CLARK DRAIN LTD
STATION ROAD
YAXLEY
PETERBOROUGH
CAMBRIDGESHIRE PE7 3EQ
Tel: 01733 765317
Fax: sales@clark-drain.com
Suppliers of: Access solutions, drainage channels, manhole covers, gully gratings, kerb gullies, surface boxes, linear drainage, access chamber systems, security solutions, bespoke solutions, underground fixtures and fittings and accessories
Clark-Drain are technical experts and leaders in the design, manufacture and distribution of access solutions and drainage products for the construction industry.
A family-owned and run company established in 1963, Clark-Drain began setting new industry standards as pioneers of the first steel cover in the UK. Since then, Clark-Drain has produced recycled and recyclable channels and chambers and championed sustainability.
Working in partnership with merchants, civil engineers, Tier 1 and ground sub-contractors, architects and asset owners, Clark-Drain listen to the needs of their customers and understand the challenges they face. In turn, they design and innovate solutions that are grounded in expertise, with a focus on quality, cost effectiveness and commitment to their customers.
A leading supplier, their philosophy is based on true partnerships which supply local distribution channels from a UK design and manufacturing base, with support from a network of global production facilities. Clark-Drain are committed to and invest heavily in product development, to bring innovative and high-performance solutions to market, enabling customers to complete projects on time and with the right results in all construction industry sectors.
Products
Manhole Covers, Gully Gratings & Surface Boxes
Our cast iron covers and gully gratings meet the requirements of the European Standards BS EN 124 and provide innovative features designed to make them durable, safe and easy to install.
Our steel access covers and polypropylene covers offer solid top and pavior options in various sizes and loading capabilities suited to residential, commercial and industrial building and construction.
Clark-Drain have a wide range of thermoplastic, polymer concrete and polypropylene linear drainage systems to suit diverse applications. View our wide range of options to find the loading best suited to your project.
Fittings, Polypropylene Inspection Chambers (PPIC) and bottle gulleys in a variety of sizes will precisely meet your underground needs.
Complete chamber access solutions delivering cable/utility access and network protection for various applications. Central to their design is their strength. It is why we supply them to meet the specific requirements of an installation in terms of ease of use and durability in use, as complete systems, ready to go in the ground.
Bespoke solutions can be designed in a way to suit a specific application and industry need. Clark-Drain is versatile and has a depth of product knowledge which can match your requirements with unparalleled flexibility.
Including highly secure access chambers and security lids, Clark-Drain’s products are widely used within the defence, retail security, CCTV, telecommunications and financial sectors.
Lifting keys, chamber reducers and build-in step irons make up just some of the Clark-Drain ancillary items
Further technical information, image galleries and product specifications are available through the Clark Drain Ltd website or via the BPI Download Library.
Clark-Drain’s Collaboration with Kier Group on the UK’s First Carbon-Neutral Prison
Project Overview
Clark-Drain are supporting Kier Group with the ground-breaking construction of the UK’s first carbon-neutral prison, located at the Full Sutton site in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The 1,500-bed Category C “mega” prison will be the first to be zero-carbon in operation, and once built, will run fully on electricity. Other sustainable design features also include solar panels, heat pumps and more efficient lighting systems to reduce energy demand. This collaboration marked the continuation of Clark-Drain’s relationship with the Ministry of Justice, where they have been a trusted partner on other high profile projects such as the multi award-winning HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough which opened in March 2022.
Key Contributions
Clark-Drain partnered with Kier from the specification stages, working collaboratively to deliver the best advice and solutions to meet the demands of this challenging build. Of the 419 access points required to house the extensive electrical infrastructure buried throughout the site, Clark-Drain manufactured and delivered 418 of them.
The heavy-duty access chambers, made from recycled polypropylene, were custom- manufactured at Clark-Drain’s factory in Yaxley, Peterborough. The use of polypropylene not only made the chambers easier to manoeuvre on-site, reducing the need for heavy lifting equipment but also aligned perfectly with the project’s sustainability goals.
Innovative Solutions
Recognising the need to streamline the delivery process, Clark-Drain added small ‘feet’ to each heavy-duty access chamber, raising them slightly off the ground. This innovative feature allowed forklifts to easily slide under each chamber, straight from the lorry or on the ground, speeding up unloading and distribution. This approach completely eliminated the need for additional pallets, massively reducing waste and improving site efficiency. The feet were never removed as they were also found to help with alignment into the designated pits
On delivery to site each chamber was allocated specific codes so their exact location and installation could be managed and monitored. This was critical, as the security access lids and supporting frames had to be installed together with each being an exclusive fit and supplied together to be considered as a single unit. Kier had specified that the lids must be capable of withstanding up to 40 tonnes of pressure, so worked closely with Gatic to deliver the final result.
To support the weight of the lid and frame, concrete surrounds were fabricated on-site. These sat comfortably on the polypropylene access chamber construction. The chambers were pre-drilled offsite, allowing for swift installation upon arrival.
On-Site Flexibility and Support
Given the complex nature of the project, Clark-Drain’s polypropylene chambers offered additional flexibility. If last-minute changes to cabling routes were required, the chambers could be easily cut on-site with standard tools, a feature that proved invaluable.
