Method of manufacturing a thermoset polymer utility vault lid

A method of manufacturing a fiber reinforced polymer material lid for an utility vault comprising the steps of:

• mixing an unsaturated polyester thermosetting material into a resin paste;
• compounding the paste into a fiber reinforced composite material sheet;
• maturing the compounded fiber reinforced composite material sheet;
• cutting the matured compound sheet into a charge pattern;
• molding the charge pattern in a mold cavity of a heated mold under pressure to form the lid;
• and
• cooling and machining the lid,
• wherein molding the charge pattern in the mold cavity includes forming a textured surface on an upper surface of the lid by having a surface of the mold cavity have a plurality of protrusions which push individual fibers of the fiber reinforced composite sheet away from the upper surface to create a resin rich layer above the individual fibers, and
• wherein molding the charge pattern in the mold cavity further includes optionally forming a series of bosses of varying heights to create a gripping surface.