March 10, 2020
THE STAKKABOX ULTIMA CONNECT CHAMBER – COMMUTER RAIL
The STAKKABOX Ultima Connect Chamber provided a transportation authority with an outstanding combination of durability, customization, and ease of installation for protecting sensitive railway components.
THE CHALLENGE
Commuter rail lines in densely populated areas rely on intricate communications and signaling systems for efficient and safe operations. The
infrastructure that protects those systems must be durable, reliable, and easy to configure for ongoing upgrades.
The transportation authority was in search of an alternative to the existing polymer concrete vaults to support the need to add capacity to the system (including additional fiber cables) in the Philadelphia area. Typically, polymer concrete boxes are used along with cable trench and conduit to protect transit signal and communications wiring.
The standard polymer concrete boxes are difficult to modify without compromising strength, especially when a large number of conduits must interface in a single box. The transit authority needed a solution that could accommodate a higher quantity of 6″ holes (cored-out conduit access holes or square cut-outs in the field) while maintaining the structural integrity of the chamber.
THE SOLUTION
Oldcastle Infrastructure provided one 4′ x 4′ x 4’ STAKKABOX Ultima Connect Chamber with Steel Frame and H20 Composite Covers, configured so the conduit-to-vault transition holes could be drilled on site.
Installation was simple and straightforward:
| An excavator was used to dig a hole in the ground.
| The excavator then lifted and set half of the body (a total of 5 rings), followed by the balance (an additional 3 rings) to create an entirely assembled chamber.
(Note: This configuration could also be built directly in the hole, one ring/layer at a time).
| Holes were cored out on opposite sides of the box (15 on one side, 8 on the other) and conduit access extensions were inserted.
| The area around the chamber was backfilled.
| The frame was placed on the body, and composite covers were secured to the frame with screws.
Total time for installation was approximately 3 hours.
“Everyone was extremely impressed with the ease of installation and accessing the conduit through the body.”
Cort MacLean | Transit Account Manager
BENEFITS
THE STAKKABOX PROVED TO BE AN OUTSTANDING SOLUTION FOR THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY’S REQUIREMENTS:
| Openings for cable trench or conduit can be pre-fabricated or cut on site without compromising the chamber’s strength and performance.
| Rings can be added or removed to reach a customized final depth as dictated by the site conditions, due to the Ultima’s innovative layered design.
| The Glass Reinforced Polyester Resin (GRP) components offer more durability and will not crack when placed close to vibrating rails.
| The body components and covers are lightweight, making it safer for the personnel installing the cables and providing easier access to the cables in the future.
GOLD STANDARD DURABILITY: THE “TRACK TEST”
After all tests, the STAKKABOX Ultima Connect Chamber met all form and function requirements. In fact, no sidewall flexure was observed in the chamber even with 15+ six-inch diameter holes cut on one side for conduit access. The box was left in the transportation authority’s main maintenance way next to the rail and will undergo a performance review for a period of 3-6 months. The installation crew was extremely impressed with the ease of installing the box and accessing the conduit through the body. A second unit (STAKKABOX Ultima Connect Chamber) is scheduled to be installed within the next few months.