Fibrelite Custom-Engineers Heavy-Duty GRP Trench Covers for Precast Concrete Troughs at Airport Maintenance Facility
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Fibrelite provided a bespoke composite trench covering arrangement for this airport maintenance facility
Project Overview
A third-party engineering and construction company contacted Fibrelite to provide a bespoke GRP composite trench covering arrangement to fit precast concrete service trenches at a UK airport maintenance facility. The concrete troughs had already been sourced, and sizing and specification finalised, making a custom Fibrelite covering solution ideal.
Cover dimensions had to be custom manufactured to fit existing trough dimensions
Problem
The fact that the concrete troughs had already been acquired prior to Fibrelite’s involvement in the project presented a number of design challenges, as well as those related to the nature of the application.
Key design challenges:
• Custom cover dimensions to fit existing troughs.
• E600 ‘Super Heavy Duty’ load rating essential due to frequent high wheel loads.
• Every third cover required 140x50mm apertures for access to compressed air lines.
• Non-standard colour pigment requested.
In addition to the above, a strict construction programme was mandated.
An E600 ‘Super Heavy Duty’ load rating was essential due to the frequent high wheel loads
Covers were stepped from 40 to 65mm deep to meet the E600 load rating
Every third cover was modified with a 140x50mm ‘mouse hole‘ aperture to enable easy access to compressed air lines
All Fibrelite trench covers can be safely and quickly removed by two people using the FL7 lifting handles (image used for illustration purposes and shows a different installation)
Solution
Fibrelite proposed a custom, retrofit GRP composite trench cover design which would fit directly into existing troughs. This design was approved by the client shortly after submission.
Key features:
• Custom covers, dimensionally consistent to all details provided by the client, allowing them to be fitted immediately into existing trough rebates upon delivery.
• Covers stepped from 40 to 65mm deep in order to accommodate the E600 load rating required.
• Every third cover modified with 140x50mm ‘mouse hole‘ aperture to enable easy access to compressed air lines.
• Covers manufactured using custom light grey colour pigment.
Covers were manufactured and delivered before the project deadline.
Results
Fibrelite covers enable easy safe manual access to trenches, eliminating the need for specialist personnel or machinery during maintenance or operation (and resultant costs).
Key benefits of Fibrelite covers:
• Strength to weight ratio: all Fibrelite trench covers can be safely and quickly removed by two people using their FL7 lifting handles.
• Easy access to trench services.
• Fit-and-forget corrosion-free long-term solution.