Emergency Ground Protection Mats for Plantworx 2017 in Extreme Wet Weather
In 2017, persistent heavy rain turned the outdoor Plantworx construction show into a muddy, difficult site. Visitors, staff, and vehicles struggled to move between exhibits, and access to exhibitor stands became increasingly unsafe. With large areas submerged in mud and footfall slowing dramatically, the event faced serious risks around safety and continuity.
The Challenge: Mud, Slips, and Lost Access Across a Busy Outdoor Event Site
Relentless rainfall created rapidly deteriorating ground conditions. Mud built up around exhibitor areas, increasing the likelihood of slips and trips and making routes difficult to navigate. As access problems spread, the impact went beyond inconvenience and began to threaten the event’s ability to operate normally.
The site needed an immediate, practical solution that could be deployed quickly to restore safe pedestrian movement and standing areas in the worst-affected zones.
Our Solution: Rapid Deployment of MaxiTrack Mats for Emergency Walkways
GroundGuards was exhibiting at Plantworx and had stillages of MaxiTrack mats available on site. As other exhibitors sought urgent support, our team responded by laying down MaxiTrack heavy-duty trackway mats to create temporary pedestrian walkways and stable standing areas.
Quick Manual Installation Without Machinery
MaxiTrack’s lightweight format enabled rapid manual installation, allowing the team to respond quickly as conditions worsened and priorities changed.
Overlapping Joints to Suppress Mud and Stabilise Underfoot Conditions
The mats’ overlapping flange joints helped prevent mud from seeping through, providing a firmer, cleaner surface for people to walk and work on in high-footfall areas.
Results: Improved Site Movement and a Show That Stayed Open
Despite continued downpour, the installed walkways made a clear difference. Exhibitors regained access to their stands, and visitors were able to move around the site more safely and confidently.
What could have become a total washout was stabilised through quick access mat deployment. For many exhibitors, it reinforced the importance of planning for severe weather and having a practical ground protection option available when conditions deteriorate quickly.
Key Lessons for Outdoor Shows and Events in Wet Conditions
- Have a contingency plan for prolonged rain. Ground conditions can fail quickly at high-footfall events.
- Rapid-response matting can restore safe walkways and standing zones without heavy equipment or long setup time.
- Overlapping joints help reduce mud migration and improve underfoot conditions in critical areas.
- Prioritise key routes and access points first to keep exhibitors operating and maintain visitor flow.
- On-site availability matters. Having mats ready to deploy can be the difference between disruption and continuity.
Speak to GroundGuards About Emergency Event Ground Protection Mats
If your event site is at risk of turning into a mudbath, GroundGuards can help. We supply rapid-deployment ground protection mats designed to keep people and vehicles moving safely in difficult weather. Contact our team to discuss your site access requirements.
