Hire trench covers from Hirelink to safely bridge open excavations, service trenches, and ground works. We hire the Oxford LowPro 12/8 pedestrian-rated cover board (1,200mm x 800mm, 400kg SWL) and vehicle-rated cover boards for heavier duty applications. Slip-resistant, lightweight, and quick to deploy. Daily, weekend, and weekly hire is available. We deliver across Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield, Aldridge, and the wider Midlands from our four local depots.
The Cost
Trench cover choice depends on two things: what you’re covering (pedestrian access only, or vehicles crossing) and the width of the trench. Getting this wrong is a real safety issue – a pedestrian-rated board will not support a van, let alone a lorry.
The Reason
The Oxford LowPro 12/8 is the pedestrian trench cover used across the UK utilities and street works industry. Composite construction, anti-slip grip surface moulded into the top, and a ribbed underside for structural strength. 400kg safe working load covers pedestrian access, wheelbarrows, and general site foot traffic.
The LowPro 12/8 weighs 17kg, which one person can lift and position without a two-person team or lifting equipment. Fits easily in a small works vehicle or the back of a van. Deploy fast, reposition as work progresses, and remove at the end of the job. That’s a real productivity win over the steel plates and plywood boards this product replaces.
For jobs that need vehicles or plant to cross the trench, we can supply heavier-duty vehicle-rated cover boards. These are thicker, stronger, and rated for HGV loads up to 44 tonnes. Ask the team when you book and describe your traffic requirements.
Hirelink operates from four depots: Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Aldridge, and near Birmingham Airport. Trench covers are compact enough to collect yourself, or take delivery for larger quantities. Areas served include Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Solihull, Coventry, and the wider West Midlands.
Hire for a single day’s utility works, a weekend of drainage installation, or long-term for construction phases where the trench stays open for weeks or months. Hire periods are flexible so you only pay for what you need. For long-running civil works, ask about extended rates.
Every trench cover is inspected between hires. Anti-slip surface checked for wear, structural integrity verified, edges checked for damage. Any board with visible damage is pulled from the fleet – important because a damaged cover is a serious slip and structural failure risk.
The Return
A trench cover is a rigid board that spans an open excavation to allow safe pedestrian or vehicle passage. It replaces the traditional steel plates and plywood boards that hire yards used to send out – lighter to handle, safer underfoot, and quicker to deploy. Any construction site, utility installation, drainage job, or ground works project with an open trench across a walkway needs one of these to comply with Working at Height Regulations, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, and general HSE guidance on trench safety.
Our standard trench cover hire is the Oxford LowPro 12/8. It measures 1,200mm x 800mm x 28mm thick, weighs 17kg, and has a 400kg safe working load. Construction is glass reinforced plastic (GRP) composite with anti-slip grip patterns moulded into the top surface and a ribbed framework on the underside for structural stiffness. The cover spans trenches up to 700mm wide – anything wider needs multiple boards or a heavier-duty solution.
Common jobs include utility installation (water, gas, electricity, telecoms trench works), drainage installation on domestic and commercial sites, foundation works where the trench stays open across a walking route, road and pavement works during street excavations, temporary pedestrian rerouting during construction, event site setups where cabling trenches cross pedestrian routes, and any groundworks job where site staff or the public need to cross the trench safely. For carriageway (vehicle road) works, use vehicle-rated boards instead of the pedestrian LowPro.
Hiring is far cheaper than buying for anyone who doesn’t run trench works daily. A LowPro 12/8 costs around £150-£200 to buy new, plus storage. For occasional utility works or a phase of a construction project, hire is the sensible option. You get boards that arrive inspected, clean, and compliant with the current safety standards.
The Difference
400kg SWL, 17kg weight, one-person handling. Right choice for site pedestrian access, utility trench crossings for staff and public foot traffic, and footway compliance. Fits in any van. Cheap to hire. HAUC compliant for footway only – not for carriageway or vehicle crossings.
Up to 44 tonnes SWL, 42kg+ weight, needs two people or lifting equipment to handle. Thicker composite construction with proper edge profiles for vehicle transitions. Right choice for HGV crossings, plant traffic, adopted highway works, and temporary road covers. More expensive to hire but the only compliant option for vehicles.
Anti-slip surface moulded in, lightweight, weather-resistant, doesn’t rust or rot. Same surface characteristics wet or dry. The modern industry standard for pedestrian trench cover, replacing the older options.
Older approach still occasionally seen on sites. Steel plates rust and get slippery in the wet. Plywood swells, splits, and rots. Both need lifting equipment for anything beyond small sizes. Not compliant with current site safety expectations for pedestrian cover.