Throughout the project, Clark-Drain provided consistent support, with a dedicated project manager overseeing the process. This continuity ensured smooth communication and strengthened a strong, trusting relationship with Kier and the teams on-site. Their expertise and proactive problem-solving were pivotal in meeting the project’s deadlines and overcoming on-site challenges.
Neil Shearstone, Construction Manager for Kier said; “We had a great experience working with the team at Clark-Drain. They were quick to respond, knowledgeable and supported us to hit objectives.”
Positive Impact and Future Outlook
Kier Group praised Clark-Drain for their exceptional support and expertise, noting that the smoothness of the process was greatly enhanced by the consistent project management and on-site training provided. The collaboration has not only kept the project on track for its early 2025 handover but also established new techniques and knowledge that will benefit future projects of this nature.
Small yet impactful details, like the delivery driver’s advance call to notify the site team of his arrival, further streamlined communication and contributed to the project’s success. Working together towards a shared goal, Clark-Drain and Kier have set a benchmark for future sustainable construction projects in the UK.
Working with Clark-Drain
Clark-Drain are leaders in the design, manufacture and distribution of access solutions and drainage products for the built environment.
We are proud to stamp our name onto all of our products. It’s our signature – representing over 60 years of expertise and a reputation for performance and innovation as we are trusted to meet the challenges of the changing world.
For more information on how Clark-Drain can help your business deliver robust, cost- effective, environmentally responsible cable access solutions, no matter how big or small your project, get in touch. We are highly experienced in Civils and Infrastructure, Residential & Landscape, Commercial & Retail, Defence and Security.
A Bespoke, Cost-Effective, Heavy-Duty, Modular Access Chamber Solution
Built to your spec, modular (to do any job you need it to), complete and ready to go into the ground, yet strong enough to withstand up to a 60-tonne wheel load…
If that sounds like an impossible (or expensive) combination, think again, because with chamber access solutions from Clark-Drain, it’s all part of the deal - and a pretty cost-effective deal at that.
Let’s get to know the range a little better.
Versatility built in
As with all Clark-Drain products, we pride ourselves on the fact that our chamber range is, “Grounded in Expertise” – it comes from a thorough knowledge of what our customers want and need, and a determination to incorporate this into the design.
For example, these chambers are totally bespoke; they can be assembled to the size you need, to meet your industry or sector specification – including Ministry of Defence JSP604 and Ministry of Justice requirements, as well as Civils-related infrastructure project standards.
Meeting customer requirements is also about making the product versatile and adaptable, and here, too, the Clark-Drain Chamber range delivers.
It's designed and built to deliver access for applications ranging from cabling (secure defence data assets, fibre optic and broadband CATV networks) to water company asset protection (pumping systems and valves), motorway communications, traffic signalling, and street lighting, on highways and pavements, and in dockyards.
For this reason, our heavy duty access chambers are supplied with a variety of pre-determined duct entry patterns (including plain-sided for bespoke drilling requirements, and flat panel variants), and multiple clear opening sizes, with Mandrel test-friendly bellmouths if required.
Bespoke spec, multi-option design: put these together and the possibilities are almost endless!
Fully assembled, fuss-free, cost-effective
Sourcing access chamber components from multiple suppliers and then having to individually assemble them on site is a recipe for logistical headaches, schedule overruns, and skyrocketing hidden costs, but our range comprehensively eliminates these issues.
Supplied as a complete system – no time-consuming assembly required on your part – and ready to go, in accordance with the Government’s Construction Playbook, the chambers come complete with sump, grill, and anchor plate, with fitted cable furniture and bolt-on steps also available.
They’re with you quicker, in the ground quicker, and off the job sheet quicker than if you’d sourced the components separately - helping you get the work done on time and on budget, for less manual effort.
Strong, secure – and British-made
These chambers belong to the 88% of Clark-Drain products that are made in Britain, and are allowed to carry the official Made in Britain logo. They are made from recycled polypropylene that is also recyclable.
As a family company that’s been operating out of the East of England for 60 years, this acknowledgement of our investment in local manufacturing expertise is important to us, and we know it is to our customers too.
Our chambers aren’t just British and proud - they’re bulldog-tough too. Whatever size you need them in, they’re strong enough to resist up to E600 loading and with their security covers and padlocks, they keep intruders and unauthorised access firmly at bay.
Light, transportable, sustainable
Sound Environmental practice and good financial sense often go hand in hand, and here again our chamber range is ahead of the curve.
Made in Britain from recycled polypropylene that is also recyclable at end of life, moulded into a lattice structure, our access chambers are exceptionally strong. Making our chambers sustainable both in manufacture and disposal.
All this adds up to cost and time savings, and helping us all to achieve our environmental goals for our planet.
The heavy-duty access solution of choice
Our heavy-duty access solution range has a lot going for it – whatever the application, and whatever the specification. It’s a cost-effective, heavy-duty, modular chamber access solution done your way.
For more information about our chamber range, visit https://www.clark-drain.com/search?q=d400. For advice on our full range of access and drainage solutions, the majority of which are made right here in Britain, contact our friendly team on 01733 765317 or send us an e-mail please with your project enquiry sales@clark-drain.com
