Shape - The first step is to select a top which is compatible with the surrounding area. The exposed tops of floor-level cleanouts are considered as pieces of architectural trim. All Smith tops are carefully engineered for easy, fast and safe cover removal for quick access to the closure plug. Cleanout tops should be of the correct shape to blend with the surrounding floor and wall area.

A round top (Fig. 1) is easiest to orient in most floors since it will not conflict with most floor designs or require alignment to adjacent walls. The square nickel bronze top (Fig. 2) is particularly adaptable to floors that are finished with materials of a square or straight line pattern.

Style - All floors in areas or rooms which have finished decorative floors and walls, will require finished floor cleanouts. Examples are offices, hospitals, banks, showrooms and many modern manufacturing areas.

A regular secured nickel bronze scoriated top (Fig. 1) is recommended for most finished floor areas. Nickel bronze non-skid tops blend with most finished floors. In floors where a minimum amount of metal is desired to be shown, cleanout tops are available with a recess to receive the floor materials. Tops are available with a shallow depression to receive vinyl or similar types of floor tile (Fig. 2) or with a lock-in design to receive terrazzo or ceramic tile fill (Fig. 3). All three types of finished floor tops are available in round or square patterns.

Most floors are considered finished floors and nickel bronze tops are recommended; however, there are some areas such as boiler rooms, warehouses and heavy manufacturing areas which may use heavy duty, cast iron tops. In these areas, strength and utility are of prime importance and beauty is a secondary consideration.

Traffic Function - The top specified must be strong enough to safely carry the loads of anticipated traffic. The regular Smith nickel bronze top is a heavy duty design and can be used for all finished floor areas subject to foot and light vehicular traffic. For finished floors, where heavy traffic is anticipated, such as equipment showrooms, convention areas, etc., Smith offers heavy duty nickel bronze tops. For unfinished floors, subject to heavy vehicular traffic, round, heavy duty cast iron tops should be specified. Smith has available cast iron tops in heavy duty design and non-tilt tractor-type covers. The tractor-type cover (Fig. 4) cannot be tilted out of the cleanout top due to heavy vehicular traffic moving over it.

Material - For most finished floors, the Smith scoriated non-skid nickel bronze tops are recommended. Nickel bronze has excellent corrosion resistant qualities, is extremely serviceable, will not discolor and has an attractive surface. Nickel bronze tops will not rust stain the surrounding finished floor area as cast iron tops sometimes do. The "scuff-buff" action of foot traffic passing over a nickel bronze top will actually add to its appearance, giving it a soft silvery patina. Tops are available in special polished cast bronze, for use where tops must blend with other architectural trim.