Lightweight yet strong

"Having re-configured the internal fibreglass architecture we can meet the permanent set and test load requirements of BS EN 124, Class F900 (when tested in accordance with the Air BP test footprint)," David Holmes, Fibrelite's technical director and head of product development, said. “The biggest single benefit of using Fibrelite’s composite covers at the higher load ratings is their strength to weight ratio – very strong and still lifted by hand.”

The request for Fibrelite to provide F900 heavy duty trench covers initially came from the UK’s largest container port in the South-East of England. Their work inspectors were exploring replacement options for extremely heavy and corroding steel covers that had been installed years earlier. These covers required a crane and dedicated lifting equipment, which incurred a financial cost with equipment and manpower to lift the covers every time the ships came into dock.

The benefit of using a retrofit system is that costly and time consuming installation is eliminated. There are no break outs of existing structures and no curing time resetting structures into concrete. 

With a load rating of up to 90 tonnes, Fibrelite's lightweight covers incorporate up to two lifting points for specially designed lifting handles. These allow the operator to remove the cover without trapping fingers or bending over thus maximising the safety of the lifting technique. The weight is kept close to the body preventing back injury.