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Access cover being installed

Manhole cover installation guide

Step 1 - Prepare

Ensure:

  • The clear area of the frame is the same or larger than the chamber opening.
  • The frame is aligned with the opening.
  • The top of the chamber is sufficiently rough to 'key' with the foundation mortar.
  • An area of at least 50mm all around the outside of the base of the frame at the chamber top opening is clean, dry and clear of any loose debris.
Installing highway image 1

Step 2 - Measure

Depth to the chamber from the base of the frame

  • ≥85mm = Lay another course of bricks or proprietary shaft section.
  • ≥30mm = Use Uniform adjustment units and mortar.
  • ≤30mm = Use Unipak mortar.

Step 3 - Installation

Any necessary adjustment units shall be placed on and interleaved with bedding mortar and tamped to the required level leaving room for the top layer of mortar.

Lay a top layer of mortar about 50mm wider than the frame in one even pass. If this is not achievable, then wedges should be used, and mortar packed under and around the frame by hand.

The final mortar course for setting the frame should be all one mix.

The finished sandwich of adjustment units and mortar with the frame on top can be tamped, but not the units themselves (as they will 'spring').

Step 4 - Bedding

Place the frame and fill any remaining under-frame gaps with bedding mortar.

Unipak installation instructions

Step 5 - Tamp

Gently tamp the frame into the mortar to align the top edge of the frame within 5mm of the expected finished surface level, wearing course or pavement.

Installing Highway image 5

Step 6 - Encapsulate

Add additional bedding mortar on top of the frame flange in order to completely envelope it to a minimum depth of 10mm.

Hand-pack this layer of mortar using suitable gloves until it completely merges with the mortar extruded around the frame and through any apertures in the frame flange.

Note:10mm is the minimum depth of UniPak™ mortar layer to be laid under and above the frame.

Installing highway image 6

Step 7 - Key

The final layer of Unipak bedding mortar should be compacted and NOT be trowelled smooth but should receive a brushed finish so that it has sufficient texture to ensure it will mechanically key to subsequent road-fill materials.

Note: If frame fixing anchors are to be used in conjunction with a bedding mortar, drilling or hole-forming to receive anchors should only occur when the bedding mortar has fully cured. Ensure any fixing location is appropriate to receive the fixings and expected loads. Our covers are not supplied with fixing anchors.

Installing Highway image 7

Step 8 - Seal

Before backfilling with proprietary road fill materials, heavily coat the outside face of the frame and the inside face of the road surface with a suitable bitumen-based cold joint sealer and ensure that the bedding mortar has cured

Note: The application of a cold joint sealer to the vertical face of the frame is particularly important if the frame is to be located in a concrete road or pavement.

Installing Highway image 7

Step 9 - Surface

Install the remaining road fill and wearing course/pavement materials. Take care not to disturb the frame, particularly where mechanical equipment is employed.

Note: Materials suitable for backfilling and road surface repair of the access cover or gully grating frame (already fixed in place with polyester resin mortar) should hold HAPAS/BBA approvals, where available

Installing Highway image 9

Step 10 - Complete

Apply overbanding to the join between the new surfacing material and the existing surface. It's important to cover any saw cuts that extend beyond the reinstated area in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.

Attention: Ensure that trafficking of the finished installation does not occur before the bedding mortar and surrounding surfacing materials have fully cured. Overbanding is applicable to bitumen-based road surfacing only, not concrete pavements or similar.

Installing Highway image 10

Step 11 - Protect

In situations where the final wearing course is to be installed at a later date, apply a ramp around the projecting frame to ensure public safety and protect the frame from impact.

Attention: Ensure that trafficking of the finished installation does not occur before the bedding mortar and surrounding materials have fully cured.

