Road Plate Trench Cover are untreated steel plates suitable for use by construction, maintenance and demolition companies where there is a requirement to provide a safe area for pedestrians and vehicles to pass over any trench or hole. These are ideal to cover temporary excavations whilst still allowing safe passage for traffic flow.
These are available in a range of sizes and thickness. 13 – 15mm thick road plates provide safe passage for pedestrians and small vehicles, whilst the 19 – 25mm thick plates are suitable for heavy duty vehicles and plant. Each plate is supplied with four lifting eye holes to allow for easier handling when fitting or removing the plates.

Narrow trench covers available for smaller narrow excavation

Please note that we do not supply any loading data on our range of road plates and that it is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that the road plate being used is suitable for the job intended. We suggest consulting a suitable professional, such as a structural engineer, before using a road plate.

Guidelines for Steel Plate Usage

• Select the correct size.
• Ensure adequate overlap. Normally, steel plates must extend at least one foot beyond the pavement opening onto firm ground.
• Edges must be properly secured and feathered with asphalt.
• Welding is used when more than one steel plate is used and they butt up to each other.
• Plates must be countersunk when necessary due to uneven roadways.
• Plates should be coated with an anti-skid coating where required.
• The edges of the steel plates should be marked/painted to improve visibility.
• Proper advance warning signs should be used. For example, “Steel Plate Ahead”, or “Bump”.
• Roadway and trench wall conditions must be constantly re-evaluated throughout the day to ensure safety.
• End of the day inspections must be made before leaving job.