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AS 3996—2006

Australian Standard™

Access covers and grates

AS 3996—2006
 This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee CE-029, Access Covers and
Grates. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on
23 November 2005.
This Standard was published on 2 March 2006.

The following are represented on Committee CE-029:

AUSTROADS
Association of Consulting Engineers Australia
Association of Hydraulic Services Consultants Australia
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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Australian Foundry Institute

Australian Industry Group
Engineers Australia
Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia
National Precast Concrete Association Australia
Plastics and Chemicals Industry Association
University of Tasmania
Water Services Association of Australia

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This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 04171.

 AS 3996—2006

Australian Standard™
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Access covers and grates

Originated as AS 3996—1992.
Second edition 2006.

COPYRIGHT
© Standards Australia
All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written
permission of the publisher.
Published by Standards Australia, GPO Box 476, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia
ISBN 0 7337 7291 9
 AS 3996—2006 2

PREFACE
This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee CE–029, Access Covers
and Grates, to supersede AS 3996—1992, Metal access covers, road grates and frames.
The objective of this Standard is to provide designers, manufacturers and purchasers of
access covers and grates with a specification for design, supply and testing.
The terms ‘normative’ and ‘informative’ have been used in this Standard to define the
application of the appendix to which they apply. A ‘normative’ appendix is an integral part
of a Standard, whereas an ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and guidance.
Notes to Tables and Figures expressed in mandatory terms are deemed to be requirements
of this Standard. Notes to text are for information and guidance only.
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 3 AS 3996—2006

CONTENTS

Page

SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE ........................................................................................................................ 4
1.2 APPLICATION ........................................................................................................... 4
1.3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS .................................................................................. 4
1.4 DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................ 5
1.5 CLASSIFICATION TERMINOLOGY........................................................................ 7
1.6 PERMANENT MARKING ......................................................................................... 7
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SECTION 2 MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS

2.1 GENERAL .................................................................................................................. 9
2.2 CAST IRON ................................................................................................................ 9
2.3 FABRICATED STEEL................................................................................................ 9
2.4 ALUMINIUM ............................................................................................................. 9
2.5 CONCRETE ................................................................................................................ 9
2.6 BOLTS ........................................................................................................................ 9
2.7 PROTECTIVE COATINGS ........................................................................................ 9
2.8 ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS ................................................................................ 10

SECTION 3 DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

3.1 LOAD CLASSIFICATION ....................................................................................... 11
3.2 DESIGN FEATURES................................................................................................ 11
3.3 DIMENSIONS........................................................................................................... 13

SECTION 4 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

4.1 GENERAL ................................................................................................................ 16
4.2 TESTING .................................................................................................................. 16

APPENDICES
A MEANS FOR DEMONSTRATING COMPLIANCE WITH THIS STANDARD ..... 19
B PURCHASING GUIDELINES.................................................................................. 22
C LOAD TESTS FOR COVERS AND GRATES ......................................................... 24
D BICYCLE TYRE PENETRATION RESISTANCE TEST FOR COVERS AND
GRATES ................................................................................................................... 28
E METHOD OF TESTING COVERS FOR WATERTIGHTNESS .............................. 32
F METHOD OF TESTING COVERS FOR GAS-TIGHTNESS................................... 34
G ON-SITE CONCRETE INFILL OF COVERS .......................................................... 36
 AS 3996—2006 4

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
Access covers and grates

SECT ION 1 SCOPE AND GENERA L

1.1 SCOPE
This Standard specifies requirements for access covers and grates for use in vehicular and
pedestrian areas. It applies to access covers and grates having clear openings up to
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1300 mm, particularly to components manufactured from grey and ductile irons, cast and
manufactured steels, aluminium and concrete. However, the use of other materials is not
precluded.
NOTES:
1 Use of other materials is covered in Clause 2.8.
2 The hydraulic design of access covers and grates is not within the scope of this Standard.

1.2 APPLICATION
Means for demonstrating compliance with this Standard shall be as specified in
Appendix A.

1.3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

The following documents are referred to in this standard.
AS
1199 Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes
1199.1 Sampling schemes indexed by acceptance quality limit (AQL) for lot-by-lot
inspection
1379 Specification and supply of concrete
1428 Design for access and mobility
1428.2 Enhanced and additional requirements—Buildings and facilities
1554 Structural steel welding
1554.1 Part 1: Welding of steel structures
1830 Grey cast iron
1831 Ductile cast iron
1874 Aluminium and aluminium alloys—Ingots and castings
3600 Concrete structures
3678 Structural steel—Hot-rolled plates, floorplates and slabs
3679 Structural steel
3679.1 Part 1: Hot-rolled bars and sections
5100 Bridge design
5100.2 Part 2: Design loads

 Standards Australia www.standards.com.au

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AS 3996-2006, Access covers and grates

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