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Stock code Range Clear opening
(mm)
Overall frame
(mm)
Frame depth
(mm)
Options My Wrekin
DMH0D4/1361/K Vault 1,300 x 610 1,490 x 810 100
DMH0D4/1383/K Vault 1,300 x 850 1,490 x 1,050 100
DMH0D4/7567/K Vault 750 x 675 950 x 875 100
DMH0D4/9045/K Vault 900 x 450 1,090 x 650 100
DMH0D4/9060/K Vault 900 x 600 1,090 x 800 100
DMHT0D4/6045/KH Highway 600 x 450 810 x 660 100
DMHT0D4/6060/KH Highway 600 x 600 815 x 815 100
DMHT0D4/6767/KH Highway 675 x 675 890 x 890 100
DMHT0D4/7560/KH Highway 750 x 600 960 x 810 100
DMHT0D4/7575/KH Highway 750 x 750 960 x 960 100
DMHT0D4/9060/KH Highway 900 x 600 1,110 x 810 100
DMHT0D6/6060/KH Highway 600 x 600 815 x 815 150
DMHT0D6/6767/KH Highway 675 x 675 890 x 890 150
DMHT0D6/9060/KH Highway 900 x 600 1,110 x 810 150
DMS1B2/3030/K Safeseal 300 x 300 400 x 400 40
DMS1B2/4545/K Safeseal 450 x 450 550 x 550 40
DMS1B2/6045/K Safeseal 600 x 450 690 x 530 40
DMS1B2/6060/K Safeseal 600 x 600 690 x 690 40
DMS1B2/6767/K Safeseal 675 x 675 790 x 790 50
DMS1B2/7560/K Safeseal 750 x 600 860 x 710 40
DMS1B2/7575/K Safeseal 750 x 750 850 x 850 50
DMS1B2/9060/K Safeseal 900 x 600 1,010 x 710 40
DMS1B3/4545/K Safeseal 450 x 450 550 x 550 75
DMS1B3/6045/K Safeseal 600 x 450 710 x 560 75
DMS1B3/6060/K Safeseal 600 x 600 710 x 710 75
DMS1B3/7560/K Safeseal 750 x 600 860 x 710 75
DMS1B3/9060/K Safeseal 900 x 600 1,010 x 710 75
DMS1B3/9090/K Safeseal 900 x 900 1,020 x 1,020 75
DMS1C3/4545/K Safeseal 450 x 450 550 x 550 75
DMS1C3/6045/K Safeseal 600 x 450 710 x 560 75
DMS1C3/6060/K Safeseal 600 x 600 710 x 710 75
DMS1C3/7560/K Safeseal 750 x 600 860 x 710 75
DMS1C3/9060/K Safeseal 900 x 600 1,010 x 710 75
DMT0D4/1267/KH Highway 1,220 x 675 1,460 x 895 100
DMT0D4/4545/KH Highway 450 x 450 665 x 665 100
DMT0D4/6045/KH Highway 600 x 450 815 x 665 100
DMT0D4/6045/KT Tristar 600 x 450 750 x 600 100
DMT0D4/6060/KH Highway 600 x 600 810 x 810 100
DMT0D4/6060/KT Tristar 600 x 600 760 x 760 100
DMT0D4/6060/KU Unite 600 x 600 810 x 810 110
DMT0D4/6767/KH Highway 675 x 675 885 x 885 100
DMT0D4/6767/KT Tristar 675 x 675 830 x 830 100
DMT0D4/6767/KU Unite 675 x 675 885 x 885 110
DMT0D4/7560/KH Highway 750 x 600 965 x 815 100
DMT0D4/7575/KH Highway 750 x 750 965 x 965 100
DMT0D4/9060/KH Highway 900 x 600 1,115 x 815 100
DMT0D4/9090/KH Highway 900 x 900 1,130 x 1,130 100
DMT0D6/1212/4 Hercules 1,200 x 1,200 1,385 x 1,385 150
DMT0D6/1267/KH Highway 1,220 x 675 1,460 x 895 150
DMT0D6/1267/KU Unite 1,220 x 675 1,465 x 920 150
DMT0D6/1867/KU Unite 1,830 x 675 2,075 x 920 150
DMT0D6/4545/KH Highway 450 x 450 665 x 665 150
DMT0D6/6045/KH Highway 600 x 450 815 x 665 150
DMT0D6/6060/KH Highway 600 x 600 810 x 810 150
DMT0D6/6060/KT Tristar 600 x 600 760 x 760 150
DMT0D6/6060/KU Unite 600 x 600 810 x 810 150
DMT0D6/6060/KUE Unite 600 x 600 820 x 820 150
DMT0D6/6767/KH Highway 675 x 675 895 x 895 150
DMT0D6/6767/KT Tristar 675 x 675 830 x 830 150
DMT0D6/6767/KU Unite 675 x 675 885 x 885 150
DMT0D6/7560/KH Highway 750 x 600 965 x 815 150
DMT0D6/7575/KH Highway 750 x 750 965 x 965 150
DMT0D6/9060/KH Highway 900 x 600 1,115 x 815 150
DMT0D6/9090/KH Highway 900 x 900 1,130 x 1,130 150
DMT0E4/6060/KUE Unite 600 x 600 880 x 880 100
DMT0E4/6767/KH Highway 685 x 685 900 x 900 100
DMT0E4/6767/KUE Unite 675 x 675 945 x 945 100
DMT0E6/1267/KH Highway 1,220 x 675 1,460 x 895 150
DMT0E6/6060/KH Highway 610 x 610 845 x 845 150
DMT0E6/6060/KUE Unite 600 x 600 880 x 880 150
DMT0E6/6767/KH Highway 685 x 685 900 x 900 150
DMT0E6/6767/KUE Unite 675 x 675 945 x 945 150

Stock code Range Clear opening
(mm)
Overall frame
(mm)
Frame depth
(mm)
Options My Wrekin
DMS1B2/45D/KSQR Safeseal Ø 450 550 x 550 40
DMS1B2/60D/K Safeseal Ø 600 680 x 680 40
DMS1B3/60D/K Safeseal Ø 600 670 x 670 75
DMS1D4/60D/KTSF Tristar Ø 600 780 x 780 100
DMS1D4/60D/KUSF Force Ø 610 850 x 850 100
DMT0D4/4545/KHSQR Highway Ø 450 660 x 660 100

Stock code Range Overall frame
(mm)
Clear opening
(mm)
Frame depth
(mm)
Options My Wrekin
DMS1A1/45D/K Safeseal Ø 540 Ø 450 30
DMS1A2/45D/K Safeseal Ø 540 Ø 450 30
DMS1B2/25D/K Safeseal Ø 340 Ø 250 30
DMS1B2/45D Safeseal Ø 550 Ø 450 35
DMS1B2/45D/K Safeseal Ø 550 Ø 450 30
DMS1D4/45D/KT Tristar Ø 620 Ø 450 100
DMS1D4/60D/KT Tristar Ø 770 Ø 600 100
DMS1D4/60D/KU Force Ø 850 Ø 610 100
PMS1M2/30D Safeseal Ø 300 40
PMS1M2/45D Safeseal Ø 450 40