Trench covers are designed to protect pedestrians and vehicles from potentially falling into a trench or hole. They are often used during construction, maintenance, and repair works – particularly if an existing hole in the ground needs to be covered. The question is, which trench cover should you choose?

What is a trench cover?

Trench covers are made from high-quality Glass Reinforced Plastic that can withstand all weather conditions. The material used in their manufacture makes them lightweight, durable and easy to install. There are a variety of uses for plastic trench covers, including:
Street lighting, traffic signals, telecommunications, CCTV, ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), cable television, valve chambers, meter chambers, drainage chambers, sewage treatment chambers, utility service networks, railways, general construction, computer networks, transport infrastructure, general civil construction and low voltage electrical systems and much more.

Types of plastic trench covers:

At Tricel Construction, we manufacture and supply a range of safety trench covers to suit different trench sizes and requirements:

• SUREFOOT 1600 (1665 x 1285MM) – slip-resistant and electric shock safe, suitable for 3.5-tonne vehicle loading over a 900mm trench or hole
• SUREFOOT 1220 (1285 x 862MM) – slip-resistant and electric shock safe, suitable for 3.5-tonne vehicle loading over a 700mm trench

Which safety trench cover should I use?

To determine which plastic trench cover you need, first determine the size of your trench:

• A maximum of 700mm
• A maximum of 900mm

The next step is to pinpoint what type of traffic will cross the trench:

• Pedestrians and light vehicles that may park on the curb
• Vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tons
• Carriageway vehicles, which can weigh up to 44 tonnes

You will be able to determine the type of safety trench cover or road plate needed once you have determined these elements. 

Browse our range of trench covers and road plates online today to find the perfect solution for you. Alternatively, contact one of our experts to learn more about our safety products range.