GUIDANCE NOTES

GUIDE TO
CLASSIFICATION AND TRAFFIC/SERVICE WHEEL LOADS

Introduction

The following document has been prepared by FACTA to aid the specification of fabricated
aluminium and steel access covers, in relation to their classifications and how these relate to
anticipated traffic/service loads in their place off application.
For the purposes of this document an access cover refers to any assembly consisting of a
frame and cover or covers providing access for inspection or personnel entry or egress to an
underlying chamber or shaft and encompasses such terms as manhole and inspection
covers.
There are a number of specifications and standards applicable to fabricated access covers
manufactured from aluminium alloys, mild steel, stainless steel or a combination of these
materials. As these specifications and standards have various scopes and classification
methods, a brief overview of these is provided below for guidance. The overview states the
area of application, clear opening, traffic/service load types and classifications for which the
specification or standard is applicable and or states.
Specifications and standards overview
FACTA – Specification for fabricated access covers
Areas of application: Within buildings and external uses.
For clear openings: All sizes up to and including 1m.
Traffic/service load types: Pedestrian and vehicular.
Classifications: A, AA, AAA, B, C, D, E, F (see table for further details)
BS EN 124-3:2015 – Gully tops and manhole tops for vehicular and pedestrian areas
Part 3: Gully tops and manhole tops made of steel or aluminium alloys
Area of application: External uses only.
For clear openings: All sizes up to and including 1m.
Traffic/service load types: Pedestrian and vehicular.
Classifications: A 15, B 125, C 250, D 400, E 600, F 900 (see table for further details)

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BS EN 1253-4:2016 – Gullies for buildings Part 4: Access covers

Area of application: Within buildings uses only.
For clear openings: No size limitation stated however see note below.
Traffic/service load types: Pedestrian and vehicular.
Classifications: H 1,5, K3, L 15, R 50, M 125, N 250, P 400 (see table for further details)
Note - For fabricated access covers with clear openings greater than 1m, BS 9124: 2008
applies “Specification for steel and aluminium access cover systems with over 1m clear
opening”.
Classification and Traffic/Service Wheel Loads
The table below includes the maximum pneumatic and solid wheel load expected in service
for each FACTA class for fabricated access covers complying with the FACTA specification.
A typical application guide to aid specifiers and designers select the appropriate class of
access cover is also included. For comparison the classifications of BS EN 124 and BS EN
1253 are included for guidance only and not intended to be exact.
FACTA does not recommend the use of fabricated aluminium or steel access covers for use
in high speed and frequency dynamic wheel load applications such as carriageways of
roads.
Comparison* Maxium Wheel Loads** Typical Applications Guide
Historical Gross Laden
FACTA Class BS EN 124 Class BS EN 1253 Class Vehicle Weight Pneumatic Tyres Solid Tyres Pneumatic Tyres Solid Tyres
(GLVW)
H 1,5 N/A Non load bearing Areas where no load is expected

A 15 K3 Pedestrian duty 0.5 tonne N/A Internal and external areas which can only be used by pedestrian, wheelchairs or cycles
e.g. offices, toilets, changing rooms, footways and cycles tracks

N/A L15 Up to 5 tonne 1.5 tonne N/A Very light industrial areas, where small trolleys and private cars/vans can manoeuvre
e.g. domestic driveways, trolley parks, hospital wards

N/A R 50 Up to 10 tonne 2.5 tonne 0.5 tonne Delivery or service areas, shopping centres Light industrial areas, where trolleys and
and light industiral areas light pallet trucks operate

B 125 M 125 Up to 25 tonne 5 tonne 0.75 tonne Pedestrian precincts, forecourts, light Factories, industrial plants where small
commercial delivery and parking areas pallet trucks operate

C 250 N 250 Up to 38 tonne 6.5 tonne 1.0 tonne Factories, industrial plants, commerical Industrial areas where pallet and small
delivery areas fork-lift trucks operate

D 400 P 400 Up to 44 tonne 11.0 tonne 3.0 tonne Public areas where all types of road vehicle Heavy duty industrial areas where
access required. Heavy duty plant and medium duty fork-lift trucks operate
delivery areas where HGV's can reach
speeds of 20mph max.
E 600 N/A Special Application 16.0 tonne 5.0 tonne Areas imposing high wheel loads. Dockside Areas imposing high wheel loads. Very
Vehicles and container areas where heavy heavy industrial areas where heavy duty
transporters operate fork-lift trucks operate

F 900 N/A Special Application 24.0 tonne N/A Areas imposing particulary high wheel loads. Aircraft pavements where towing
Vehicles vehicles operate

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Note – Under the “Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998”, axle weights for
the UK are limited to 11.5 tonnes maximum. Refer to ‘Acceptance Test for maximum design
load/load bearing capacity’.
* These comparisons are indicative of the typical suitable area off application of each
product class and are not a like-for-like performance comparison. Comparisons are for
guidance only and not intended to be exact.
** Slow moving wheel loads are deemed to be speeds no greater than 20mph, in low
intensity trafficked areas. Where higher intensity traffic is expected, a higher load
classification of cover is recommended.

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