When using explosives for rock breaking, rock removal and rock excavations, blasting mats are required to control flying debris from a blast using explosive products. These blasting mats are usually constructed of recycled rubber tires and woven steel with gaps to allow for the gases to vent. In all residential blasting, urban blasting and close-proximity rock blasting applications and projects where flyrock , blasting mats should always be used. Blasting mats can weigh upwards to 2720 kgs (6000 lbs). Layers of sand are typically used as a foundation layer because it is a readily available material on construction job sites.
If a job site has limitations due to accessibility, larger blasting mats that are required to be placed by a machine may not be used. Custom mats maybe required for these areas so that they can be placed over the blasting area by one or two people. Whether the blast mat is small or large, mats should never be dragged onto loaded holes that are tied in. Dragging blasting mats on to wires increases the potential of damaging the wires which increases the likelihood to have a misfire. Operators must be aware of this and understand the importance of placing blasting mats and the significance of improper practice. Mats are to be placed overlaying between other mats to eliminate potential fly rock concerns. For electric initation systems this poses an advantage with the ability to test the circuit in sequences as mats are being placed on the material to be blasted.. Depending on the size of your rock breaking event and distance to structures, the size of your blast will be determined on how many blasting mats you have on site to eliminate flyrock hazards. In other words, do not load a shot larger than what your blast mats can contain.
For inquires about purchasing rock blasting mats, please contact GeoBreak to learn more.
