Hole Covers

The construction industry are the biggest users of hole covers. Temporary service holes are a common feature on construction sites, with structures at various stages of completion. These floor openings can cause slip and trip hazards if they are not covered.

Hole Covers are used widely across different sectors in construction, including main contractors, house builders, hybrid frame contractors, precast concrete manufacturers (floors/frame), installation contractors (steel/concrete frames), in-situ frame contractors, core drilling contractors, and health and safety professionals.

Clients who use the Brilliant Ideas Hole Cover system include Engie, Willmott Dixon, Kier, BAM, Unite Living, ISG, Morrison Construction, Morgan Sindall, Holemasters, Wates, Stepnell, Skanska and Galliford Try.

Whenever a temporary hole has been created on site. Holes in the building environment present a hazard to people working and visiting site.

51,000 construction workers sustained non-fatal injuries in 2020/2021 – 33% of these were slip, trips and falls on the same level, according to HSE figures reported under RIDDOR.

These are some of the projects where our Hole Covers have been used:

• Perry Barr Redevelopment (Athletes Village)
• Sandwell Aquatics
• Leicester University Student Accommodation
• Leeds University Business School.

Hole Covers manufactured from recycled Polypropylene plastic are easy to keep clean and in good condition. This nonporous material doesn’t harbour bacteria, which makes them hygienic. Also, thanks to this tough recycled plastic, hole covers are reusable – adding to their sustainability credentials.

Typically, access holes on construction sites are covered using timber. These can easily become dislodged, develop algae creating a slippery surface and become a trip hazard because of their low visibility and timber thickness.

Brilliant Ideas Hole Covers are made from recycled Polypropylene plastic; and because they’re non-slip, they’re safe. Bright yellow in colour, they are highly visible and slim line, reducing trip hazards.

Our hole covers were shortlisted the 2021 British Construction Industry awards and Building Innovation awards.

The Brilliant Ideas Hole Cover system is reusable and will stand the test of time. They’re strong and have been independently load tested.

The load test analysis on our large Hole Cover – shows 180kg (28 1/2 stone) being applied through a single heel print (90 x 80mm) over a 300mm hole, with screw fixings to each corner.

The load test analysis on our small Hole Cover – shows 150kg (23 1/2 stone) being applied through a single heel print (90 x 80mm) over a 200mm hole.

The fact that our hole covers are manufactured in the UK and reusable, is an attractive proposition for organisations who are committed to cutting their carbon footprint and building a greener environment. Brilliant Ideas Hole Covers reduce the impact of a throwaway culture.

They also increase efficiency on construction sites because they are easily installed and can be removed quickly.

Orders for our Hole Covers has increased more than 200% in the last 12-months, as awareness of their benefits grow within the industry.

The main types of hole covers used on construction sites are made from plastic and timber. Sometimes metal plates are used, and even makeshift covers, like pallets.

Timber is problematic as it can develop algae making it a slip hazard. The thickness of timber boards can pose a trip hazard too. They can also be time consuming and expensive to install.

There are many benefits to Brilliant Ideas Hole Cover system:

• Sustainable – Manufactured from recycled Polypropylene plastic and reusable
• Hygienic – Nonporous material which doesn’t harbour bacteria
• Safe – Bright colour, anti-slip surface and thin, which reduces trip hazard
• Fast – Extremely fast to install and remove
• Small Hole Covers – Installed power tool free
• Fully adaptable – Ideal for hole openings up to 300mm and no cutting required
• Tested – A fully load tested solution.

Brilliant Ideas Hole Covers come in two sizes. The large Hole Cover is 350mm x 350mm, covers holes up to 300mm in diameter and is screwed into place to secure in position. The small Hole Cover is 250mm x 250mm, covers holes up to 200mm in diameter and is secured into place by squeezing its inbuilt legs together, which spring out to keep the cover in position. This is a tool free solution.

As a guide, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) states that when it comes to covering holes in floors ‘employees must be protected from tripping or falling into holes by placing hole covers over them, and hole covers must be used on holes bigger than 58mm or more’.

So, if there’s a 127mm diameter hole on site for a service pipe, then it must be covered to prevent someone from tripping and injuring themselves – regardless of the fall distance below the hole.

Chris Massey is the Managing Director of Brilliant Ideas and our sister company Beresford’s Flooring. He’s the inventor of all Brilliant Ideas safety construction products – including this Hole Cover.

Chris started developing problem solving innovations more than 30-years ago when he couldn’t find the products on the market to improve safety for his employees. When one of Beresford’s operatives was installing some precast concrete and stepped backwards into an unprotected opening within the floor, resulting in a badly twisted ankle and cut shin – along with time off work. This was classed as RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013).

As soon as Chris sees a potential problem on site, he starts to think of ways to overcome it. Most innovations have been created in response to accidents or near misses, to increase efficiency and to get projects done within budget. They’re all now available on the open market and used widely across all construction sectors.