Are your footbridges really safe?
Various county councils and local authorities are responsible for a wide range of services including the safety of pedestrians on footbridges, walkways and paths across their land, including on canal works. As canals are often low lying, and at risk for flooding, the risk of damp or wet surfaces causing slips is high.
Safety near waterways
Commuters, local walkers, as well as those who live on the UK’s waterways, all need a slip-free access route to ensure that they can continue to enjoy the canal works safely. Worst case scenario is that slips and trips around waterways can lead to pedestrians falling into the canal.
Key Canal Facts
- There are 3112 canal bridges in the UK (Canals and River Trust, 2020)
- Over 650km of fibre-optic cables are buried beneath the UK’s towpaths (Canals and River Trust, 2020)
- There’s nearly 5000 miles of navigable canals and rivers in the UK, down 2000 miles from the peak of 7000 miles. (Inland Waterways Association)
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Considered Anti-Slip Solutions On Pedestrian Bridges
Many authorities and local councils will often just add stick-on anti-slip sheets, which can work, but often aren’t the most effective method for fixing.
The worst solution a local authority can put in place is chicken wire, which does more harm than good and can be dangerous; it can rust, leave jagged edges, and be harmful to pets. Rubber matting or switching to a metal bridge are all previously seen ideas, and often, we find that in the short term and with small budget it works, but in the long term, it must be replaced, causing more problems.
Case Study: Minimesh GRP Footbridge for Hampshire County Council
What was our solution for Hampshire County Council?
After one particular bridge became a slipping hazard, Hampshire County Council turned to GripClad for a long-term hazard-free solution that met their budget and wouldn’t need replacing.
At GripClad, we regularly work with many looking for the correct anti-slip solution for their needs. For canal pedestrian footbridges, we recommend using GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) minimesh grating, as it allows for drainage, is a highly rated anti-slip surface, non-conductive, lightweight with a high weight to strength ratio, and can be provided in a number of RAL colours.
Our solution included:
- Anti-slip solutions across footbridges throughout Canal network.
- Helped save the Council money in maintenance and insurance claims
- Protected the public with anti-slip treads over dangerous surfaces
GRP Minimesh Grating Specifications for Footbridges
GRP Minimesh from GripClad is an ideal solution for pedestrian routes with areas of high traffic where a lightweight, yet strong, solution is needed.
GripClad’s Minimesh is:
- Corrosion-resistant across a wide pH range
- UV-stable and built with UV inhibitors
- Stronger than metal counterparts
- Manufactured to ISO 9001
- Made with a 20mm pitch
- Comes in a variety of thicknesses and panel sizes
- RAL colours available, defaults are green, beige or light grey
- Easy to fix, with no welding required
- 25-year service life minimum
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