An Industry Guide to LowPro Road Plates and Trench Covers

Across construction and utilities in gas energy, waste-water, water suppy and fibreoptic works, keeping people safe and sites operational is essential. The Oxford Plastics LowPro® range was engineered to solve common challenges faced by crews on site: heavy lifting, noise, slip hazards, incorrect equipment use and rising operational costs. 

This guide explains how LowPro plates and trench covers improve safety and efficiency across key sectors, while highlighting product features—such as load ratings, trench width guidance and built-in embossment—that help teams choose the right cover instantly. 

How LowPro Products Benefit Key Sectors 

Oxford Plastics’ LowPro range is built for industry-leading strength, fast deployment, and safer work areas. With products suitable for pedestrians, light vehicles and HGV traffic, LowPro provides an innovative, compliant alternative to steel plate. 

Water Utilities 

Water utility teams often need to work quickly, particularly during burst mains or emergency repairs. LowPro trench covers and road plates allow crews to maintain safe public access while keeping essential services running. 

Every LowPro product includes embossed trench-width and load information, helping teams confirm suitability instantly and avoid installation errors across multiple shifts or contractors. 

LowPro products are designed for fast installation using a one-or two-person lift, ideal for reactive works and time-critical repairs. 

Commonly used LowPro products in utilities:

• LowPro 15/05 Road Plate – rapid deployment over roadway excavations up to 700mm 
• LowPro 23/05 Road Plate – for wider trenches and heavy-duty highway use, up to 1200mm on roads annd 1500mm on pavements
• LowPro 15/10 Trench Covers - for driveways as well as footways
• LowPro 12/8 & LowPro 11/11 Trench Covers – for footways and footpaths. 

 

Gas Works 

Gas networks require safe working environments, especially in high-traffic areas. LowPro products help engineers: 

• Reduce noise and vibration compared with steel plates 
• Avoid conductivity risks 
• Work efficiently during both planned and reactive maintenance 
• Minimise disruption for nearby properties and road users.

All LowPro products are built for safe one-or two-person lift, eliminating the need for lifting plant and supporting faster reinstatement. 

Popular LowPro products for gas works:

• LowPro 23/05 Road Plate – supports 44-tonne vehicles and covers wide trenches up to 1200mm.
• LowPro 15/05 Road Plate – ideal for smaller reinstatement trenches in roadways 
• LowPro 15/10, LowPro 12/8 & LowPro 11/11 Trench Cover – for driveway and pedestrian-only access during service works. 

 

Construction 

Construction sites are constantly evolving, with plant movement, open excavations and pedestrian activity often happening side by side. LowPro road plates and trench covers help teams: 

• Create safe, clearly defined access routes 
• Protect open trenches and access holes
• Reduce operational downtime 
• Avoid the cost and logistics of crane hire.

Because the LowPro system is lightweight and designed for one or two-person lift, teams can install covers quickly and safely without heavy lifting equipment - eliminating the need for a lifting plan. The anti-slip surface, tested in both wet and dry conditions, ensures safe movement for workers and the public. 

Ideal LowPro products for construction:

• LowPro 23/05 Road Plate – for 44-tonne HGV traffic, trenches up to 1200mm 
• LowPro 15/05 Road Plate – for 44-tonne traffic, trenches up to 700mm 
• LowPro 15/10 Trench Cover – for high foot traffic areas, footways and light-vehicle access. 
   
  

What Information is Embossed on LowPro Products? 

LowPro road plates and trench coversare unique because they display essential product information directly on the surface. These embossments save time and support better decision-making on site, especially for utilities and construction teams working across multiple shifts. 

Each product includes: 

• Maximum load rating 

• Maximum trench width 

• Product classification (e.g., HAUC Footway/Driveway Board) 

• Usage suitability (e.g., “Not for roadway use”) 

This information eliminates uncertainty and helps teams maintain safety and compliance. 

Below is a detailed breakdown of each key LowPro product and its embossed information. 

 

Explore the LowPro Range  

LowPro 11/11 Trench Cover 

The LowPro 11/11 is designed to provide safe access for pedestrians and light vehicles over excavations up to 700mm wide. It is widely used in footpaths, pavements, and temporary access points during small-scale utility work. The composite material is strong and lightweight, making it easier to handle than traditional steel or plywood boards. It is also HAUC compliant as a Footway Board, offering dependable performance during routine street work. 

What is embossed on the LowPro 11/11: 
The surface displays the maximum load rating of 1.6 tonnes, the maximum trench width, and a clear warning that the product is not suitable for use on the roadway. The embossment also confirms that it is a HAUC Footway Board. This information ensures that installation teams immediately know the correct application without checking supporting documents. 

