Investment in the security of the water supply network has moved
far beyond the legislated upgrades required of our service reservoirs. Michael Miles of Technocover looks at new areas of focus for enhancing the protection of water infrastructure.

For the past ten years, under the Code of Practice for the Security of Service Reservoirs (1997), UK water companies have implemented significant upgrades to ensure potable water supplies meet a legislated standard of security.

The code dictates that access points to supplies such as access covers, doors, escape hatches and vents, must be fitted with products carrying Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) third party testing and accreditation of security performance.

The legislation extends to service reservoirs, water storage tanks, water towers, as well as elements of the water treatment process.

But efforts to enhance security have not been exclusively focused on meeting service reservoir legislation. Other directives, initiatives and quality commitments have galvanized water companies into tackling security in other areas.

Safeguarding the whole of the supply network is fundamental to complying with EU directives. And, in line with the World Health Organisations water safety plan approach, UK water companies are managing drinking water risk source to tap. And the latest government announcement will push the water companies’ remit for security even wider.

The planned transfer of ownership of private sewers and lateral drains to the statutory water and sewerage companies (WaSC) in England and Wales will pose additional security issues. The transfer, is likely to include surface water drains, foul and surface water sewers, private treatment works and pumping stations it will increase the network owned and managed by WaSCs by about 35%.

Although it will enable integrated management of the sewerage system as a whole, the exact extent and condition of existing private sewers and laterals – and security needs – are unknown. We are yet to see what level of investment and security provision will be required in overhauling the sewer system, now seen as a key contributor to the growing problem of urban flooding.

While the security of potable water assets has been a longstanding priority, water companies have inevitably been taking a holistic view of security, prioritising and implementing upgrades in other operational areas. A number of water companies are already specifying LPCB approved products for water treatment installations, chlorine dosing, telemetry, alarm systems and other sensitive plant, plus secure storage of chemicals and gases.

They are also installing secure units to deter accidental or deliberate contamination of water courses. And all this is ahead of a new security standard, currently under development, set to cover all operational assets.

Technocover supply a range of LPCB approved high security access covers and associated equipment to the service reservoir security programme. LPCB third party approval has become the accepted benchmark for security performance in the water industry as there is currently no BS or EN security standard for access covers, cabinets and doors.

Products in Technocover’s ‘clean water’ range include Ultrasecure upstand and flush fitting access covers, doors, panels, cabinets, escape hatches, louvres, cylinder clamps, buildings and enclosures with LPCB security rating 2, 3 and 4.

The company has also been expanding its waste water range with further LPCB level 3 and 4 approved products to meet evolving needs beyond the potable water network. New additions have included Ultrasecure enclosures/modular buildings with LPCB security rating 4 approval for chemical storage, process plant, control and monitoring equipment assessed as high risk.

The company also developed a series of doors, enclosures and modular buildings, approved to LPCB security rating 3, for lower risk sites. The latest development is the Ultrasecure cylinder clamp, a universal device for securing a range of gas or chemical cylinders.

Approved to LPCB security level 2, the maximum required for this type of product, the clamp allows easy loading and unloading of all typical sized BOC and INEOS cylinders. The design has minimal footprint but provides robust locking points for wall or floor fixing, as well as padlocking and fully removable locking arms. As with all Technocover’s security products, the clamp is post-galvanised with a Duragalv long life zinc coating for extra durability.

Theft prevention

Whether for clean water or waste water applications, the main purpose of these units is to harden infrastructure - especially points of access, storage facilities and service installations - against vandalism, terrorism and malicious attempts to contaminate and disrupt the network. They are also in demand to combat the growing problem of materials theft, especially of metal for its scrap value.

LPCB third party approval of security performance signifies that a product will defend against assessed risks of attack. But access systems and related equipment will need to meet other important performance criteria and industry regulations, notably for operational safety.
Under the CDM regulations, designers have a duty of care to safeguard and protect employees using equipment. In the case of dry well access covers, for instance, lids that will be routinely lifted must be hinged and spring assisted to a maximum opening/closing effort of 25kg.

This reduces the risk of strain or injury, permitting safe lifting by a single operative, and also provides compliance with HSE Manual Handling Operations Regulations.

