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

  • IAM says more action needed to cut UK road casualty numbers
    November 1, 2012
    IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) director Neil Greig said “much more” needed to be done to sustain an encouraging drop in the latest published quarterly road casualty statistics for the UK. The latest Department for Transport figures revealed 400 people were killed in road accidents in Britain between April-June 2012 – down 18% than the 487 killed over the same period of 2011. The total number of casualties was 47,880 between April-June 2012, a fall of 7% on the 51,580 in Q2 2011.
    Read More
  • New marking technologies being developed
    June 30, 2014
    Innovative roadmarking technologies will increase productivity, improve conspicuity in poor conditions and offer increased wear life - Mike Woof writes. Major advances have been seen in roadmarking systems now being offered on the market. More sophisticated machinery will increase productivity and quality when installing markings, while new systems will also last longer in use. In addition, smart technologies can detect wear and provide highway authorities with an accurate picture of network safety, at comp
    Read More
  • Steel sealed on Stonecutters Bridge
    February 6, 2012
    The stone mastic asphalt surface being laid on the bridge deck. The Stonecutters Bridge in Hong Kong, the second longest spanning cable stayed bridge in the world, is a dual three-lane crossing of the Rambler Channel. It utilises 33,500tonnes of structural steel in the bridge deck; 32,000m3 of concrete in the towers and 65 steel deck units relying on 224 cables. Effectively protecting the megastructure's deck from the weather extremes (monsoon rains and extreme heat in the summer) and the high levels of tra
    Read More
  • Hitex speeds surface repairs
    June 24, 2014
    Hitex surfacings have been developed for export markets and have approval for use in different territories. The firm is now exporting the products for use in South East Asia and Latin America and has contracts to use the materials for repairs on a busy highway in India. The Hitex products are suitable for permanent repairs and use recycled materials, with applications including use on wider joints and cracks as a preventative treatment method. A spokesperson for the firm said, “We try to get councils to
    Read More

Highlighted Content