ECS Engineering Services revolutionises stoplog design

Engineering Solutions experts, ECS Engineering Services, have fabricated a game-changing stoplog design made of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) for the water and wastewater industries. This innovative and lightweight new hydraulic engineering control promises excellent durability, minimal maintenance, a design life of 100 years and a 50-year warranty.

Stoplogs are used across the water and wastewater industries for level control and to provide a safe and secure working area when carrying out maintenance operations on water control devices. In the main, these hydraulic engineering control elements are fabricated from steel, to provide the required strength to hold large volumes of water at bay. However, ECS Engineering Services is now offering a more durable, engineered alternative using fibre reinforced polymer (FRP).

ECS Engineering Services’ expertise in fabricating water control devices

ECS has a long history and considerable expertise in designing and fabricating water control devices, including lock gates, sluice gates and tilting weirs. As a framework contractor for the Environment Agency, ECS is frequently called upon to refurbish sections of the water control infrastructure across the country and this often involves the use of stoplogs.

Following a recent agreement for the company to have the exclusive rights to install a range of FRP products produced by FiberCore Europe, ECS has also been approved to deliver a range of stoplog designs using this innovative material. These new products will complement the existing steel fabrication services and wide range of water control devices already offered by ECS.

The majority of water control structures, such as sluices and lock gates, are unique in their dimensions and so if a set of stoplogs is required they are generally built to order and designed specifically for a particular location. In addition, due to the locations of these structures, the stoplogs are usually stored in the open, exposed to the elements.

Clearly, since maintenance engineers rely on the stoplogs to hold back the water, these essential devices must be properly maintained to prevent any corrosion or damage to the seals caused by the weather.

The use of fibre reinforced polymers or composites is not new, but FiberCore Europe has developed a dedicated technology, known as Infracore Inside, that enables FRP structures to be used in load bearing structures, in many cases without additional steel reinforcement. This technology has enabled the company to design and build bridges, bridge decks and lock gates using FRP.

The advantages of FRP stoplogs over traditional steel construction

The new FRP stoplog design will have a number of advantages over the traditional steel construction:

• Greatly improved durability with excellent resistance to corrosion and UV
• Considerably lighter than steel, greatly reducing the capacity of lifting equipment required
• Little or no maintenance requirement
• An expected design life of 100 years and a 50-year warranty

The new stoplog designs will be engineered to fit each specific location and where necessary they can be adapted to fit existing structures, minimising the installation time for the project. In addition, both the delivery time and cost are comparable with the traditional steel structures, as well as the knowledge that FRP is less attractive to metal thieves.

About ECS Engineering Services

ECS Engineering Services has over 20 years experience in delivering high quality, reliable and cost effective engineering solutions, specialising in bespoke design and construction of water, energy and environmental processing and management projects.

In partnership with Landustrie Archimedes screw pumps and Waterfront Fluid Controls, ECS has the expertise and capacity to design and install a wide range of water control engineering projects. With in-house fabrication services, which have CE Marking approval to EXC3, well equipped and highly skilled engineers can also complete structural steelwork, bespoke fabrication work and access metalwork to the highest standard.

With a complete range of site services available, ECS offers a full turnkey project managed service for mechanical and electrical installations including managing civils contractors and supplying pipework, control and automation work to ensure that every installation is installed and commissioned to the highest standard. Existing clients include the majority of the UK Water Utility companies, Government Agencies and Internal Drainage Boards.

For more information visit www.ecsengineeringservices.com.