Sewers for adoption

Sewers for Adoption (7th edition) contains guidance for the design and construction of sewers that will be adopted by Sewerage Undertakers in England and Wales in accordance with Section 104 of the Water Industry Act 1991.

• Manhole covers for chamber access should have a minimum clear opening of 600mm x 600mm
• In all New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA) road categories I, II, III and IV, frame depths should be 150mm minimum, including in block paving areas. Only in residential cul-de-sacs can the frame depth be reduced to 100mm minimum
• Manhole covers shall comply with BS EN124, BS7903 and HA104/09*. BS EN124:2015-2 is the default standard. It is recommended that the KM certificate is requested to ensure products conform to this latest standard
• B125 load category products are required in footways, pedestrian areas, driveways serving a single house and comparable locations. A15 grades are not permissible
• The minimum class of manhole covers for carriageways is D400. E600 or above should be used where large numbers of HGV movements are expected
• Manhole covers situated in NRSWA road categories I, II or III should be installed using Highways England DMRB HA104/09* compliant bedding mortar, i.e Unipak polyester resin mortar or similar
• Manhole covers sited on foul-only sewers shall be of low leak type only. WRC defines low leak covers as those that permit a maximum of 400lm2 / 30mins. More restrictive classes exist
• Manhole covers shall be non-ventilated with closed keyways
• Manhole covers shall not use cushioning inserts (rubber or the like)
• Infill type covers should not be used

Use this quick guide to choose the right cover for your application.

Do you need a Highway manhole cover?

You will need a Highway manhole cover if your project is:

• for an adoptable sewer
• required to comply with CD 534
• for use on a motorway or all-purpose trunk road

If the answer is yes to any of the above, we would recommend a Highway manhole cover.

Why choose a Highway manhole cover?

A Highway manhole cover offers:

• CD 534 compliance
• E600 and D400 load class options
• asset identification badge option
• SfA compliance when used with Unipak bedding mortar
• all the features of Tristar listed below, plus the added benefits above

If none of the above apply

If your application is not for an adoptable sewer, does not require CD 534 compliance, and is not for a motorway or all-purpose trunk road, we would recommend a Tristar manhole cover.

Why choose a Tristar manhole cover?

A Tristar manhole cover offers:

• BSI Kitemarking to BS EN 124:2015
• Safety keyways
• BS 7903 flange gussets
• Armadillo and Clicklift compatibility
• Low-wear seats

Still not sure which cover you need?

Contact our team, and we will help you select the right cover for your project. If you want, I can also turn this into a tighter, more modern version with button labels and a simple on-page yes/no flow.