Testing, preparation, layout changes or competent engineering input may be required.
PROJECT INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
Turn the published figure into a project decision.
The level of review should be proportionate to the consequence, uncertainty and operating demand.
What to provide
- Exact route, working area, parking zone or compound
- Ground condition and any CBR, survey, test or observation evidence
- Vehicle, plant, axle, wheel, track and concentrated-load details
- Traffic frequency, turning, braking, speed and crossings
- Dates, duration, season, drainage and weather exposure
- Preparation, layout, delivery, installation and site constraints
What the review should state
Evidence usedWhat is measured, observed, mapped or still unknown.
Indicative or confirmed classThe product direction and the level of confidence available.
Layout and controlsRoute, interfaces, connections, operating assumptions and responsibilities.
Limitations and escalationWhat would change the answer and when further testing or engineering is required.
Read the CBR guide for ground evidence, the delivery and installation guide for mobilisation, and how much matting is required for quantity planning. For the commercial route, compare track mats for hire, ground protection mats hire or temporary roadway hire.
INDICATIVE STARTING POINT
Use TrackSpec™. Then confirm the project.
TrackSpec uses the project information supplied to suggest an indicative class and quantity. It does not measure site CBR, certify a working load, provide temporary works design or approve a movement.
Supplier guidance retainedPublished product figures remain visible rather than being turned into invented bands.
Ground and operation addedCondition, traffic, duration, layout and risk flags influence the indicative direction.
TrackMatz project review followsThe TrackMatz team reviews the evidence before a commercial recommendation is confirmed.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Ground protection mat load capacity. Clear answers to common searches.
How much weight can a ground protection mat hold?
It depends on the product, the published test or guidance, the supporting ground, contact footprint, traffic, movement, duration, preparation and layout. A product headline does not approve a vehicle for a site.
Is a tested load the same as a working load?
No. A tested load demonstrates performance under the stated test conditions. Site suitability requires the project conditions and the test basis to be understood together.
Does a ground protection mat increase the soil CBR?
No. A mat can distribute load and protect the surface, but it does not change the underlying soil test result. A designed and constructed foundation may improve the supporting system.
Does vehicle weight alone determine the mat class?
No. Axle arrangement, wheel or track footprint, attachments, traffic, turning, braking, ground, duration and layout can all change the recommendation.
Can ground protection mats be used under crane outriggers?
Outriggers create concentrated loads and require project-specific load, footprint and ground information. They sit behind competent engineering review and must not be approved from a gross vehicle or headline mat figure.
Which TrackMatz class should I use?
Use TrackSpec for an indicative starting point, then provide the project ground, vehicle or plant, traffic, duration and layout for human confirmation.
SOURCES AND REVIEW
Published evidence. Limitations kept visible.
HSE temporary works guidance
Explains that ground suitability and the assumptions behind standard or supplier solutions must be assessed for the actual situation.
Explains that ground suitability and the assumptions behind standard or supplier solutions must be assessed for the actual situation.
BS 1377-9:2025
Current British Standard scope for in-situ soil testing, including CBR, plate load and shallow pad maintained load tests.
Current British Standard scope for in-situ soil testing, including CBR, plate load and shallow pad maintained load tests.
DMRB CD 225 Revision 1
National Highways foundation design guidance used as wider context for subgrade and foundation performance. It is not a mat selection table.
National Highways foundation design guidance used as wider context for subgrade and foundation performance. It is not a mat selection table.
Isokon ISOtrack L brochure
Primary manufacturer source for TM50 dimensions, weight and ground-dependent load-bearing guidance.
Primary manufacturer source for TM50 dimensions, weight and ground-dependent load-bearing guidance.
Isokon ISOtrack X brochure
Primary manufacturer source for TM200 load-bearing guidance and the separate cellular-core compressive figure.
Primary manufacturer source for TM200 load-bearing guidance and the separate cellular-core compressive figure.
TM120 current TrackMatz specification
Records current supplier guidance and the project-qualification boundary using the TrackMatz product identity.
Records current supplier guidance and the project-qualification boundary using the TrackMatz product identity.
