With a number of underground utilities all being maintained by staff at the university, Fibrelite needed to provide a range of products that were suitable for use in high-temperature water vaults, sewer lines and electrical pits. These requirements were highlighted as follows:

• High-Temperature Water – covers need to be thermally insulating to reduce burn risks
• Sewer – covers must provide odour control and prevent gas leaks without corroding
• Electrical – covers should be non-conductive to eliminate electrocution risk

Furthermore, Fibrelite’s solution had to ensure that access into the manholes was impossible without the correct equipment. As a trial, the university decided to initially replace one of their high-temperature water covers in a green area. This cover was both extremely heavy and prone to heating up with increases in the vault temperature.

The newly installed Fibrelite 30” steam cover will significantly reduce the heat transfer from the vault to the manhole surface. The lightweight cover can now be removed by a single member of the Facilities team safely and easily using a specially designed lifting handle, thereby avoiding back strain injuries and trapped fingers.

Fibrelite’s Composite Manhole Covers – Cool to Touch!

The thermal gradient properties of Fibrelite’s composite steam covers significantly reduce the heat transfer from a steam or high temperature water vault to the surface of the cover. Typically, the surface temperature of the cover will be slightly above the ambient temperature at street level even when subjected to extremely hot temperatures on the underside. Fibrelite’s composite access covers have been tested to temperatures up to 400°F while still maintaining their “cool to touch” properties and ability to support vehicular loads..

A Comprehensive Solution for Any Utility