Steel Manhole Covers

Steel manhole covers: light weight and watertightness

The galvanized steel manhole cover is the lightweight alternative for closing the manhole through which the cabling of an outdoor installation runs. It weighs considerably less than a cast iron one, it can be handled without help and it comes in watertight versions that keep water out of the steel electrical manhole. With that profile, its natural place is in pedestrian and landscaped areas, and in every manhole that has to be opened fairly often.

Why galvanizing resists corrosion

Bare steel rusts out in the weather. Galvanizing adds a zinc coating that acts as a barrier between the metal and the damp and that, on top of that, is sacrificed before the steel when a scratch appears, so the piece does not start corroding from the first knock. That is what makes it possible to use steel in a buried manhole, exposed to rain, irrigation and damp soil, without the cover becoming a problem after a couple of seasons. In a garden area watered daily, that detail is exactly what makes the difference.

Watertight versions: when they are essential

The watertight cover has a seal that closes the perimeter and keeps water out of the manhole. It is not a decorative extra: there are spots where water gets in no matter what and ends up in the bottom of the manhole, right where the connections are. It matters in these cases:

• Areas with sprinkler or drip irrigation close to the manhole.
• Low points in the paving where rain gathers.
• Slopes that channel water towards the manhole.
• Installations that cannot tolerate damp inside the manhole.

If the manhole is under cover and never gets wet, a standard cover will do the job.

Manholes that are opened often

This is where steel clearly wins. A light cover is lifted with one hand and put back without a struggle, so if the manhole is a regular inspection point, a junction you touch every season or an access you use for maintenance, the weight stops being a detail and becomes the deciding factor. It opens with a handle or a key depending on the model, and in publicly accessible areas the key version stops anyone opening the manhole.

When steel pays off and when it does not

Galvanized steel pays off on pavements and pedestrian walkways, courtyards, gardens and flower beds, terraces and, in general, anywhere vehicles are not going to drive. Also when watertightness is needed or when the cover is going to be opened often. It does not pay off if vehicle traffic passes over it: at vehicle accesses, dropped kerbs and carriageway the load class required calls for cast iron, and there is no shortcut there. The size is chosen by the internal opening of the manhole, in the usual construction formats; if you need the detail on sizes and load classes, the general manhole covers category goes into it.

At FactorLED you will find galvanized steel manhole covers, with watertight versions, for pedestrian and landscaped areas. Look at whether the spot gets wet and how often you will open the manhole, and choose accordingly.

Frequently asked questions about steel manhole covers

Does galvanized steel rust outdoors?

The zinc coating acts as a barrier against damp, which is why it holds up in buried manholes and irrigated areas.

When do I need a watertight cover?

When water can reach the manhole: sprinkler irrigation, low points where rain gathers or installations sensitive to damp.

Can I use steel where cars drive?

It is not advisable. With vehicle traffic you need a high load class and that is where cast iron belongs.

Is it easy to open?

Yes, that is its strong point: it is light and can be handled without help. Depending on the model it opens with a handle or a key.