Among the motley list of heavy machines that are deemed as essential to the construction industry, the roller compactor makes the top-ten list. Compactors are undoubtedly essential to the construction industry due to the machine’s critical role, which is to compact various types of materials which enhances the density and subsequently the stability of surfaces for different reasons or applications.
For the most part, compactors or rollers as they are commonly referred to are used primarily for road construction, building foundations and as well as landfill management. Within the scope of road construction, compactors are crucial towards improving load-bearing capacity; prevent surfaces from cracking or developing potholes whilst maximizing space. In building construction, rollers are critical towards ensuring that the surface below the construction is compact and do not slide due to the weight of the construction above and this provides structural stability for the buildings above.
Within the scope of landfill management, roller compactors are mainly used to maximise space at the fill. There are various types of roller compactors and in this article, we will examine some of the more popular types of roller compactors that are generally available for hire from construction equipment rental companies.
For starters this article will examine vibratory rollers which are among the more popular machine to take as a roller compactor rental. This particular compactor uses both vibration and weight to compact materials and in essence, this roller compactor is generally suitable for quite a wide range of applications.
This type of roller compactors are taken for hire and used for compacting soil, asphalt, even granular materials and similarly, smooth drum roller compactors which are also easily available for hire are also more often than not used for compacting asphalt surfaces mainly because of the smooth drum that delivers a consistent finish to the asphalt.
Next up, we look into pneumatic rollers which utilises pneumatic tires to compact materials which make this roller effective for a wide range of applications and this also includes soil and asphalt among others. Another roller compactor type that is less frequently used, nevertheless important for specific applications and also available for hire is grid rollers.
The grid roller is set up with a grid-like drum pattern that is useful towards compacting materials that consist of abrasive substances or rocky areas. There are also smaller roller compactors referred to as walk behind rollers, and these rollers are generally used for compacting smaller work areas or trenches, footpaths or driveways.
Prior to taking a roller compactor for hire, it is important to know the kind of hazards that rollers pose to operators and workers within the project environment. It is compulsory for project managers to ensure that only qualified roller compactor operators are allowed to work the machine.
Among the more common hazards posed by rollers include pinching workers, crushing, excessive vibrations, noise or even tipping due to unstable or uneven surfaces.
Therefore, it is critical that proper training on the hazards and safety precautions are given to those working within close proximity of a roller compactor.