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Understand the link between poor ironwork installations and pothole creation in our new whitepaper. Potholes - More than a surface issue Get your copy

Manhole covers

Manhole covers are safety critical. With this in mind we develop solutions which incorporate features that help eliminate failure mechanisms, minimising safety issues and optimising whole life cost.

Unite double D400 manhole cover being installed

Ranges

Manufactured from heavy-duty ductile iron, offering durable strength and long-standing performance. Our extensive ranges include single, double and triple rectangular covers and round and square-to-round manhole covers, including popular and less common sizes. Available in load classes from A15 to F900. Our products are Kitemark certified by BSI to BS EN 124, we also have ranges conforming to CD 534 v0.1.0, as well as many other industry specifications. Our entire ductile ironwork range carries the Kitemark to give you peace of mind.

Filter by load class
D400 manhole covers
Product comparison

Find the right range for you

Our manhole cover comparison tool gives you a detailed overview of which features, options and accessories are available for each product range.

The tool provides information on our three primary iron ranges; Tristar, Highway and Unite, making it easy to find the best solution for your project.

Find a Wrekin range by load classification

Whether you are looking for a manhole cover or gully grate for areas without vehicular access or high wheel load areas such as loading docks or aircraft pavements we have a solution available for you.

Road breaking up around gully grate installation creating a pothole

Potholes: More than a surface issue

POTHOLES - MORE THAN A SURFACE ISSUE

Helping to find solutions to the UK's pothole problem

Potholes across the UK’s road and highway network are a real problem. But did you know ironwork specification and selection can affect and even increase the likelihood of a pothole forming?

Our new report explores;

  • Some of the ways in which potholes are caused; including identified links to ironwork
  • What features of ironwork can increase the likelihood of pothole formation 
  • Suggests solutions you should be looking for when specifying ironwork
  • and much more.
Cars and lorries driving on highway
Continuing Professional Development

Overcoming common causes of access cover failure

This CPD will help attendees to understand the common causes of access cover failure and how to overcome them. In addition, you will see how to achieve whole-life cost savings, and how durable ironwork with quality and modern installations can contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions.

  • There's more to ironwork specification than "a cover and frame"
  • Where the standards have led us
  • Common causes of foundation issues in access cover installations
  • Potholes
  • Achieving carbon reductions and reduced waste with your access covers

Class beating manhole covers

Class beating performance, value and quality too.

supplier of ductile iron castings.

UK's No.1

recorded of Unite manhole covers.

0failures

castings sold every year.

>300,000

kg of ductile iron supplied by Wrekin in the past 5 years.

>77million

Meeting the needs of National Highways CD 534

National Highways has updated CD 534, a significant set of its requirements for manhole covers and gully grates installed on their road network. First released in February 2020 and updated to version 0.1.0 as of May 2022.

All Highway and Unite access covers meet the requirements of CD 534 v0.1.0

Frame flange area

CD 534 now sets a minimum flange area of 190,000 mm² for D400 and 285,000 mm² for E600 covers, this equates to 2.1N / mm² as in HA 104/09.

Frame depth and weight

A 150 mm frame depth is now required on motorways and all purpose trunk roads. A lower limit frame weight is also specified to ensure frames are stiff enough.

Skid resistance

The WRc test mehod is now the only accepted test method for calculating skid resistance on raised chequer. This test measures a small tyre’s resistance to sideways slip caused by the cover surface.

D400 or E600

E600 manhole covers are to be installed in place of D400 covers where the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) of light goods vehicles travelled on a road is greater than 1,500 in each direction.

Check road traffic statistics for AADT
Retrofittable identification bolt being installed in a Unite access cover
Only with Wrekin

Retrofittable badging and antenna options

Unite* and Highway access covers are the only ranges on the UK market to include provisions for communications equipment, such as antennas, to be installed within the cover.

Antenna in cover linked to hardware in chamber

The ID bolt provision can be used for antennas, allowing communications equipment, such as water meter monitoring, to be installed within a chamber beneath a cover whilevproviding a strong signal above ground without the need to dig or adjust the surrounding road surface. Saving significant time, effort and money while minimising disruption.

* references ending /KUE

ClickLift being installed
Manhole cover frame raising system

ClickLift™

ClickLift eliminates the time and resources required to dig out and reinstall frames to suit the final adoptable surface. This eliminates the potential damage to manhole covers during construction and removes the potential for residents claims for damage to their vehicles and massively reduces disruption. ClickLift provides housing developers with huge savings in terms of time, money and hassle. Allowing whole estates to have their covers raised to the final surfacing level, in as little as a few hours.

Armadillo manhole cover protector shell installed
The hard hat for your ironwork

Armadillo

Armadillo is a complete range of protector shells, designed to be placed over manhole covers and gully grates to provide enhanced protection during the construction phase.

Armadillo provides protection from construction site traffic, including tracked vehicles, and can be easily removed when the final surfacing is completed. This ensures manhole covers and gully grates can start their service life in ‘as new’ condition to optimise longevity.

Wrekin and Thames Water LGBTQ+ cover

Bespoke access covers

Alongside our standard manhole cover ranges, we also offer bespoke designs. We have been lucky enough to work on amazing projects such as the iconic LGBTQ+ access cover with Thames Water, and commemorative covers for Abbey Road and the Whitechapel fatberg amongst others.

Whether you are looking to subtly to disguise your access cover, or something extravagant to shine proud and celebrate, we are able to help design and manufacture the perfect solution for you.

Related case studies

Related case study

Solving Virgin Medias Failing Manhole Cover Issue

Virgin Media were experiencing serious problems with a manhole cover situated in a bus lane on Essex Road in Islington. Complaints from local residents and business owners were escalating and relationships with the local authority were becoming strained. Wrekin Products proposed the use of their Unite™ manhole cover and frame together with the UniPak™ bedding system.

Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Read more
Related case study

Ensuring a smooth commute between Northern Ireland’s biggest cities

The Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland committed to funding a £185m ‘flagship’ infrastructure project to upgrade the A6, with the aim of reducing congestion and improving road safety. Richard Stewart, Regional Director ‑ UK North & Ireland at Wrekin Products, explains how a combination of excellent service and just in time deliveries secured an exciting opportunity to supply Highway® manhole covers and gully grates to such a significant project.

Department for Infrastructure Graham Construction Farrans
Department for Infrastructure Graham Construction Farrans
Read more
At work in the Wrekin foundry

How Wrekin access covers are made

Ironwork in action

Contact us

Contact us

Whether you are looking for live project support, or are in the initial stages of specification, we are always on hand and happy to help.