Benefits of Ground Protection Mats for Events

Amazing events that smash fundraising goals and treat attendees to dazzling experiences to remember don’t just happen. They’re the result of thorough planning and meticulous attention to detail.

Event safety is naturally a crucial concern. However, while nearly every event planning team knows how to hire a reliable security team and implement effective crowd-control measures (e.g., barricades and perimeter security), some factors are easier to overlook.

Proper event flooring and ground protection are perfect examples, as many planners forget to consider them until it’s too late. The right ground protection matting can help. In this handy guide to ideal event flooring, you’ll learn what ground protection mats are all about and explore how the right products can help you plan safer, more effective events moving forward.

What Are Ground Protection Mats?

Ground protection mats are heavy-duty, slip-proof temporary surfaces made of durable, reliable materials (high-density polyethylene – or HDPE – and rubber are popular examples). In event planning situations, they generally serve a dual purpose:

• Ground protection mats help protect the ground, landscaping, or flooring of the venue, preventing damage and reducing potential liability.
• They also enhance staff and attendee safety by helping to direct vehicle or foot traffic, manage crowds, and prevent slip-and-fall injuries.

Why Do Events Need Ground Protection?

Whether you’re planning a large-scale indoor expo or a simple local gathering outdoors, deploying proper ground protection is a must. Here are some of the biggest reasons why.

Injury and liability prevention

The right ground protection and temporary flooring options ensure event attendees, staff, and even vehicles have the stable surfaces they need to navigate the premises safely. Hardy, slip-proof surfaces help keep people from slipping or otherwise sustaining injury.

Tough, durable materials also protect the existing flooring, carpeting, pavement, or landscaping at your venue of choice. You’ll be able to leave everything in pristine condition and avoid being held responsible for damage that could have been prevented.

Maximize available space

Temporary event flooring and ground protection matting can help you make better use of limited available space or transform venue choices that may otherwise be less than ideal. Here are some examples of how that process might play out:

• Open up your available space with safe, accessible flooring options.
• Make uneven terrain safer and easier to navigate.
• Improve access for people with mobility issues when working with spaces that have accessibility limitations.
• Make it easier for staff, security, and event personnel to do their jobs by creating safe, usable service paths and staging areas for vital equipment.

Create an ideal experience for attendees

Adding durable event flooring to your planning process can help guarantee an optimal experience for guests and attendees. Event flooring with textured surfaces provides a stable and slip-resistant foundation, making walkways and gathering areas safer and more accessible, especially for those with mobility challenges.

Protective matting also ensures outdoor areas stay usable no matter what the weather or circumstances. For instance, they help prevent gathering spaces and dirt paths from turning to mud in the case of rain, spills, etc. 

Applications for Ground Protection Mats in the Events Industry

Ground protection mats and alternative event flooring are versatile options with many possible uses. Here are a few you may not have considered.

Temporary parking

In addition to protecting venue flooring and landscaping, ground protection mats are an ideal way to create or expand temporary parking. Features that help support vehicle traffic include:

• Textured grip options that are perfect for helping vehicle tires maintain their traction, even under damp or inclement weather conditions.
• Heavy-duty interlocking panels ensure your mats can stand up to all kinds of vehicle-related use.
• The mats effectively distribute the weight of vehicles across a larger surface area, preventing damage to the ground beneath, including grass and turf.

Temporary walkways or entrances

Unusual event setups or venue choices can make it challenging to direct foot traffic in optimal ways. Ground protection matting is perfect for creating visible, easy-to-follow temporary walkways that help attendees find their way around. Non-slip tread and other stability features ensure safe use and low liability.

Efficient areas for staff or equipment

You can use ground matting to create and designate safe areas for storing equipment or certain staff activities. It keeps expensive equipment and accessories off the ground, while also preventing it from scarring venue floors or the ground outdoors.

Outdoor concerts or festivals

Many concerts, cultural fairs, and music festivals take place in locations that may not be inherently set up to host large-scale events. Ground matting helps you to prepare outdoor areas like parks, fields, and similar locations for the pressure of large crowds gatherings. 

How Ground Protection Mats Work

Ground protection mats come in lots of different types and sizes, but most of them work by creating a stable surface that distributes the weight of vehicles and crowds over a larger area, which reduces the risk of damaging the grass, soil, or other surfaces beneath.

Some are definitely a better fit for certain applications than others, so it’s important to know what to consider when evaluating different products. Here are a few key examples.

Material

Temporary event flooring and ground protection mats should be made of durable, high-density materials that are also lightweight and easy to move from place to place. For outdoor ground protection or matting that needs to be able to accommodate vehicles, choose materials like high-density HDPE for best results.

Size

For matting that needs to be capable of distributing weight from vehicles, heavy equipment, or large crowds, go for larger individual mats. They keep compression and general wear and tear to a minimum.

Environmental regulations

Check the laws and regulations in the area for applicable restrictions on chemicals and other compounds. Choose your matting accordingly. Some mats are also more appropriate for practical use in certain environments than others.

Strength

Always err on the side of “stronger” when choosing matting to use as ground protection or temporary flooring. The options you choose should be able to support the heaviest possible weight they might have to handle, whether it’s a delivery truck in need of a temporary parking space or heavy stage equipment.

Traction

Pay attention to the tread and texturing on the mats you choose. A larger tread is a better choice for creating temporary parking lots or vehicle zones, while a smaller tread is better for slip-proof pedestrian use.

Take Your Future Events to the Next Level

Managing details like proper event flooring is only part of what goes into planning safe, truly memorable events that exceed performance expectations. Covering all the right bases when it comes to crowd control and security is just as important.

Check out our handy guide on how to plan a safe event for even more tips. Learn the details of setting an appropriate budget, planning an ideal event layout, creating an effective timeline, and more!