Read the full technical guide, here. 

LowPro 12/8 Trench Cover 

The LowPro 12/8 is another lightweight composite trench cover designed to allow pedestrians and vehicles up to 1.6 tonnes to cross excavations up to 700mm wide. It is commonly used in pavements, footpaths, and areas where public access needs to remain open during essential works. Many utility companies prefer this product as an alternative to plywood boards because of its durability and longer service life, as well as it’s non-slip design. 

What is embossed on the LowPro 12/8: 
Key information includes the load capacity, suitability for trenches, HAUC compliant Footway Board status, and a clear reminder that it is not intended for roadway use. This helps teams avoid incorrect placement and ensures safe handling throughout the installation process. 

Read the full technical guide, here.  

LowPro 15/10 Trench Cover 

For wider excavations and areas with increased vehicle movement, the LowPro 15/10 provide safe access across trenches up to 900mm wide. It supports vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes and is fully HAUC compliant as a Driveway Board. This makes it ideal for residential settings, driveways, and small commercial sites where a stronger solution is required, but full road plating is not necessary. 

What is embossed on the LowPro 15/10: 
The product displays its maximum load rating, maximum trench width, and its HAUC Driveway Board classification. These emossments help ensure the board is used in the correct environment, especially in areas where light vehicles and pedestrians are expected. 

View our full technical guide here.   

LowPro 15/05 Road Plate  

The LowPro 15/05 Road Plate is one of the most relied upon solutions for road works and heavy-duty utility projects. It is designed to cover trenches up to 700mm wide and support vehicles up to 44 tonnes. The composite design means it is easier to lift and quieter than traditional steel plates, creating a better working environment for teams and reducing disruption for nearby residents. 

What is Embossed on the LowPro 15/05: 
The plate includes its maximium load rating, maximum trench width, and guidance confirming suitability for vehicles, pedestrians and mobility access. These embossments are especially useful for highway teams where quick checks need to be made during traffic management setups. 

Full technical guide here. 

LowPro 23/05 Road Plate  

For wider trenches and more demanding applications, the LowPro 23/05 Road Plate offers strong performance across roadways and high traffic areas. It covers excavations up to 1,200mm wide and supports vehicles up to 44 tonnes. With its slip resistant surface and durable composite construction, it is widely used across large scale utility works. 

Explore product details: LowPro 23/05 technical guide 

What is embossed on the LowPro 23/05: 
Embossments show the maximum load rating, trench width capacity, and usage suitability for roadways. These details help installation teams confirm that the plate is appropriate for areas with heavy goods vehicles.  

Access the full technical guide here. 

 

Why Embossed Information Matters on Site 

The embossment on each LowPro product is more than a convenience feature. It is a built-in safety measure that: 

• Helps workers match the correct product to the right application 

• Reduces installation errors during busy or high-pressure jobs 

• Supports compliance checks for supervisors and inspectors 

• Eliminates the risk of faded stickers or lost spec sheets 

• Ensures long-term visibility thanks to rugged, composite materials 

Contractors and utility workers who work across multiple teams or shifts avoid any miscommunication, and instead work more efficiently and safely with clear, permanent product information. 

 

Other LowPro Products to Know 

While they don’t carry the same depth of embossed figures, Oxford Plastics also offers: 

• The LowPro 100 Narrow Trench Cover is frequently used in tight or restricted spaces. 

• The LowPro 12/8 Safe Coverprovides a strong and stable surface for pedestrian access. 

• The LowPro 16/12 Safe Cover supports safe passage over larger excavations in areas with varied traffic.

 

Always Complete a Site Safety Risk Assessment (SSRA)                                                       

While Oxford Plastics products are designed with safety in mind, it is essential that a Site Safety Risk Assessment (SSRA) is carried out before installing any trench cover or road plate. This ensures that the right product is being used for the correct application and reduces the likelihood of accidents. 

Contact Oxford Plastics for our LowPro Range and Trench Covers 

The LowPro range remains one of the most trusted choices for utility and construction teams who need reliable, compliant and easy to handle solutions for trenches and excavations. With permanently embossed information, proven load ratings and slip resistant surfaces tested in wet and dry conditions, each product supports safer and faster decision making on site.  

From footway and driveway boards through to 44 tonne road plates, the LowPro system offers a dependable way to protect workers, pedestrians and road users across every stage of a project. 

Explore the full range here: Oxford Plastics Road Plates & Trench Covers