Ultracrete’s BBA/HAPAS Approved Manhole Reinstatement system is being put to the test at one of the UK’s fastest growing ports.
The Bristol Port Company is developing its role as a gateway container port for the UK and as a transhipment point for the Atlantic seaboard and Europe. Spanning some 2,600 acres, it is the only major port in the UK with North, South, East & West motorway and rail connections and is recognised as the most economical port distribution location in the UK, reaching over 42 million people within a 250 km radius.
Regular inspections are carried out to monitor and repair the ironwork across the site which bears heavy volumes of traffic on a daily basis. Ultracrete’s sales and on-site support team visited the port to meet with the maintenance manager to see how they could assist.
The chambers required the support of a more durable installation system to enable them to withstand the constant flow of lorries passing through.
Ultracrete’s BBA/HAPAS System was recommended and a trial was undertaken with one particularly vulnerable manhole cover, located on a main spine road into the port, to assess how the system would perform on one of the port’s busiest thoroughfares.
The system comprises of a range of bedding mortars, a backfill flowable concrete, cold lay asphalt concrete and a bitumen seal and tack spray that meet and exceed the demands of the HAPAS requirements.
Envirobed HA104®, high performance bedding mortar, was used on this occasion to install the ironwork. The mortar is an environmentally friendly alternative to resin-based materials, containing recycled glass. It has an excellent track record and, to date, has endured over 10 years of exhaustive trials with zero failures – giving the assurance associated with using a proven established product. It exceeds HA104 requirements adopted by the Highways Agency, achieving a superior compressive strength of 51N/mm² and a tensile strength of 5.8N/mm² in just 3 hours! It provides significant resistance to heavy trafficking and manhole frame deflection.
Ultracrete’s QC10 F Rapid Set Flowable Concrete was used to back fill the frame. The product offers a fast strength gain of 20N/mm² after just 90 minutes, an improved shrinkage profile and virtually eliminates voids.
The manhole cover was reinstated in little over an hour, causing minimal disruption to site traffic.
Several months on, the cover has successfully withstood trafficking, with no signs of deterioration. The maintenance manager commented ‘I’m very pleased with Ultracrete’s system, the cover is holding up well!’
Ultracrete’s BBA/HAPAS System helps to vastly reduce costs by allowing roads to be open to traffic within 60 minutes. The components’ rapid set and high strength properties make it ideal for use in areas subject to heavy trafficking and for those sites where a fast turnaround is required.
For further information on products from the Ultracrete range of mortars, cements, concretes and surface sealants, contact 01827 871 871 or email: ultracrete@instarmac.co.uk
ULTRACRETE is a brand of the Instarmac Group plc