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Airport Maintenance Facility, UK

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Fibrelite custom-engineers heavy-duty FRP GRP trench covers for precast concrete trenches troughs at airport maintenance facility

Project overview

A third-party engineering and construction company contacted Fibrelite to provide a bespoke FRP GRP composite trench covering arrangement to fit precast concrete service trenches at a UK airport maintenance facility.

The concrete trenches troughs had already been sourced, and sizing and specification finalized, finalised, making a custom Fibrelite covering solution an ideal solution.

Problem

The fact that the concrete trenches 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 trenches. 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 color colour pigment requested.

In addition to the above, a strict construction program programme was mandated.

Cover dimensions had to be custom manufactured to fit existing trench trough dimensions
Cover dimensions had to be custom manufactured to fit existing trench trough dimensions
A E600 ‘Super Heavy Duty’ load rating was essential due to the frequent high wheel loads
An E600 ‘Super Heavy Duty’ load rating was essential due to the frequent high wheel loads

Solution

Fibrelite proposed a custom, retrofit FRP GRP composite trench cover design which would fit directly into existing trenches. 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 E600 load rating.
  • Every third cover modified with 140x50mm ‘mouse hole‘ aperture to enable easy access to compressed air lines.
  • Covers manufactured using Light Gray Grey color colour pigment.

Covers were manufactured and delivered before the project deadline.

Covers were stepped from 40 to 65mm deep to meet E600 load rating
Covers were stepped from 40 to 65mm deep to meet E600 load rating
Every third cover modified with 140x50mm ‘mouse hole‘ aperture to enable easy to access to compressed air lines
Every third cover modified with 140x50mm ‘mouse hole‘ aperture to enable easy to access to compressed air lines

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:

  • Best strength to weight ratio available in the market today.
  • Easy, safe access to trench services using the Fibrelite’s ergonomically designed FL7 lifting handles.
  • Fit-and-forget corrosion-free long-term solution.
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)
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)

Author:

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David Holmes

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