Earlier this year Uisce Éireann issued a Quality Alert to its framework Infrastructure delivery contractors and consulting engineers as a result of recurring incidences of sub-standard, non-compliant products on its networks.
The alert reinforces the two standards called in their specification guidance documents – EN 124 – 3:2015 and BS 9124, for steel covers spanning up to 1,000mm x 1,000mm and over a 1,000mm x 1,000mm clear openings.
So why are utility providers insisting on these standards?
Choosing access covers for water and waste chambers is a challenging task facing product specifiers where key considerations such as operator and public safety, ergonomics, and asset security need to be taken into account. Compliance to EN 124 and BS 9124 demands rigorous testing to minimise risks to asset users and guarantee a long term performance.
Some of the performance and critical safety features include:
- Load testing: Covers undergo three separate tests to determine structural adequacy and traffic load handling.
- Slip/skid resistance steel covers to EN 124 require an Unpolished Slip Resistance Value (USRV) >35, and BS9124 demands a Polished Slip Resistance Value (PSRV) of 40, rendering them suitable for pedestrian and wheel traffic.
- Safety stay bar mechanism BS 9124 requires hinged covers to have a positive safety stay mechanism to prevent unintentional closure, capable of resisting a minimum horizontal force of 250 kg.
- Safety grid testing and openings BS 9124 insists that fall protection safety grids pass a Drop Test to withstand a 140kg mass applied over a footprint of 300 x 200mm, dropped from a height of 2m onto any point on the grid. This simulates (and exceeds) the vertical impact of a person falling onto the grid.
In addition, the safety grid shall not permit a 100mm diameter sphere through any opening to guard against a foot fitting through.
The mandatory requirement for the manufacturer’s markings to be a clear, permanent and integral part of the cover will aid specifiers in the identification of compliant covers, and the annual testing of welders and fabricators according to these standards will help maintain quality.
On-site safety optimised through compliance
Utility providers insist on standards like EN 124 and BS 9124 for chamber access covers to ensure safety, durability, compliance and risk reduction.
To address knowledge gaps and to deal with requests from project designers and contractors, EJ has prepared a workshop on specifying and approving compliant access solutions per UE’s technical documents – TEC 300-02 and TEC 600-01 – for secure access on critical sites.
We can organise an Engineers Ireland approved CPD Lunch & Learn seminar at your offices or at the EJ fabrication facilities in Birr, Co Offaly, to demonstrate the testing procedures required for compliance to UE specifications.
We offer a wide selection of certified bespoke fabricated steel solutions and can assist at the design stage with a free on-site survey to ensure correct product selection and adherence to the standards.
Contact the Business Development team on 057 91 23100 for further information.