ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS FOR STORMWATER COVERS AND GRATES
Stormwater covers and grates play a vital role in civil construction projects nationwide. These essential components are extensively utilized in various infrastructure endeavours, carrying significant significance that should not be underestimated.
While some might downplay the significance of grates and covers used for stormwater drainage on roads, it is crucial to recognize their multifaceted importance. Beyond their role in water drainage, these elements bear a critical responsibility in enhancing road and pavement safety. They must withstand substantial and repeated loads from both vehicles and pedestrians.
The meticulous selection of stormwater and drainage products for Australian roads holds immense importance. Neglecting the quality and compliance of these products with Australian Standards can result in failures, potentially leading to injuries or even fatalities.
Most State Road and Municipal Councils across Australia exercise vigilance in specifying and ensuring compliance of their drainage products. Regrettably, this level of diligence is not uniformly observed across the civil construction sector.
It’s worth noting that the civil construction industry currently lacks formal regulations regarding the compliance of grate and cover products. Consequently, the responsibility falls on road authorities, councils, and asset owners to ascertain the suitability and adherence of the chosen products to Australian Standards (AS3996-2019 – Access Covers & Grates).
AS3996 outlines clear product Classes, detailing design loads and wheel loads for each category. However, instances of poor-quality, non-compliant, and even falsely compliant products are regrettably common in our industry. These discrepancies can have significant repercussions, such as products claiming to be of a certain Class but failing to meet the associated load requirements.
Some manufacturers opt for shortcuts to offer cheaper alternatives in the market, leading to a proliferation of non-compliant offerings. To safeguard against subpar and counterfeit products, it is imperative to exercise caution.
When selecting civil stormwater and drainage products, adherence to Australian Standard AS3996-2019 is essential and can be verified through physical markings on the product itself. Reputable manufacturers typically imprint their company name and load class on their products as part of standard practice. The absence of these markings indicates non-compliance with Australian Standards and raises the risk of potential failure with dire consequences.
For added assurance, products that have achieved Global-Mark Certification, like Civilcast ductile and steel grates, validate compliance with AS3996-2019. This certification, provided by a recognized authority such as Global-Mark, independently verifies the adherence of products to relevant standards, providing peace of mind to consumers.
For further details, contact Civilcast at 1300 012 278.
