Brent in move to curb trip hazards

The London Borough of Brent may turn to Fibre Reinforced Paving (FRP) to reduce trip hazards after a successful project using the product was completed in Neasden last week.
Brent transport department principal engineer Raj Patel confirmed that the council was considering using Marshalls Strux paving slabs as its preferred product for avoiding trip hazards.
The council pays around
£1m a year in compensation claims and has decided to use a safer paving than conventional concrete for the project.
The council considered using smaller slabs, but needed larger 600mm by 450mm by 63mm paving to avoid losing sand from the joints when they were cleaned using mechanical sweepers. Although this size of slab costs 10% more than standard concrete slabs, Marshalls said FRP saves 5% on the overall cost as it is laid on a sand bedding instead of concrete.
Marshalls said FRP is nearly 20% lighter than steel-reinforced paving, which needs a thickness of 75mm, instead of the
standard 63mm.
Strux uses a mix of concrete and polyethylene/polypropylene fibres, which Marshalls sources under a five-year deal from long-term pigments and additives supplier Grace Construction Products. The polymer mesh holds the paving together when cracking occurs, which reduces trip hazards.
The fibres have been designed to disperse randomly throughout the flag and are strong enough to withstand the production process. They have a long, smooth surface and, unlike carbon fibre and steel, they adhere to the concrete mix.
Marshalls hopes the £105,000 Neasden contract will open up the market for FRP with other local authorities.
Meanwhile, Patel said his team would recommend FRP to the council: "We are drawing up a list of products to present to the council's standing committee to standardise the products, so this could be used throughout the council in the future."