Anti-skid 'manhole' covers help create safer roads

New GripTop covers have an aggregate surface which offers a level of grip comparable with the surrounding road surface - reducing the potential for skids.

'Between 1995 and 2003, deaths on roads involving motorcyclists have increased by 25%'*.

Currently, although representing only 1% of road traffic, motorcyclists suffer around 20% of the annual rate of 300,000 road accident deaths and serious injuries.

Government figures published in the UK and abroad confirm the dangers facing this most vulnerable group of road users and demonstrate just how disproportionate the figures for their deaths and injuries are.

Creating a safer road infrastructure is seen as a priority for reducing accidents caused by skidding.

Now, following successful trials carried out in partnership with the local authority in Bristol, Saint-Gobain Pipelines has launched a range of access (manhole) covers designed to make roads safer for motorcyclists and cyclists.

The new GripTop covers have an aggregate surface which offers a level of grip comparable with the surrounding road surface - reducing the potential for skids.

Part of a global business, Saint-Gobain Pipelines is the European market leader for access covers and gratings and has pioneered many innovations for both on and off-highway applications.

In this instance, the company set about developing a solution for the problems caused when traditional ductile iron covers become polished by passing traffic.

Daniel Debois of Saint-Gobain Pipelines explains: "One of the Department for Transport's many goals is an increase in road safety and creating a safer infrastructure is seen as one way to do this".

"Metal covers that are worn smooth by decades of passing traffic pose particular hazards for vulnerable road users like motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders because they have poor skid resistance compared with the surrounding highway and the sudden change of grip can be the cause of serious accidents".

"As the market leader for access covers, we saw it as our responsibility to develop a product that will help improve the road infrastructure and contribute to increased road safety".

Saint-Gobain Pipelines' solution is GripTop, a range of access covers that combine the strength and durability of ductile iron with the proven stopping power of aggregate.

Following extensive developmental work, Saint-Gobain Pipelines trialled the new access covers in a live situation with the co-operation of Bristol City Council.

Around 70 GripTopTM covers were installed in the city's Broadmead redevelopment programme.

Located on road surfaces subject to heavy traffic where bends and traffic lights encourage acceleration and deceleration, the covers were monitored over a two-year period.

Mike Brewer, Senior Network Management Officer of Bristol City Council, and his team reported: "The feedback we received was very positive".

"The covers appear both practical and durable and there have been no instances of failure, despite heavy traffic".

"They lived up to their promise and have required no essential maintenance or further treatment." The key to the success of GripTop in providing a long-lasting anti-skid surface was the aggregate and bonding agent choice.

Exhaustive tests and years of research singled out an extremely hard aggregate which retains the sharp edges and facets produced during crushing.

The combination of aggregates and bonding agents ensures that whatever the climatic and service conditions, Saint-Gobain Pipelines' targets - those of optimum balance of resistance to aggregate plucking and adhesion to the ductile cast iron substructure - ! are fully achieved.

GripTop covers, available in a complete range of D400, are suitable for use in any location including bends and gradients where the potential for single-track vehicles to skid is increased.

The aggregate finish can also be matched to the surrounding coloured road surfaces such as red bus lanes and cycle paths.

* Source: Government Motorcycling Strategy.

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