Infrastructure Improvements, One Hatch at a Time
Standards are one solution to ongoing concerns about improperly designed and aging infrastructure. A proposed new ASTM specification will help minimize maintenance expense and improve public safety by providing a definitive standard for one essential infrastructure component, fabricated metal access hatches.
The proposed standard is WK43586, Specification for the Design, Testing, Manufacture, Selection and Installation of Fabricated Metal Access Hatches for Utility, Water and Wastewater Structures.
The hatches covered by WK43586 are a vital component of all utility distribution systems, providing vertical access to junctions and equipment for electric, telephone, cable, fiber optic, water and wastewater.
According to ASTM member Tom Elliott, manager of product design, Jensen Precast, WK43586 will provide the following:
- Guidelines to specifying engineers, purchasers and end users regarding the selection of access hatch load levels based on actual conditions of the hatch's placement location to avoid failure due to overloading;
- Guidelines for access hatch design engineers for loading, required load placements and required load cases;
- Instruction for prototype and production testing of hatches to prove designs and production quality;
- Clear access hatch labeling and marking instructions that include load levels to help assure that inappropriate locations are not selected for hatches and that the manufacturer is properly identified with traceable manufacturing dates and/or serial numbers;
- Hatch manufacturing quality control procedures to assure proper grades of materials and quality of fabrications; and
- Instruction for proper hatch installation.
In addition to hatch manufacturers and utility companies, regulatory bodies and consumers will use WK43586 as a basis for load level selection and product specification.
WK43586 is being developed by Subcommittee C27.10 on Utility Structures, ASTM International Committee C27 on Precast Concrete Products.
CONTACT Technical Information: Tom Elliott, Jensen Precast, Sparks, Nev. | tel +1.775.352.6308 O ASTM Staff: Joseph Hugo • tel +1.610.832.9740 | Upcoming Meeting: Dec. 8-9 • December Committee Week • Tampa, Fla.
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