
22" Single-Bolt Flush Manhole (Model #SB540-22A) - Painted Steel
Single-bolt flush manholes provide ultra-secure, heavy-duty access to tanks and dry compartments with a simplified, high-torque single-fastener closing mechanism. This 22" flush manhole is constructed of robust painted steel to deliver a perfectly flat, low-profile deck installation built to withstand intense impact and heavy loading in commercial marine environments.
Design & Function
The Model SB540-22A features a high-strength central bolt mechanism engineered to exert massive, uniform compression across the entire sealing perimeter with minimal effort. By utilizing a single recessed bolt instead of multi-bolt configurations, crew members can achieve rapid sealing and opening times during routine operations. When fully tightened, the bolt assembly sits below the deck level, ensuring a completely clear, smooth surface for high-traffic environments, cargo shifting, and vehicle wheels.
Intended Use Cases:
- High-Load Deck Access: Ideal for placement in direct paths of heavy deck machinery, cargo storage zones, and vehicle thoroughfares where a completely flat profile is mandatory.
- Tank Isolation & Safety Boundaries: Provides dependable, heavy-duty watertight containment for fuel oil storage, ballast tanks, and under-deck dry voids.
- Extra-Large Clearance Entry: The expanded 22-inch opening offers premium clearance for personnel wearing bulky safety gear, survival suits, or carrying large tools to pass through effortlessly during inspections.
Primary Industries & Vessel Types:
- Commercial Workboats & Tugboats: Perfect for high-traffic main decks on harbor tugs, push boats, and offshore utility vessels.
- Inland & Ocean Barges: Sized right for deck flats on liquid cargo carriers, aggregate barges, and crane platforms.
- Marine Infrastructure & Floating Terminals: Suitable for heavy-duty traffic areas on floating docks, fuel transfer piers, and municipal marine structures.
Key Features
- Flush Deck Surface: Engineered for a 0" profile height, eliminating tire-damaging or tripping hazards while allowing completely unobstructed movement of forklifts, vehicles, and cargo.
- Single-Bolt High-Torque Mechanism: Simplifies closure down to a single central 7/8" - 9 x 3-1/2" heavy-duty bolt, allowing rapid securing and opening while generating maximum, balanced clamping pressure across the sealing perimeter.
- Heavy-Duty Structural Steel Plate: Crafted with thick structural steel to resist warping, denting, and deformation under heavy commercial deck loads.
- Rugged Strongback Security: Employs a robust underside steel strongback assembly that anchors firmly against the perimeter rim to guarantee an unyielding, water-tight perimeter seal.
- Buna-N Chemical-Resistant Gasket: Fitted with a premium, industrial-grade Buna-N (Nitrile) rubber gasket that resists swelling or degradation from fuels, oils, and environmental weathering.
- Universal Shipyard Finish: Arrives shot-blasted and coated with a universal shipyard primer (painted), making the entire frame and cover assembly ready for immediate shipyard installation and custom top-coating.
Installation
- Qualified Personnel Requirement: Installation of the 22” single-bolt flush manhole must be performed by qualified marine welders or fitters in accordance with applicable classification society standards (ABS, DNV, Lloyd's).
- Surface Preparation & Alignment: The mounting frame must be aligned true and securely welded to clean, flat, and structurally sound deck plating to prevent distortion or twisting of the sealing seat.
- Mechanical Verification: After welding, verify that the central 7/8" bolt rotates freely and that the strongback engages the underside lips smoothly without binding or catching.
- Debris Inspection: Prior to final closing, clear all sealing tracks and gasket faces of weld spatter, slag, rust, or excess paint to protect the gasket and ensure a drop-tight seal.
- Torque Specifications: Always follow recommended torque guidelines for the central bolt to avoid over-compressing the gasket or stripping the mechanical threads.
Specifications
| Part No | Size | Approx. Weight | Overall Length | Top Length | Throat Width | Throat Height | Base Width | Overall Height | Top Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB540-22A | 19-3/4" (502 mm) Diameter | 95 lbs. | 22" (559 mm) | 3/8" (9.5 mm) | 1/2" (12.7 mm) | 4" (102 mm) | — | — | — |
