A collaboration between Corehard Ltd and London Borough of Enfield has led to the development of a full suite of refresher and training materials for the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in the Highway.

The initiative began with early discussions with Paul Wilkins at Enfield and built on a generic presentation delivered six months earlier outlining changes in the latest SROH edition. That presentation, shared with industry participants including JAG UK CEO David Capon, received strong feedback and prompted further exploration into simplifying and clarifying key areas of the Code of Practice.

This led to a draft presentation focused on Section 2 performance requirements, trialled across multiple forums to test whether a wider expansion was viable. Positive responses and repeated requests for broader material confirmed the need for a full, objective set of training aids covering the entire document.

The completed suite now provides clear, accessible guidance for operatives, engineers, undertakers and local authorities, reflecting extensive industry feedback while remaining aligned with statutory and technical requirements.

We have since produced client‑specific versions of these aids, enabling targeted focus on the precise elements each organisation needs to address.

Please contact us if you would like further information.

Modern societies depend on the reliable performance of their infrastructure, and in the UK much of that infrastructure lies beneath the road surface. Routine maintenance often requires access by open‑cut excavation, a process that can alter pavement behaviour and influence how loads are transmitted to the buried assets below.

A recent study examined these effects with the aim of strengthening and clarifying existing guidance. A fully instrumented site trial was undertaken in which two pipes were installed via trenching: one reinstated to the higher end of the UK Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in the Highway (SROH), and the other to the lower end.

The trench reinstated to the lower specification experienced significant serviceability failure, including settlements of around 70 mm and deflections reaching 2000 mm. The higher‑specification trench also showed signs of distress, though at a substantially reduced level. The findings indicate that open‑cut trenching weakens the surrounding road structure, even when reinstatement meets the upper limits of current specification requirements.

The University of Birmingham has completed a major research study examining how road trenches and excavations influence deterioration of highway assets. Using advanced sensor technologies and high‑precision testing, researchers gathered detailed evidence on how both new and existing structures respond when trenches are opened and reinstated.

The study compared reinstatements carried out in line with current legislative requirements against those completed using methods that fall below expected standards. Findings show that all reinstatements affect overall pavement performance, but where poor techniques are used, deterioration accelerates significantly.

The research provides new insight into how reinstatement quality directly influences long‑term road condition and offers valuable evidence to support improvements to existing guidance and practice.

You can download a copy of the article here
 

Corehard Ltd has introduced the latest PANDA Penetrometer for hire, featuring upgraded software, improved usability and integrated GPS for precise location tracking. The enhanced system delivers expanded capability for analysing ground resistance and compaction control to recognised international standards.

After several years of seeking permissions from developers we are now able to hire out Panda2 penetrometer devices.This will be welcome news to many, as we have had countless enquiries relating to potentially hiring the devices and we are delighted that we can now do so.The full kit is available with both fixed and sacrificial cones with sufficient rods to achieve 5m depth where conditions allow and further rods are available if required.

Additionally, there is the option of hiring a mechanical rod extractor for difficult or deep soundings.

Undertaking test through foundation 
Undertaking test through foundation

For further information please contact Shaun Robinson on +44 1438 225 102 or alternatively email him at shaun.robinson@corehard.com