The team at Saint-Gobain PAM discuss the benefits of collaboration and how their new Proteus gully grating (below), initially developed in conjunction with Highways England and Rhino Asphalt Solutions Ltd, became the perfect fit for Wirral Council.
There is growing recognition in industry of the importance of collaboration across the supply chain. The benefits of a collaborative culture can be diverse and wide ranging but often produce measurable outcomes. For instance, with drainage assets collaboration can ensure the correct product specification and installation, resulting in significant improvements to the whole life cost of the asset.
In order to achieve this goal, it’s important to view the installation process as a system; a strategy that is developed through collaboration throughout the supply chain.
The emphasis is on the client to understand the needs of their network and define the specification, while the installer must proactively adopt best practice, and product providers need to lend their expertise in developing the best solution for a given application.
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Research has repeatedly proven that the long-term outcomes of any ironwork installation in the carriageway are directly attributed to the interaction and performance of all key elements. Often highlighted, but in many cases not always put into practice, careful consideration should be given to:
- design of the casting
- road type
- location and chamber type and its material, whether concrete, brick, composite or plastic
- method of installation and the quality of the materials used
At Saint-Gobain PAM UK, we aim to provide solutions that offer savings on the total cost of installation and ownership of access covers and gully gratings.
An example of the value we have created through true collaboration was seen in how many issues were overcome on an A41 scheme with the selection of Proteus an innovative narrow profile gully grating.
Initially developed in conjunction with Highways England and Rhino Asphalt Solutions Ltd for use in the strategic road network, Proteus is designed to offer an alternative solution in situations where regular replacement of traditional gratings occurs due to the units being directly in the wheel line.
It works by maintaining water-absorbing capability at the kerb face while placing the portion of the unit usually in the wheel line below the road surface thereby making it less susceptible to premature failure.
The A41 New Chester Road is a busy route in Birkenhead where increasing traffic intensity is leading to more frequent failure of ironwork, resulting in disruption to road users from the street works caused as a result.
In congested areas, it is also common for cyclists to swerve and avoid the surface water drainage system, bringing them into close proximity with traffic leading to an increased risk of incidents.
Proteus' narrow grating profile avoids excessive clipping by traffic, its patented angled bridge is designed to distribute stress and resist displacement, enhancing its stability and increasing its durability.
At less than 300mm wide, its grating profile is safer for cyclists, who are sometimes put at risk when swerving to avoid ironwork in the road.
The longevity of any ironwork asset is directly linked to its alignment and compatibility with the structure below. It is vital that the dimensions of the frame match those of the opening of the chamber in ensuring the frame is fully supported.
Through its unique design, Proteus has a large footprint compatible with any standard 450mm diameter gully pot making it an ideal replacement for an existing gully installation.
To resist lateral movement of the grating, multi-directional wedge seatings provide a large contact area between the grating and frame sections. This reduces wear and increases longevity even under heavy traffic conditions
This is just one example of how the supply chain can collaborate to deliver value, a supply chain that extends beyond Tiers Two and Three to include manufacturers and suppliers as this is often where innovation is born.
