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Project Overview

Hilton Bodill Construction contacted Fibrelite on behalf of their client, Nottingham City Hospital, who required a lightweight and strong modular covering system for their newly re-routed service trench, which replaced the traditional heavy concrete slabs.

These protect and provide access to the hospital’s backup diesel generators supply pipes (diesel and oxygen). An easy-install, corrosion-free replacement for their previously existing steel piping was also required.

Problem

The previously existing concrete trench access covers were heavy, requiring specialist lifting equipment to remove and replace them: a time consuming and expensive process. Due to their weight, they also posed a risk of injury to maintenance teams (quick access to the piping is vital for maintenance and inspection). Nottingham City Hospital also wanted to replace their steel pipework with a reliable plastic piping system, eliminating the potential for corrosion and subsequent fluid egress.

Key issues with the previously existing products:

Concrete Access Covers

• Heavy concrete access covers posed a risk of injury to maintenance teams and required specialist personnel/machinery for removal and replacement.
• Concrete covers often fracture and chip over time.
• Some covers would need to be modified to accommodate pipework extending from within the trench to above ground networks.

Steel Pipework

• Steel pipework can corrode over time, resulting in fluid egress (leaks).
• The traditional steel pipework was heavy and labor intensive to work with.

Solution

OPW’s UK technical team put together a proposal combining lightweight Fibrelite GRP composite trench covers and KPS double wall polyethylene piping, which was accepted by the contractor and end user.

Key Benefits Of Fibrelite Covers For This Project:

• No specialist machinery or personnel required for removal and replacement.
• Strength-to-weight ratio. All trench covers can be safely removed manually by two people while strong enough to withstand sustained loading.
• Bespoke aluminum frame section supplied by Fibrelite to fit exiting rebate – ensuring minimal upheaval to site works.
• Bespoke Fibrelite covers modified to include apertures accommodating pipework extending from within the trench to above ground networks.
• Fibrelite covers are corrosion-resistant – unaffected by water, underground gasses and most chemicals.

Key Benefits Of KPS Piping For This Project:

• Engineered for easy installation. Compact, installer friendly KPS fittings weld both walls of a double wall pipe simultaneously.
• In-house and onsite installation training provided (standard for clients new to the KPS piping system).
• Lightweight.
• Corrosion free polyethylene piping.
• Designed to be liquid- and water-tight.

Results

The easy access solution provided by Fibrelite trench covers eliminates the need for any specialist personnel or machinery during maintenance or operation, while KPS piping provides a compact, long-term fluid transfer solution (trusted by oil companies around the globe).

Fibrelite And KPS Benefits At A Glance:

• Easy manual access to trench services using the ergonomically designed Fibrelite FL7 lifting handles.
• Best access cover strength to weight ratio available in the market today.
• Bespoke, made-to-measure.
• A long-term solution.
• Fast, simple piping installation.
• Local technical support.
  

For more case studies, visit the Fibrelite website.