Creating bespoke fire-hydrant covers for Lord’s Cricket Ground

The Compton and Edrich stands at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London are currently undergoing a £52 million redevelopment that, once complete, will increase capacity by 2,600 to a massive 31,600. In this feature we look at how a partnership with consultancy Buro Happold led to the creation of two bespoke fire-hydrant covers for the project.

Following our initial site visit to discuss the requirements of the redevelopment, it was evident that two unique covers would be needed that could interact with pre-existing valves and hydrants below, while simultaneously satisfying Thames Water and London Fire Brigade specifications.

Each cover presented its own different challenges. The first was required to have an infill finish but also needed to accommodate standard ductile iron hydrant and valve covers. Therefore, our goal was to provide a product that was partly recessed to allow an infill but also to enable easy access to the valve and fire hydrant below by virtue of standard ductile iron surface boxes.

With this in mind, we designed a hybrid product, combining a galvanised mild-steel recessed deep infill cover and frame with two standard ductile iron surface boxes within the body of the steel cover. This one-of-a-kind design kept the visible surface area of the cover to a minimum, but also ensured the product complied with water utility and fire brigade specifications – guaranteeing swift, if not immediate, access to the hydrant itself in the event of emergency.

The second cover, ideally, should have incorporated all the same features required by the first – but it wasn’t quite as straightforward as this. Our site inspection revealed that the available depth between the surface level and the top of the equipment in the chamber could not accommodate a deep recessed infill cover and frame. This presented us with a complicated problem to solve.

It meant that, as we could not insert a standard ductile iron fire hydrant cover and frame, it would not comply with the specifications it needed to satisfy. After much discussion, we were tasked with providing a shallow-frame steel access cover and frame that could incorporate a standard-sized fire-hydrant cover within it – albeit not of the standard depth or material that would normally be used.

In addition to this, we were asked to make the insert look as close as possible to the usual product due to it being essential that, in the event of emergency, the fire brigade could quickly identify where the cover was without any struggle in recognising what it is. This was resolved by producing a standard-sized cover that incorporated the usual fire-hydrant badging, lifting key holes in standard positions and quick-release prising slots.

A key takeaway from this project has been that, even within the same development, there is never a ‘one size fits all’ product and each scenario will present its own challenges and requirements that need to be taken into careful consideration when creating a solution. An innovative approach to design and manufacture allows us to offer cover solutions for any chamber size, in any location. By making that initial site visit, we were able to establish the completely different characteristics each steel frame would require and create a solution that ticked all the necessary boxes.

Another important factor that contributed to the success of this project was the relationship we have established and nurtured with the client. Working collaboratively with our customers is at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to understanding their needs in a constantly changing environment, which is why we work tirelessly to build relationships and trust with all our customers in everything we do. I firmly believe that it is for this reason that we have a diverse range of clients, with a wide range of requirements – from developers and local authorities all the way through to utility companies and major contractors.

What is crucial to understand is that customers not only want solutions, they want solutions that offer real benefits as well. It is by understanding these needs and getting to the heart of what a customer is after – plus combining these with technical expertise and a highly skilled team – that results can be delivered and expectations exceeded.

Approval for both these covers has since been received, with the products being manufactured and installed by FitOut UK. The redevelopment at Lord’s Cricket Ground is still on track and due to be completed in May this year despite complications created by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Steel access covers is where Wrekin first started and, between us, we have more than 30 years’ experience in designing and manufacturing specialist fabricated products – from pressured steel for domestic use and fabricated products for commercial and industrial use, through to highly specialised bespoke access systems for utilities.

At Wrekin, we pride ourselves on our exceptional design capabilities and knowledge. We are able to provide a comprehensive design service, from site surveys to specific computer-aided-design drawings, with one aim – to tailor a product that provides the most cost-effective access-cover solution for our client. That is why our design service and product quality combined has helped to establish Wrekin as an industry-leading authority in the design and fabrication of specialist access-cover systems. For further information, go to www.wrekinproducts.com