Sugatsune Locking Lid Stay helps WPL to meet Water Authorities Health and Safety Standards

WPL of Waterlooville in Hampshire are leaders in the field of waste water treatment, rainwater harvesting and grease management systems. They have a wide portfolio of products for market areas ranging from the major water utilities down to commercial and domestic use systems.

Compliance with the standards and guidelines imposed by the regional water authorities in the UK is very much a theme for WPL. It was while they were weighing up the requirements for their new stand-alone ‘Submerged Aerated Filter’ unit that they became interested in Sugatsune’s wide range of specialist hardware in stainless steel.

Low Visual Impact waste water treatment unit

The HiPAF (High Performance Aerated Filter) is a below ground wastewater treatment plant that is supplied to major water authorities. Built from GRP it is a self contained unit that will service small communities of up to 1000PE Population Equivalent) capacity and biologically treat water to the consent standards set by the Environment Agency.

To conform to the water authorities Health and Safety standards large access covers with a maximum weight of 25kgs were specified so that they could be lifted by a sole operator. Further a safety grid was to be installed allowing visual inspection but able to prevent the operator from tumbling through the large access hole into the liquor within. The lid and grid had to be lockable in the open position with a positive locking stay – not a lift-up to release device. Handles were also required but could not protrude and cause a tripping hazard. Both the lid and the grid had to be securely hinged.

Fittings made from corrosion resistant stainless steel

Needless to say all of the fittings had to be resistant to corrosion, hardwearing and low maintenance – stainless steel being the clear and obvious choice as a material, Sugatsune became the choice of manufacturer as they have a huge range of stainless steel stays, catches, latches and hinges which are favourites with specialist equipment manufacturers around the world.

The team at WPL managed to exceed the specification and brought the weight of the lid in the final production unit down to only 13kgs and a combined weight with the grid of only 19kgs.

The Sugatsune YA-2020R positive locking lid stay is sufficiently strong to only need one component mounted on the right hand side of the lid allowing the operator to support the weight of the lid whilst releasing the lock. It’s made of 304 stainless steel and capable of years of service in a corrosive environment.

The handles chosen for the lids were the HK-100 folding handles again in 304 stainless steel. These units click into the open or closed position so they can be tucked away to avoid a tripping hazard when not in use but will stay extended when required.

Both the lids and grids are secured with LSB-90 stainless steel butt hinges; solid reliable fittings.

WPL were very pleased to be able to meet their targets with a little help from products readily available from the Sugatsune catalogue and website.