Anti-Skid Road Plates

High-friction road plates available in a variety of sizes to safely bridge open trenches

High-friction anti-skid surface
12mm to 25mm thickness options
Supplied with holding-down bolts
Available for sale or hire
Nationwide delivery across the UK

Anti-skid road plates are heavy-duty steel sheets coated with a high-friction surface, designed to safely bridge trenches and excavations. By providing a secure grip in wet and muddy conditions, they minimise slip hazards for pedestrians and skidding risks for vehicles.

Our anti-skid road plates form a critical part of our temporary ground protection range for civil engineering and construction projects. Available for hire or sale across the UK, they offer robust safety compliance for site access routes, public highways, and pedestrian walkways.

Typical applications

Bridging open trenches and excavations
Temporary public highway repairs
Creating safe pedestrian walkways in wet conditions
Maintaining vehicular site access
Covering manholes or inspection chambers

Safe installation and securement

To prevent hazardous movement under the weight of traffic, road plates must be securely anchored. Our anti-skid plates are supplied with a complete holding-down bolt system, comprising a bolt, steel collar, and a plastic cap to protect the fixing. These are simply drilled directly into the road surface.

For maximum safety and to avoid damaging vehicle tyres or causing trip hazards, we recommend sinking the plates flush with the surrounding road level, or installing asphalt ramps around the edges.

Lifting and handling

Given their substantial weight (up to 1,480kg for our largest plates), they require mechanical lifting. Lifting points allow them to be safely raised and lowered into position using a crane, excavator, or HIAB.

We also offer standard steel road plates as an alternative option where high friction is not strictly required.

Anti-Skid Road Plates: Common Questions

What are anti-skid road plates used for?

Anti-skid road plates are used to safely bridge open trenches and excavations while maintaining access for vehicles and pedestrians. Their high-friction coated surface reduces the risk of slips and skids, making them essential for public highways and wet construction sites.

What thickness of road plate do I need?

The required thickness depends on the anticipated load and must be calculated by a qualified temporary works engineer. Generally, a 12mm or 13mm thick plate is sufficient for pedestrian foot traffic, while heavier 20mm to 25mm thick plates are necessary for vehicular traffic and construction plant.

How are road plates secured to the surface?

Road plates are secured by drilling holding-down bolts directly through the plate into the road surface below. This ensures the plates do not shift or slide when heavy vehicles turn or brake on top of them.

How are heavy road plates lifted into place?

Because road plates can weigh over a tonne, they must be lifted mechanically. They feature designated lifting points allowing them to be safely hoisted by chains attached to an excavator, crane, or HIAB delivery vehicle.

What is the difference between anti-skid and standard steel plates?

The primary difference is the surface finish. Anti-skid road plates have a textured aggregate or high-friction coating applied to the steel, providing far better grip for tyres and footwear compared to smooth, standard steel plates.

Buy or Hire Anti-Skid Road Plates

We offer anti-skid road plates for sale or hire with good stock availability, fast lead times and prompt delivery. Please contact SEL for further information, technical advice or to get a competitive quote from your nearest depot.

Considerations

Both anti-skid and standard steel road plates require an appropriately qualified person to calculate the required size and thickness of the road plate needed based on the span of the trench and the expected loads.

As a general guideline:

For pedestrians: 12mm–13mm thickness
For vehicles: 20mm–25mm thickness

We recommend you minimise any change in road level by sinking them into the surface so that they sit flush or by creating a ramp. If this is not possible we encourage you to place clear warning signs to advise of any lip or ridge that could cause a hazard to drivers, cyclists or pedestrians.

Dimensions and weights

Size (m)	Thickness (mm)	Weight (kg)
1.2 x 1.2	12	211
2.4 x 1.2	22	502
4.0 x 2.0	25	1480

Supplementary products and alternative ground protection

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