Self-engaging safety stays must also be provided to prevent injury from the lid falling shut unexpectedly. Locking mechanisms on flush installations must be recessed into the lid to eliminate the risk of a trip to personnel traversing the cover.

Fall protection

Where dry well chamber depth poses a risk of injury from a fall, integral fall protection must be included, typically in the form of grids and guards. Fall protection and assisted handling are obligatory on wet well covers, as well as odour control.

Fall protection grids must be hinged and should be adapted to suit the function of the chamber, whether it is for pump maintenance, hose feeding or full inspection. Access for float inspection or placement of tanker crew hoses must be provided without the need to open the safety grid.

These safety features also meet CDM site security responsibilities, including their duty of care to prevent injury to vandals and minors – unauthorised users. Designers must also address duty of care for environmental impact under CDM, such as acts of vandalism or extortion to contaminate water resources. This will already be answered in the design of an LPCB approved high security cover.

Sustainable Equipment

Finally, no security equipment should be accepted as fit for purpose without assessment of system durability. In this era of sustainable design and whole life costing, specifiers should ask manufacturers to provide dependable data on the expected service life for equipment that account for local environmental factors including atmospheric corrosivity.

Technocover has a range of post-galvanised protective systems – Duragalv 70, 100 or 140 – tailoring longevity to design life needs while accounting for the severity of local weathering factors.

United Utilities has awarded its framework contract for site security access covers/doors, hatches and associated equipment to the leading access security specialist, Technocover.

The two-year contract, valued at around £2m, runs from August 2007 with the option to extend a further year.

It includes site surveying, design, manufacture, supply and installation of Technocover’s LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board) approved Ultrasecure upstand covers, flush fit covers, doors and other high security products for all of United Utilities’ operational areas.

Under the terms of the framework, Technocover’s security access products will be used for major upgrade programmes to aqueducts and waste water facilities as well as at potable water sites, process and treatment works, pumping stations, wet wells and pipeline networks.

Awarded following tenders from a number of manufacturers, Technocover clinched the contract after exceeding rival bids across a range of selection criteria.

The security solutions leader was able to demonstrate a superior package of capabilities – including product choice, LPCB approvals, design expertise, technical experience, service support - providing best value in meeting United Utilities needs.

United Utilities operates water, wastewater, electricity and gas networks, providing utility services to over 20 million people in the UK and overseas.

Infrastructure in the utilities sector - including water, gas and electricity sites – is being hit by the rising tide of metal theft.

Technocover, the leading security equipment specialist, says that many vulnerable installations can be readily protected from thieves using proprietary security products already on the market.

The company manufactures a full range of physical protection products – including Ultrasecure access covers, doors, cabinets and modular buildings - designed to defend utilities installations against unauthorised entry and theft.

The products also address the risk of injury to thieves and vandals in making attempts to break into cabinets, stores or even rip out protective metal structures. In some cases, thieves have cut through live electricity and gas mains to steal metal. And those entering water sites risk potentially serious injury if they break into or damage chemical stores, water tanks or equipment installations.

Third party approved

Technocover director, Michael Miles, said: “Metal structures, cabling and equipment can be protected from even the most determined thief through the installation of appropriate, third party approved, high security equipment.

“As well as tackling the current rise in theft, toughened security in the utilities sector is paramount in defending against all forms of malicious attack, whatever the motivation.

“Infiltration of these essential networks can disrupt services and even endanger lives should it result in an explosion, fire, loss of services or contamination in the case of water supplies.”

The majority of Technocover’s products are tested and approved to the stringent standards of LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board), with security ratings suited to the identified risk, including vandalism and terrorism.

Technocover has been an innovator of high security access covers, doors, cabinets and enclosures for the water, power and telecommunications sectors for more than a decade.

Technocover has supplied four special multiple leaf access cover systems to upgrade security of clean water tanks as part of Capital Maintenance Department works at United Utilities’ Denton Water Treatment Works (WTW).

