Generally, Ductile and Cast Iron products are manufactured to BSEN 124: 1994 standards, while Galvanised Steel products are made to FACTA standards. We are active members of FACTA and have previously advised on BSEN 124.

BSEN 124 LOADINGS

The appropriate class of manhole top or gully top to be used depends upon the place of installation. The various places of possible installations have been divided into groups numbered 1 to 6, as listed below. The figure shows the location of these groups in a highway environment. The selection of the appropriate class is the responsibility of the designer/specifier. Where there is any doubt, the higher class should be selected.

GROUP 1 (minimum class A15): Areas which can only be used by pedestrians and pedal cyclists.

GROUP 2 (minimum class B125): Footways, pedestrian areas and comparable areas, car parks, parking decks, etc.

GROUP 3 (minimum class C250): For gully grates installed in the area of kerbside channels for roads which when measured from the kerb edge, extends a maximum of 0.5m into the carriageway and a maximum of 0.2m into the footway. For manhole covers this class would be for units needing to withstand a load of 25 tonne.

GROUP 4 (minimum class D400): Carriageways (including pedestrian streets), hard shoulders, and parking areas, for all types of road vehicles.

GROUP 5 (minimum class E600): Areas imposing high wheel loads, eg. docks, aircraft pavements, etc.

GROUP 6 (minimum class F900): Areas imposing particularly high wheel loads, eg. aircraft runways.

Extracts from BSEN 124: 1994 are reproduced with the permission of BSI. Complete editions can be obtained from BSI Customer Services, 389 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 4AL.

FACTA LOADINGS

The Fabricated Access Cover Trade Association (FACTA) was set up to promote steel and composite material access covers and gratings. Its prime objective is to utilise the wide ranging technical expertise of leading figures and companies within the UK fabricated steel access cover industry, to develop and promote a relevant standard for loads applied to fabriacated and composite covers and gratings. Durey Castings joined Facta to help promote it and to help in the development of improved clarity and range of loadings.

Whereas most of the composite units in this web-catalogue come under BSEN124 loadings, the fabricated units are classified according to the categories established by FACTA in its guide which contains test and load calculations based on the European standards for structural steelwork. It enables users to specify their requirements in terms of required performance with particular reference to wheel loads.

Facta Class         Traffic suitability of product                      Slow Moving Wheel Load (SMWL)

FACTA A            Pedestrian areas & cycle paths                     Up to 0.5 Tonne SMWL

FACTA AA          Areas of private cars, no heavier                  Up to 1.5 Tonne SMWL

FACTA AAA        Non-carriagway areas up to.......                  Up to 2.5 Tonne SMWL

FACTA B            Delivery vans, emergency vehicles                Up to 5.0 Tonne SMWL

FACTA D            Carriageways, hard shoulders                       Up to 11 Tonne SMWL

For more information on Loadings please contact our Sales Department