A small manhole cover carries immense responsibility for urban safety. One Hubei-based enterprise is now contributing its technical expertise to national standard development, safeguarding the footsteps of millions.
The Standardization Administration of China (SAC) recently initiated the revision of the national standard Urban Public Facilities - Manhole Cover Service Systems in Beijing. Hubei Luzhongbao Metal Products Co., Ltd. has been invited as an industry representative to participate in the drafting process.
This standard will further regulate critical indicators including load classes, installation specifications, and anti-settlement technology. Amid increasing road collapse incidents, this standard’s development addresses a core urban public safety concern.
01 Standards Upgrade with Industry Participation
The national standard revision has entered a critical phase. China’s standardization process involves nine rigorous stages: preliminary, proposal, drafting, consultation, review, and approval.
This revision specifically invited leading enterprises like Hubei Luzhongbao to contribute to technical discussions.
Participation requires strict qualifications per *Procedures for Developing National Standards*:
- Significant industry influence and technical capability
- Relevant patents/core technologies
- Standardization experience
Luzhongbao earned its role through technical expertise and market leadership in manhole cover manufacturing.
Notably, since SAMR’s 2019 standardization reform, drafting entities are no longer credited in published standards. However, their technical contributions will shape industry development through the standard’s content.
02 Small Covers, Major Safety Implications
As "buttons of the city," manhole cover quality directly impacts public safety. Current standard GB/T 23858-2009 classifies covers into six load classes—from A15 (green belts) to F900 (airport runways).
Installation requirements are stringent:
- Cover-frame gap ≤8mm
- Frame-road surface level difference ≤±5mm
These seemingly minor tolerances are critical safety safeguards.
In maintenance practice, cover defects are categorized into 13 types—including missing covers, loose frames, perimeter damage, and settlement—each with specific repair protocols.
Anti-fall devices are now mandatory for storm/sewer access points. The revision is expected to strengthen these requirements, reducing manhole-related accidents.
03 Hubei Luzhongbao: The Technical Powerhouse
As an enterprise deeply rooted in manhole cover manufacturing, Hubei Luzhongbao masters core production technologies. The company's composite covers utilize Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) technology – formed under high temperature and pressure in hydraulic presses using unsaturated polyester resin, glass fibers, and other materials.
Covers manufactured through this process achieve E600 load-class standards, making them suitable for high-demand scenarios like freight terminals and ports. This performance significantly surpasses the load capacity of ordinary cement covers and BMC (Bulk Molding Compound) covers.
For quality control, Luzhongbao strictly implements industry standards. Products must meet GB/T requirements:
Be free from defects such as bubbles or cracks
Withstand static load pressure for 300 seconds without cracking (e.g., D400-grade covers must endure 400 KN)
Ensure smooth inner/outer surfaces of manhole barrels
04 Significance of Industry Participation
Enterprise involvement in standard-setting carries multifaceted value:
- National recognition of technical capability
- Enhanced industry influence
- Early insight into standard evolution for R&D alignment
- Opportunity to contribute technical proposals during consultation
- Competitive advantage in municipal tenders
- Practical experience grounding standards in real-world applications
05 Standards Driving Industry Advancement
The new standard will accelerate industry-wide upgrades:
- Stricter anti-settlement requirements
- Promotion of high-performance materials like ductile iron
- Smart cover readiness: Future-proofing for sensors and monitoring systems
- Industry consolidation: Technologically advanced firms (e.g., Luzhongbao) gaining market share
- Supply chain upgrades: From vibration-damping rubber seals (required for installation) to high-strength fine-aggregate concrete (≥30MPa for bases)
About Us luzhongbao
Hubei Luzhongbao Metal Products Co., Ltd is a professional large scale manufacturer engaged in manhole covers manufacturing，product design and development, sales.
Our company mainly engaged in manufacturing and sales of metal products, casting parts, manhole covers, intelligent manhole covers, composite manhole covers, water grate, water meter box, telecommunication and electric power cable trench cover, tree protection board, cable support, evacuation platform, metal boxes, metal pipes & fittings, plastic pipes & fittings (excluding dangerous goods) and other municipal infra structure products.
Luzhongbao has more 300 employees and more than 40, 000 square meters manufacturing base, which contains 3 standard production workshops and 6 molding lines. Luzhongbao constantly strive to improve product quality on a basis of our annual production capability of manhole covers reaches the level of more 100, 000 tons.