Comparison of Plate Compactor vs Rammer Rental

Most construction sites and road constructions need stable ground conditions to work on. The soil needs to be well compressed so there are no pockets of air underground that can disrupt the process. This process is known as Ground Compaction or Soil Compaction. Therefore, the contractor needs to rent compaction equipment to perform this task.

Compaction equipment rearranges the particles of soil on any soft ground to decrease any voids and increase its density. A well-compacted soil provides safety and ensures the feasibility of holding structures, sidewalks, driveways, and other buildings.

Plate Compactors and Rammers are the two most common light compaction equipment rental that contractors needed. Many people are not always sure which is the better option for them. Nonetheless, if you are looking to rent light compaction equipment for the first time, you need to fully understand the key differences between a plate compactor and a rammer.

Key differences between Plate Compactor and Rammer that you need to know!

1. Soil Type

Firstly, you need to know what type of ground material which you are going to compact. It is important to understand the differences in order to get the correct equipment to carry out the work effectively.

Generally, there are 2 types of soil at job sites - Cohesive and Granular. Cohesive soils are tightly packed which require a certain amount of moisture to be compacted properly. On the other hand, Granular soils are just like gravel and sand. They are loose soils that can be compacted whether wet or dry.

A plate compactor is ideal for granular soils as it uses vibration to compact the soil. The small pieces of loose soil will fall into place with a plate compactor working on top of it.

A rammer is more effective on cohesive soils as it uses impaction to compact the soil. This allows it to compact soil layers thicker than a plate compactor can reach.

2. Working Area

Plate compactors cover a larger compaction area compared to rammers. Hence, plate compactors are more suited to work on large and open surfaces that need to be uniformly compacted.

On the other hand, due to their compact size and upright design, rammers have an advantage in working in trenches, tight spots, and work that needs to focus on a particular spot on the ground. This allows rammers to maneuver into areas that plate compactors may not be able to reach.

3. Handling

Plate compactors and rammers are both relatively easy to operate and maneuver around. Many of them even come with vibration-reducing handles for the operator to avoid future health conditions such as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome. However, rammers require slightly more concentration and effort as the operators need to hold onto the machine while impacting soils near their feet.

Read our comprehensive Compaction Equipment Rental Guide here!

Conclusion

Both plate compactors and rammers have their own unique designs and purpose. For tight spots and limited space compaction work, rammers can allow operators to focus on a particular spot and work efficiently. To tackle wide open spaces for compaction work, plate compactors are recommended to improve productivity. After learning about both equipment and their uses, it is important to sit down and check which is most suitable to be used at your construction site.

In Singapore, plate compactors and rammers are very common equipment at construction sites. Antbuildz.com hopes that this short article can give you a clear picture of the differences between plate compactors and rammers, and what you should consider prior to renting them for your job site.

Got more queries on plate compactors or rammers? Give us a call or WhatsApp us @ 8831 3875 so we can advise you further! Search, Compare and Rent plate compactors and rammers in just a few clicks via antbuildz.com.