Lightweight drain covers reduce risk of theft

With scrap metal prices soaring, some European countries are suffering from a spate of drain cover thefts. Serious safety issues arise for road users of all categories as a result of drain cover theft, with utility companies and local councils being left with the additional burden of replacing stolen ductile ironwork. However Ultracrete, part of the Instarmac Group, has a solution in the shape of its recently launched coverTEC range of pedestrian and road composite manhole covers and frames. These lightweig
March 2, 2012 Read time: 2 mins

With scrap metal prices soaring, some European countries are suffering from a spate of drain cover thefts.

Serious safety issues arise for road users of all categories as a result of drain cover theft, with utility companies and local councils being left with the additional burden of replacing stolen ductile ironwork.

However 2492 Ultracrete, part of the 240 Instarmac Group, has a solution in the shape of its recently launched coverTEC range of pedestrian and road composite manhole covers and frames. These lightweight and durable products can take the place of conventional ductile ironwork and eliminate the problem of theft.

The composite covers offer other benefits too as their light weight reduces handling requirements and the risk of installation injuries for personnel, while they also offer improved anti-skid performance.

This last feature is of particular importance to vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists and cyclists, who are at risk during periods of wet or cold weather from conventional iron covers installed in the roadway.

The Ultracrete coverTEC products meet European requirements and the range includes covers and frames. The covers are made from an advanced composite structure of glass fibre and resin, so they are light in weight as well as providing a durable and a safe alternative to conventional ironwork. These composite covers have no scrap value, eliminating the theft problem prevalent in some countries. The covers are also approved by various motorcycling and cycling bodies as a safer alternative to conventional iron products. The coverTEC manhole covers and frames can be used with Ultracrete's range of highway maintenance products and can be installed using the firm's approved reinstatement system. This provides a five year service life guarantee while the fast installation means that a road can be open to traffic within the hour. The new coverTEC range has already been used and trialled across the UK and offers a reduction in replacement costs.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Saint Gobain widens access cover range
    July 14, 2015
    Saint-Gobain PAM UK is now offering the Opt-Emax and Ult-Emax variants of its anti-skid treated GripTop range of access covers. These units have been developed to help boost safety for vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists and cyclists in particular. Conventional access covers can wear away over time and become smooth and slippery due to decades of traffic. These pose major hazards to motorcyclists and cyclists, particularly in poor weather. The GripTop range from Saint-Gobain PAM UK features D400 an
    Read More
  • Instarmac helping with Malaysia road repairs
    April 16, 2018
    Instarmac’s Malaysian partner, Protasco Trading, has been supplying UltraCrete Envirobed HA104, QC10 F and Instant Road Repair to Indah Water Konsortium (IWK). The products have been used for a number of manhole reinstatements across West Malaysia. Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) is a national sewerage company in Malaysia. Government owned, IWK is responsible for developing and maintaining a modern and efficient sewerage system for West Malaysia.
    Read More
  • New approach needed in Europe to help improve motorcycle safety
    August 22, 2012
    The European Commission is proposing that part of its controversial new Anti-Tampering regulations for motorcycles should be re-written to prevent custom motorcycle builders from using long-forks. This is the latest in a series of requirements in the regulations to attracted criticisms from motorcycle manufacturers, dealers, safety campaigners and enthusiasts groups.
    Read More
  • Instarmac completes first manhole reinstatement in North America
    November 7, 2017
    UK-based Instarmac has broken into the North American market with the first use of its Manhole Installation System in Canada. Instarmac said the installation was carried out in conjunction with the Region of Peel council, near the city of Toronto. It was done quickly with minimal disruption to motorists and in temperatures above 35ºC. The Manhole Installation System has been independently tested and approved by the UK’s Highways Authority Product Approval Scheme, said Instarmac, a manufacturer and
    Read More

Highlighted Content