Fibrelite, the world’s largest manufacturer of composite trench and access covers is responding to the demands from industry to provide a lightweight, health and safety friendly alternative to the heavy, crumbling and failing traditional materials, such as metal and concrete.
Fibrelite is launching new innovative product developments to the water industry at Sustainability Live at the NEC, April 16-18 2013.
Fibrelite covers the world with lightweight alternatives to heavy concrete and metal access covers and has recently launched a range of heavy duty D400 load rated composite 1.6m long trench covers, an industry first. These health and safety friendly trench covers are maintenance free and perfect for covering large trenches and pits where access is required and allows for safe operating and manual handling.
Fibrelite’s trench covers are proven to be ergonomically safe for men and women to remove and replace. The design incorporates two lifting points for their specially designed FL7 lifting aids. David Holmes, Technical Director states that “These lifting aids allow the operator to remove the cover without trapping fingers or bending over thus maximising the safety of the lifting technique.”
Key Benefits Include:
• Lightweight covers enable easy and safe installation and manual handling
• Wide range of sizes and load ratings available including heavy duty (A15 – F900)
• Anti-slip properties equivalent to a high grade road
• Will NOT corrode
• Zero re-sale value to the scrap market so will never be stolen
Fibrelite first pioneered the composite covering system in 1980 and set the standard by which performance is now measured. Initially developing the composite cover for petrol station forecourts to withstand the wheel loading of heavy goods vehicles; this was quickly adopted worldwide.
The covers are manufactured in a close mould environment combining long strand multi-directional fibreglass with a specifically formulated resin matrix to produce an extremely durable, lightweight and easy to manoeuvre cover. These covers are highly effective in covering manholes, gullies and trenches that contain cable, wire or fluid. Moreover, they are unaffected by underground gasses and most chemicals, particularly those involved with sewerage.
Fibrelite has seen a continuing demand from the utilities sector in particular. This is mainly due to the numerous health and safety benefits of GRP composite in comparison to the heavier alternatives (metal and concrete).
Additionally, metal theft is now having a serious impact on the global economy through inflated insurance premiums, high repair and replacement costs as well as causing extremely serious health and safety problems. Therefore, industries are favouring composites and moving away from traditional materials, as it is becoming more important to adhere to health and safety policies as well as looking towards a whole life cost.
“Our enquiries are coming in thick and fast, from water and water treatment plants, gas, substations, power stations, docklands and ports, rail and telecoms and we are developing strong relationships with local authorities and councils. We now feature a wide range of Case Studies on our website as an easy way to show the many applications and benefits of using composite access covers,” says Ian Thompson Managing Director.
