How one local authority trialled plastic kerbing

A local authority has partnered with Duraproducts to trial its recycled plastic kerbing for both durability and safety purposes.

City of Doncaster Council has partnered with Duraproducts to trial the company’s pioneering recycled plastic kerbing units at two sites within the city. Traditional concrete kerbs at North Bridge and West End Lane have been replaced with Durakerb.

Rather than choosing two ‘safe sites’ for the trial, the local authority identified one high-stress area, which suffers from regular HGV override and has previously been repaired and failed, as well as one low-stress site for the test. The high-stress site works consisted of excavating the existing damaged kerbs, gully, tarmac and concrete prior to laying Durakerb and reinstating the area to the rear with reinforced concrete.

The low-stress site is predominately used by domestic vehicles and provides a realistic and practical monitoring of domestic vehicles crossing installations. The works here consisted of excavating the existing standard kerbs and grassed area, laying Durakerb and constructing the parking area using sub-base and tarmac.

Ease of use

As part of the project, Highway Operations – in collaboration with the Highways Asset Management Team – researched alternative methods to design out or greatly reduce the need for manual handling of concrete kerbs and channels, as well as decreasing the exposure to silica dust. It was also important to consider the impact of the carbon footprint involved in both the production and cutting of the concrete products.

Handling set concrete carries significant health and safety issues. This includes hand-arm vibration, which is a painful condition from the excessive use of hand-held power tools for breaking, drilling, lifting and fitting concrete. Silica dust exposure, which is produced when concrete is cut, can lead to the development of serious chest conditions. This is all in addition to the obvious safety considerations associated with working with the heavy material.

However, weighing under six kilograms, the lightweight polymer solution meant that every unit could be lifted by hand, with no machinery required at any stage of installation. The kerb stones can be easily moved to accommodate varying landscapes and every unit can be hand sawn and resized to fit any space without releasing harmful silica dust.

The kerbs installed at the two sites have enabled safe, single-person manual handling. Early indications show that, although there is evidence of vehicle override, the kerbs have not become damaged or displaced. Consequently, it has been proposed to extend the use of Durakerb to other projects across the borough, with a view to them becoming the norm rather than the exception.

Sustainability matters

Durakerb units contain 88% recycled and recyclable polymer units from recycled milk bottles, caps and closures, plus other household and commercial polymer waste, thereby diverting waste from landfills and minimising environmental harm. With end-of-life potential in mind, the units can be either recycled into new products or repurposed in their entirety for different projects, further contributing to a more sustainable future.

Andy Leah, General Manager at Duraproducts, says: “It’s great to see City of Doncaster Council leading the way in sustainable infrastructure. By implementing our innovative recycled plastic kerbing units, the council is not only improving the environment but also prioritising the health and safety of its workforce. The successful trials demonstrate the viability and benefits of this sustainable solution, and we hope to see more councils adopting similar practices in the future.”

For more, visit duraproducts.co.uk

Image credits | Phil Sutton Founder of Duraproducts