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The successful specification of flexible floor access covers

Building Products Index Ltd October 29, 2020 access covers Leave a Comment

For demanding public sector environments that experience significant levels of pedestrian footfall, the correct specification of permanent floor access solutions is vital to not only providing secure and maintenance-free access to underground services, but also ensuring the highest levels of hygiene and safety at all times.

Here Chris George, Business Development Manager at Howe Green, explores the latest floor access solutions available to specifiers and architects to meet a diverse criteria of requirements.

For professionals working on renovation or new build projects within the education, healthcare and high-end hospitality sectors, there are a breadth of varying specifications that must be addressed at the design stages to ensure the long term suitability and compliance of the building components installed.

With regard to floor access covers in particular, durability and functionality are two of the first areas that must be considered. This includes assessing whether the materials used to construct the access cover can withstand the high frequency of pedestrian footfall and the subsequent weight loading requirement for the chosen environment.

Lightweight aluminium floor access covers offer both resilience and ease of use, whilst also being resistant to corrosion, a key requirement for the healthcare and education sectors due to the high level of cleaning and sanitisation required.

Compatibility with a wide range of flooring materials is also an important part of this stage of the specification process. Here professionals should look to specify solutions that are suitable for installation with all types of flexible floor finishes, including vinyl, linoleum, rubber and carpet.

The prevention of dirt and water ingress should also be considered to maintain the highest levels of hygiene. Here it’s recommended to explore access covers that have been specifically designed to bond and weld the sheet flooring to create an impermeable, flat and permanent joint.

Once the above criteria have been met, specifiers should then address the initial installation process, ease of use and ongoing maintenance of the floor access covers.

Due to their light weight, aluminium covers can be extremely versatile as they support quick and easy installation, which also delivering an accurate and unobtrusive finish that doesn’t require continuous upkeep.

The process of gaining access to underground services can also be streamlined through the use of lifting keys, which safely and securely raise the access cover to minimise any on-site disruption and also ensure compliance with all relevant health and safety guidance.

Finally, working with a manufacturer that supports bespoke specifications will also ensure each specific requirement is successfully met. This includes cover sizes, configuration of ducts and branches, along with various weight loadings.

Howe Green’s unique Visedge® Series is regularly specified for high profile healthcare developments including Queens Hospital, Romford, and Southmead Hospital, Bristol, whilst also being the access solution of choice for leading educational institutions including The University of Surrey and John Moores University, Liverpool.

The resilient floor access covers are the ideal choice for challenging healthcare, hospitality and educational environments due to the innovative double top edge seal construction, which provides the highest standards in hygiene and safety.

The VisedgeⓇ Series is manufactured to BS EN ISO 9001:2015 at Howe Green’s headquarters in Hertfordshire using CAD and C.N.C machinery.

For further information on the Visedge Series and Howe Green’s complete range of floor access solutions, visit www.howegreen.com or call 01920 463230.

Howe Green supplies floor access covers for inspirational university building

Building Products Index Ltd September 27, 2019 access covers Leave a Comment

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Over fifty Howe Green 5000 Series Light Duty Aluminium and 7500 Series Medium Duty Aluminium Floor Access Covers were supplied for the award winning Collaborative Teaching Laboratory (CTL) at the University of Birmingham’s Edgbaston Campus.

The robust 6,700 m² brick structure was designed by architects Sheppard Robson. It has won four awards in the RIBA West Midlands Awards 2019, including RIBA West Midlands Building of the Year. The CTL has also achieved a BREEM Excellent standard and an EPC A Rating for efficiency.

The building design was meticulously detailed and the materials used were chosen to minimise maintenance and enhance the life expectancy of the building.

The Howe Green aluminium floor access covers were supplied to main contractor Morgan Sindall Construction and were specified by Sheppard Robson. The covers were installed by the team from Morgan Sindall Construction and infilled with ceramic floor tiles.

In addition to ceramic tiles the 5000 Series and 7500 Series can be used with marble, terrazzo, concrete, resin, wood or parquet flooring. The 5000 Series is suitable for use in areas with pedestrian traffic and the load performance of the 7500 Series is for cars and light delivery vehicles up to 5 tonnes pneumatic tyre load.

The access covers can be removed, safely and easily, for maintenance purposes with the use of lifting keys or Howe Green Access Cover Skates. The access covers fit perfectly flush with their surround to avoid the risk of hazard from slips or trips.

Available as a single cover, a duct run or as a multipart unit the 5000 and 7500 Series can be supplied in standard sizes from stock. If a custom size is required it can be manufactured to order at the Howe Green manufacturing facility in Hertfordshire.

Howe Green has over thirty six years of experience in supplying floor access covers to the education sector. Howe Green’s access covers can be found in many educational settings including John Moores University in Liverpool, St Bernadette’s Primary School in Antonshill, Scotland, and the University of Surrey.

If you would like Howe Green to assist with your requirement for a solution to access concealed building services located under hard flooring please call 01920 463230 or visit www.howegreen.com.