Barry Pattern & Foundry

E-Z Frames
Patent #4,993,877

E-Z Frames Instruction BookletWe proudly introduce our newest product...

Consider the advantages:

Cost Savings

Simple Installation

A Superior Frame Design That Produces Quality Trench Installation


E-Z Frames
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E-Z Frame Installation & General Trench Forming Procedures

(One Suggested Method)

Advantages of your new E-Z Frame

E-Z FrameThe development of the E-Z Frame has revolutionized the age-old method of trench forming with short conventional cast frames. The most common, current method of trench forming - using conventional 24 to 36 inch cast frames - is a time-consuming and difficult procedure resulting in higher costs with less than satisfactory results. Frame attachment and leveling problems become practically non-existent through the use of E-Z Frames. Your E-Z Frames are easily positioned and tested for proper grade and spacing prior to the pouring of concrete.

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Material needed for E-Z Frame installation

Trench Form Sidewalls: Good grade weather-resistant plywood (3/4 inch or greater as required).

Sidewall Bracings : 2" x 4" lumber or other suitable bracing material for bracing studs.

Hardware:

Grate & Spacing Material: Grates or flat rigid pieces of material same width and length as the grate covers.

Leveling Tool: Carpentry level.

General Tools & Proper Safety Equipment


General Note

The following is offered as a general guideline to E-Z Frame installation and trench forming procedures. In no way is the following to be construed as complete and detailed instructions for frame installation and trench forming procedures. In all installation and forming procedures used, good construction practices should be followed to insure a safe working environment.

Installation Procedures

After the trench bottom concrete slab has been poured to the specifications and cured, a trench form must be built. (It is recommended that the floor slab be reinforced with re-bars or wire mesh. The slab can also be keyed for the vertical concrete wall in accordance with good construction practice).

Figure #1A. Preparation of the trench form sidewalls (the plywood) for E-Z Frame attachment.

1. To construct one trench form unit, cut two pieces of plywood to the same proper dimensions desired to match the trench bottom slab and the slope of the finished grade of trench.

The height of the plywood should come below the finished grade by the thickness of the edge of the grate plus 1/2 inch to allow for up or down frame adjustment. See figure #1.

(Example: Trench bottom concrete slab to desired finished concrete surface = 23 inches. Grate bearing edge thickness = 1 - 1½". 23 inches - 2 inches (1 - 1½" + 1/2") = 21 inches. The plywood should be cut to 21 inches at this point).

Figure #22. Lay the plywood on a horizontal surface. Align the E-Z Frame grate bearing surface along the top edge of the plywood with the slotted leg against the plywood. Scribe each slot location onto the plywood. See figure #2.

3. Remove the E-Z Frame and drill 5/16" diameter holes, into both pieces of the plywood, corresponding to the top of the scribed slot. See figure #3.

At this point, for those skilled in the assembly of trench forms and desiring Figure #3to use their own methods and procedures,
skip sections B & C below and begin instructions at
section D.

B. Construction of the sidewall bracings

1. The sidewall braces are constructed with 2" x 4" lumber or other suitable bracing materials. (An alternate material could be plywood, 3/4 inch thick or greater as needed). To determine the proper bracing dimensions, take the width of the desired trench clear opening minus twice the thickness of the plywood used. This will give you the proper overall width of the form bracing needed).

(Example: Desired trench clear opening is 10 inches. The trench form sidewalls's thickness (the plywood) you are using is 3/4 inch thick. 3/4 inch x 2 = 1-1½ inches. Therefore, 10 inches minus 1-1½ inches = 8-1/2 inches. 8-1/2 inches is the overall width to which each of the form bracings should be constructed).

Figure #4The depth of the form braces should be approximately 4 inches less than the depth of the trench form sidewalls (the plywood). Nail the form braces together into the shape of a rectangle as dimensionally required. See figure #4.

2. Build the appropriate number of sidewall braces. The number of sidewall braces to be built is a function of your site conditions and the amount of concrete pressure to be exerted on your trench form. You should build enough sidewall braces necessary to provide a safe working environment.

(For large trenches, X bracing may be desired as shown by dotted lines in figure #4.)