Installed as one continuous installation over previously open clean water tanks, the 10- and 12-leaf assemblies create a substantial anti-vandal access system measuring almost 25m by 5.25m overall.
All four systems incorporate robust chequer plate, flush fitting, sealed access covers borne on a complex support system with removable beams allowing complete removal for major maintenance.
They also all feature two hinged and fully vented upstand covers for routine inspection and personnel access, complete with flip-up safety grids for fall prevention.

United Utilities Capital Maintenance project engineer, David Leigh, said: “We have incurred substantial costs from vandal damage on this site in recent years. There was a need both to protect the site from vandalism and to protect vandals from the potential risk of injury in attempting to interfere with equipment.”

The two larger cover systems each consist of 12 individual leaves - including two 1500mm by 1000mm clear opening hinged inspection covers - to provide a 6200mm by 5250mm overall system clear opening.
Completing the impressive tank protection system are two 10-leaf systems with an overall cover clear opening of 6100mm by 4400mm.

Total Service
Technocover supplied the cover systems as a complete concept-to-commission solution as part of its Total Service offering to customers , undertaking site surveys, risk assessment, design, manufacture and fitting.
David Leigh of United Utilities said: “This has been the largest and most complex tank cover system I have been involved with on a water site. As with their performance on other contracts, Technocover came up with the service, design support and product we required.”
The assemblies incorporate a number of apertures giving clearance for vertical equipment including the water mains pipe, airlines, scouring filters, gravity filters and the channels feeding them. Notches were provided through the side of the access frame for telemetry holes.
Beam, frame and cover details were also adapted to accommodate in-tank equipment such as telemetry sensors. The level of the grid in some of the personnel access hatches was lowered to avoid ultrasonics equipment.
While most of the outer frame of the assemblies was designed with in-turned flanges to conceal fixings, some sections of flange were turned out for installation beneath existing cable ducts.
Technocover also designed a special run of duct covers measuring in excess of 50 linear metres and negotiating a number of angles within its layout.

Again, the design incorporates special features such as cut-outs around equipment, a number of hinged inspection units and several 500mm high pipes to provide a mounting point for level sensors.
In accordance with BS EN ISO 1461: 1999, all components within the assemblies were hot dipped galvanised with a high quality Duragalv 70 (70 micron) zinc coating after manufacture.

Technocover was established in 1993 by Directors Haydn Williams and Jim Jones. Both Haydn and Jim, having had many years of experience within the industry, realised it was an ideal time and opportunity to bring fresh ideas to the marketplace. The, now famous, SOLO-LIFT© range of access covers, for single person operation, was an early example of the innovative approach to design, and the introduction of the 'Technocover Total Service' gave the specifier the first 'One stop shop' within the industry.

In 1997 Technocover were the originators of the Double Skin, Dry Moated Access Cover System, tested and approved by the Loss Prevention Certification Board to category 4 rating. This range, the largest from a single source, includes access covers of single, twin and triple leaves and enhanced security door systems. The tremendous success of these products means that we have expanded greatly.

The main factory is 70,000sq ft and equipped with 'state of the art' machinery including the Mazak CO2 Laser Cutter and full CAD design. We are now based at Henfaes Lane Industrial Estate in Welshpool, near the English/Welsh border, central for our national network of deliveries, technical back-up and fitting services. All our products are manufactured to order and delivered or fitted to the clients specific requirements.

Technocover's Welshpool site has recently been extended and an adjoining factory purchased to cope with a bulging order book. The acquisition of Jones of Oswestry in September 2003 with it's 90,000 sq ft. factory and extra manufacturing capacity enables the group to continue to service all it's current markets.

Our philosophy of continuous research and development together with flexibility of design and manufacture, opens up new and diverse markets and provides an ever improving service to the specifier. The continued growth of the company is due to an eagerness to embrace new challenges and work together with clients in solving their security problems.

Our extensive client database has greatly increased from being mainly 'water company' based to including many more industries with similar security problems, one in particular being the rail industry. It was found that many of our product designs were suitable for their prime objective in combating trespass and vandalism. From this discovery, TechnoRail, a new division of Technocover was formed to provide specific assistance to the rail industry.

To facilitate the specification of our products, full Working Manuals, are available free of charge. Our technical department is also available to assist, simply email:
techadvice@technocover.co.uk