Why are manhole covers round? The answer is as simple as this

If you have ever seen a manhole cover on the street, you may have wondered why they are round. There are many explanations for this and it makes sense to know what they are.

Why are manhole covers round? You should know

There are a few reasons why manhole covers were designed the way they are now.

• Some say that the background for the shape is in the past, as the city’s coats of arms were to be printed on them and they usually had the same round shape.

• Another reason is that you can move round manhole covers on wheels. This makes the work much easier for the craftsmen, as the lids are usually very heavy.

• It is also practical that the lids do not have to be aligned.

• The safety aspect also plays a role in the design. Because a round manhole cover cannot collapse into the manhole under any circumstances, because no matter how you turn it, it is too big for the opening.

• In addition, acoustics were considered in the planning. Because if the lid is round, it lies flatter on the frame than if it is square. This prevents rattling noises and passers-by tripping over it.

Difference between a manhole cover and a gully cover

Few people know it, but manhole covers are not all the same.

• The main difference is that a manhole cover is round and a gully cover is square.

• The purpose of a manhole cover is to drain rainwater from the street.

• However, manhole covers are much larger and are usually the cover for sewage and maintenance manholes.