C. Positioning of the sidewall braces to the trench form sidewalls (the plywood)

Figure #51. Place the sidewall braces between the two prepared pieces of plywood. (Note: Do not position or place the sidewall braces to go at each end of the plywood at this point. Position only the required number of sidewall braces in between the plywood ends. The end sidewall braces are to be positioned at the time that the trench form units are placed in the excavation trench). The heights of the sidewall braces should be staggered or positioned equally. When the sidewall braces are staggered, one sidewall brace should be positioned lower for bottom support. The next sidewall brace should be positioned at an elevated level approximately one inch from the grate cover seating surface of the E-Z Frame. The sidewall braces may be toe-nailed to the plywood for easier removal, and possible re-use. (The sidewall braces must be nailed from the inside of the brace of the plywood. Otherwise, you will have difficulty removing the sidewall braces from the plywood once the concrete has cured). See figure #5.

2. At this point, additional trench form units may be constructed to form the desired trench length. Repeat steps A through C for each additional trench form unit required.

D. Attachment of the E-Z Frame to the trench form sidewalls

1. On all of your constructed trench form units, simply attach the E-Z Frame to the side of the plywood trench form that will be embedded into concrete, using the 1/4 inch x 1-1½ (or longer) bolts, wing nuts and washers.(The wing nut should be outside of the plywood. This allows the wing nut to be locked in the cured concrete for easy bolt removal). The frame should be mounted in the top of the slot.

Figure #62. The E-Z Frames should be secured on the plywood but loose enough to be adjustable (on opposing pieces of plywood). See figure #6.

E. Placing and positioning the trench form units into the excavated trench

1. Place the trench form units into the excavated trench, sitting on the poured concrete slab. Position each form unit for proper trench alignment.

2. Sidewall braces should be positioned and nailed to overlap all the joints of each trench form sidewall units. This helps to ensure a tight joint and proper alignment from one trench form unit to the next. See figure #7.

Figure #73. The trench form units should be secured in some manner to prevent shifting while pouring concrete. One suggestion is to place a 2" x 4" lumber spreader on the concrete floor slab between the form sidewalls. Drive concrete nails through the 2 x 4's into the concrete slab. This will help to prevent the forms from shifting during the pouring process. Additional securing methods are recommended.

F. Positioning and testing the E-Z Frame's proper grade (prior to concrete pouring)

Figure #81. One frame is to be adjusted vertically. The top edge of the frame should be at the finished grade of the concrete. Tighten the wing nuts and the bolts upon achieving the proper grade of the frame. See figure #8.

2. Place one of the grates to be used - or a flat rigid piece of material the same length and width of the grate - on the properly positioned E-Z Frame and on the opposite un-positioned E-Z Frame's seat.

3. Adjust the unpositioned frame to the same plane as that of the opposing frame (which is properly positioned). This is achieved by sliding the unpositioned frame up or down on the bolt through the slot, with the grate or flat piece of material remaining on the frame until it no longer rocks.

Figure #94. Any rocking indicates that the frame you are trying to position has not been brought to the proper grade in relation to the first frame. A leveling device or an inclinometer is also recommended to determine if the correct finished grade has been achieved. See figure #9.

5. Tighten all wing nuts and bolts to firmly secure the frames against the form walls.

6. At this point, a nail or a screw may be inserted and driven into the plywood through the holes found at each end of the E-Z Frame. This helps to insure that the frames do not shift out of position while attached to the trench form before and during concrete pouring.

G. Testing the E-Z Frame for proper spacing (prior to concrete pouring)

1. In order to verify the E-Z Frames are properly spaced for the grates / covers to fit, simply place a grate / cover or a flat piece of rigid material the same size and width of the grate / cover on the E-Z Frame seating surface at each end of the trench form unit. One grate should overlap joining ends of each form unit to ensure proper form alignment. Also, verify the angular space (the amount of space between the frame and the edge of the grate / cover). When the grate / cover is pushed snugly against one frame, there should be 3/16" to 1/4" space between the grate / cover and the opposing frame.

Figure #102. Place a spreader bar (made from lumber or other suitable material) between the frames to hold the frames at the correct width. This is done to prevent the concrete pressure from pushing in the top of the frame and acts as additional support. See figure #10.

3. Concrete can now be poured outside the trench form units. Caution and good forming procedures should be used during the pouring process. The pour should be on alternating sides of the trench form units to help prevent shifting.

4. After the concrete has cured, remove the trench forms. We recommend that you remove any debris that may have gotten onto the frames during the trench forming process. Your frames are now ready for grate/cover installation and your trench installation is complete!

If you have any questions concerning the installation of E-Z Frames,
call us Toll Free at : 1-800-524-1809.