The Logistics
Hirelink delivers trench covers from four Midlands depots located in Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Aldridge, and near Birmingham Airport. Together, these depots cover the full West Midlands region and large parts of Staffordshire.
Delivery and collection is available with every hire. Areas served include Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Walsall, West Bromwich, Solihull, Tamworth, Burton upon Trent, Cannock, Stafford, and the surrounding towns and villages across the Midlands. LowPro 12/8 boards are compact and light enough to collect in any car; vehicle-rated boards need a van or delivery.
The Process
Tell the team what will cross the trench: pedestrian only, light vehicles, heavy plant, or vehicle traffic on adopted highway. Give the trench width (measured at the widest point) and how many boards you need. We’ll match you to the right specification.
We’ll check availability at your nearest depot, confirm pricing, and arrange delivery or collection. For urgent trench cover deployment, mention it when booking – we’ll prioritise where possible.
Position the cover across the trench so it overlaps the edges by at least 150mm on each side. Anti-slip surface facing up. Check for stability before opening the route. Return the boards on your agreed collection date.
FAQs
Trench cover hire prices depend on the board specification (pedestrian vs vehicle-rated), how many boards you need, and hire length. Daily rates suit short works, weekend hire covers typical utility jobs, and weekly or long-term rates work better for construction projects. Call Hirelink for a current quote on the boards and quantities you need.
The Oxford LowPro 12/8 pedestrian cover has a 400kg safe working load, which covers foot traffic, wheelbarrows, and hand tools. Medium-duty GRP grip plates handle light vehicles up to around 1.6 tonnes. Heavy-duty vehicle-rated boards handle HGVs and plant up to 44 tonnes. Always check the SWL stamped on the board before use, and match it to what will actually cross.
No. Pedestrian covers are rated for foot traffic only. Driving even a small car onto a pedestrian-rated board risks failure, potentially causing the vehicle to drop into the trench and putting people around it at risk. If vehicles will cross the trench, hire a vehicle-rated cover board.
Yes. The Oxford LowPro 12/8 has an anti-slip grip pattern moulded directly into the top surface. The surface stays effective wet or dry, which is a key advantage over old-style steel plates (slippery when wet) and plywood (swells and splits). Still keep the surface clear of mud, oil, and loose material during use.
The LowPro 12/8 covers trenches up to 700mm wide with at least 150mm overlap onto solid ground each side. Measure the trench at its widest point before booking. For trenches wider than 700mm, either use multiple boards side-by-side or step up to a larger cover. Talk to the team about the geometry of your trench when booking.
The LowPro 12/8 is HAUC compliant for footway (pedestrian pavement) use only. It is NOT approved for adopted highway carriageway use where vehicles cross. For carriageway trench works, you need vehicle-rated boards approved for the traffic type. Check your street works permit conditions and ask the team if you’re not sure.
The LowPro 12/8 pedestrian cover weighs 17kg and can be lifted, positioned, and repositioned by one person. Heavier vehicle-rated boards typically weigh 40kg or more and need two-person handling or lifting equipment. Follow safe manual handling guidance for repeated lifts.
Yes. GRP composite is unaffected by rain, frost, sun, or normal UK weather. The boards don’t rust like steel, don’t rot like plywood, and don’t degrade in UV exposure. They hold their anti-slip properties across all weather conditions.
For static pedestrian trench cover use with adequate ground overlap (at least 150mm each side), the LowPro 12/8 typically doesn’t need mechanical fixings for standard site use. Some boards have holes for anchoring if the location is exposed to wind uplift or the surface is uneven. For vehicle traffic use, fixings and edge ramps may be required – check the manufacturer guidance for the board specification.
Standard site PPE applies – safety boots with toe protection (dropped boards can hurt), heavy-duty gloves for handling, and hi-vis if you’re working near vehicle routes. For heavier boards, consider back support and follow manual handling guidance.
Hirelink is a Midlands-based hire company with four depots covering Birmingham and Staffordshire. National hire chains run larger national fleets but work through national call centres and longer delivery distances. For utility contractors and civil engineering firms working across the West Midlands, Hirelink offers local service and faster turnaround for urgent trench cover deployment.
For most hires we’ll need photo ID (driving licence or passport), proof of address dated within the last three months, and a refundable deposit. Trade customers with an account just need to confirm the booking. For commercial site use, your risk assessment covering trench safety should already be in place before the covers are deployed.
The Hire
Trench cover hire from Hirelink is straightforward. Tell us what’s crossing the trench, the trench width, and how many boards you need, and we’ll match you to the right specification and get them out to you fast. Call the team, or complete the enquiry form below and we’ll get back to you.
