Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) manhole covers are used extensively in modern infrastructure as well as urban development projects for their greater strength, durability, and design flexibility.
These covers create safer underground utilities as well as drainage systems, which is why they are the top choice for construction, water treatment, roadwork, and a wide range of other commercial as well as residential applications.
Corrosion resistance, high durability, and being lightweight are just a few things that set these covers apart from cast iron or steel manhole covers.
This blog covers GRP manhole covers in detail highlighting their uses, advantages, and installation. So, keep on reading till the end to know all there is about these useful manhole-covering solutions.
- What are GRP Manhole Covers?
- Benefits of GRP Manhole Covers
- Tenacity
- Customization
- Corrosion Resistance
- Featherweight Construct
- Non-Conducting Properties
- Anti-Larceny Characteristics
- Aesthetic Appeal
- Uses of GRP Manhole Covers
- GRP Manhole Covers: Installation Tips
What are GRP Manhole Covers?
GRP manhole covers are a new breed of manhole covering solutions that are made from a combination of glass fiber and polyester, vinyl ester, or some other polymer resin.
Glass-reinforced plastic is a heavy-duty but low-maintenance material that is used to make fibreglass manhole covers for domestic and industrial applications. GRP manhole covers are famous for their greater impact, corrosion, and temperature resistance.
These covers also give you greater design flexibility which makes them perfect for use in diverse settings.
Benefits of GRP Manhole Covers
The following are the main benefits of these manhole covers that make them the best choice for every modern urban development project:
1. Tenacity
These manhole covers give you exceptional resistance against impacts, corrosion, chemicals, and extreme temperatures. These covers do not fissure or deform even when under formidable loads and this tenacity is what makes them a great long-term investment.
2. Customization
Fibreglass is very easy to mold and shape which means you have greater freedom in terms of design with GRP manhole covers. You can design these for specific settings or you can prepare these covers for existing manholes with ease.
3. Corrosion Resistance
These covers have superior rust resistance, meaning you can easily use them in coastal areas or industrial settings where moisture and rust-producing chemicals are prevalent.
4. Featherweight Construct
These manhole covers weigh very little as compared to traditional cast iron covers. The featherweight construct of these covers makes their installation and maintenance very easy and risk-free.
5. Non-Conducting Properties
These covers are great insulators, which makes them ideal for covering manholes that house electrical wiring or equipment. The non-conductive nature of GRP manhole covers makes them suitable for residential applications as well.
6. Anti-Larceny Features
GRP manhole covers do not have very high scrape value as the composite material they are made from cannot be regenerated. This makes them a less attractive target for thieves.
Moreover, these covers can be made to fit the manholes very securely, which further ensures complete blockage. This prevents unauthorized access to the utility and other key underground systems.
7. Aesthetic Appeal
These manhole covers can be made in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors to blend well with all surroundings. Unlike cast iron covers that lose their shine over time, these manhole covers maintain their appearance for years. Moreover, you can also adorn these covers with insignias as well as different textures to complement the surroundings which gives them unparalleled aesthetic appeal.
Uses of GRP Manhole Covers
Following are the main applications of GRP manhole covers in different industries
- Construction: These are used in the construction sector to create underground utilities, drainage systems, and inspection points with easy access without sacrificing durability.
- Chemical Plants: These are used to cover underground tanks, storage facilities, and drainage systems in chemical plants due to their non-corrosive nature.
- Municipal Works: These are used in roads, sidewalks, thoroughfares, and other public places to cover underground utility networks owing to their superior strength and low maintenance.
- Roadways and Highways: These are used in high-traffic highways or roads where greater impact resistance and load-bearing capacities are needed.
- Water and Wastewater Treatment: These are used in water and wastewater treatment to protect underground pipelines. Their high moisture and water resistance make them a suitable option in these settings.
- Industrial Facilities: These are used to cover drainage systems, electrical vaults, and other manholes in industries where heavy machinery and vehicles are constantly being operated.
- Coastal and Marine Environments: High resistance to saltwater and corrosion makes them a suitable choice for coastal and marine urban development projects.
- Parks and Pedestrian Areas: These covers find applications in parks and pedestrian areas owing to their greater customization freedom and slip resistance. These covers can be adorned with insignias or ornamental motifs to make them blend well with landscaped settings as well as pedestrian precincts.
- Utility and Telecommunications Networks: These sectors use glass reinforced plastic manhole covers due to their durability and non-conductive nature. This prevents external interface with electrical systems which ensures continuous services.
GRP Manhole Covers: Installation Tips
The following are some useful tips that you can follow for better GRP manhole and GRP manhole cover installation.
- Start by excavating the installation site. Make sure to excavate a little more than you have to account for worker movement while installing the manhole.
- Next, you need to pour a concrete slab. You can either use a precast concrete slab or you can pour one on-site to create a strong foundation where the GRP manhole will rest.
- The glass-reinforced plastic manhole covers are lightweight, which makes your next step of setting the manhole in quite easier.
- Make sure the slab is free of dust before lowering the manhole.
- You can also use a foam support bed that rests at the bottom of the manhole.
- Make sure to use fabric slings like nylon for moving or lowering the GRP manhole and its cover.
- After lowering the manhole, you can secure it to the concrete pad with anchors.
- Now you can connect the pipes using flanges, caulking collars, and pipe stub connections.
- After connections, backfill the excavation site with pea gravel or sand, starting from underneath the piping and gradually moving your way up.
- Now you can close the manhole with a GRP manhole cover of appropriate size and dimensions.
- Make sure to clean the boundaries of the manhole before placing the cover.
- Now you can slowly place the cover and rotate it a little to make sure it sits perfectly and has no gaps or openings on its sides.
Conclusion
GRP manhole covers bring greater durability as well as adaptability to modern infrastructure development projects. These cost-effective and versatile covers are the top priority in roadways, thoroughfares, utility, telecommunications, and a myriad of other residential and commercial projects.
These covers are a superior alternative to cast iron covers, which are prone to rusting, leaks, and breakage. GRP manhole covers can withstand rugged environments and high-traffic conditions which is why most urban development experts recommend these over the rest.
Visit us at Naran Precast Concrete Co. today if you are looking for affordable but high-quality GRP manhole covers for residential or commercial applications.