Manhole cover weight loading's
Manholes are integral urban infrastructure components that provide a safe and easy access to underground utilities. One of the most important factors to consider while choosing a suitable manhole cover is its weight carrying capacity, it defines whether a cover can stand the impact of different types of traffic and environmental conditions without breaking down.
What is meant by weight loading?
Weight loading or load rating refers to the maximum weight that a manhole cover can safely bear before it breaks. This rating is crucial to ensure that the manhole cover can sustain the expected traffic from the area coupled with environmental stresses without posing danger to public lives or compromising on structure integrity.
Manhole covers’ load ratings are divided into various classes established by British standards (BS EN 124:2015) as well as FACTA (Fabricated Access Covers Trade Association); they range from pedestrian areas being A15 to heavy traffic like airports and docks denoted by F900.
Manhole cover weight loadings classes according to BS EN 124
- A15 (1.5 tonnes): These covers can support up to 1.5 tonnes in weight. They are appropriate for areas with only light pedestrian or cycle flow. A15 covers are usually applied in gardens, parks, and generally pedestrian areas where the passage of heavy vehicle traffic is not expected.
- Use: Pedestrian areas, footpaths, and cycle tracks.
- B125 (12.5 tonnes): With a rating of 12.5 tonnes, the covers B125 suit an area with light vehicles like cars and small vans. The covers are classically found in residential driveways and car parks.
- Use: Driveways, car parks, and areas with light vehicular traffic.
- C250 (25 tonnes): The covers of C250 can withhold 25 tonnes. They could be used in various places where there would normally be moderate vehicular, delivery van, and small truck traffic. Mostly applied on road shoulders and light commercial zones.
- Use: Road shoulders, pedestrian precincts, and light commercial areas.
- D400 (40 tonnes): The heavy duty D400 is designed for the heavy traffic conditions and handles loads up to 40 tonnes. They are the most common type of manhole covers used in urban roads and highways, where the circulation of heavy vehicles like buses and huge trucks are more frequent.
- Use: Urban roads, highways, and commercial areas.
- E600 (60 tonnes): The E600 covers are fabricated to withstand loads of up to 60 tonnes. Common applications are heavyweight works such as industrial areas, docks, and warehouses, where forklifts and heavy machinery are in use.
- Use: Industrial areas, docks, and warehouses.
- F900 (90 tonnes): These are the strongest of all; this class of covers has the capacity to support up to 90 tonnes. These are used in areas with extreme loads such as airport runways, docks, and heavy-duty industrial sites where the heaviest of vehicles and machinery exist.
- Use: Airports, docks, and other extreme load areas.