The proven strength and performance

characteristics of precast concrete box

culverts, together with their excellent
service life, make them ideal for a
wide variety of civil engineering and
construction applications.
Box culvert sections can b e
manufactured in a variety of shapes
a n d sizes, offering exceptional
versatility in the uses to which they
can be applied. In addition to the
more common use for diverting water
courses, this versatili i s demonstrated
U
i n b a l a n c i n g tan s, pedestrian
subways, access shafts, service
tunnels, sea outfalls, road crossings
and many other situations where the
w h o l e life costing consideration
requires stren th, durability ond
economy to e ! of paramount units allow for changes in direction and ESCAPE TUNNELS
importance. openings can be incorporated for Box culverts can provide an effective
Unlike other materials, such as inspection and pipe entry. Access to the underground means of escape for safe,
steel, precast concrete box culverts do longer runs should be restricted for sure and r a p i d evacuation from
not require additional treotments to safety. industrial and commercial premises, car
prolong their useful life or improve parks, shopping centres, ond stadia.
performance, their surfaces do not rust BALANCING TANKS
and the smooth internal finish of The most economic way of providing in- SHAFTS
concrete ensures optimum flow of line or off-line storage of storm water i s Box culverts ore used to provide vertical
water through the box culvert. the use of single or multiple runs of box access shafts of large cross section and
Precast concrete box culverts fulfil culverts. Supplied complete with end to resist very high horizontal pressures.
the current design life requirements for walls, access and pipe entry openin s

2i L
they are readily designed to car SERVICE TUNNELS
b u r i e d structures. The a b i l i t to
provide many years of service wit the
minimum of maintenance makes
l loadin from highways, car par s or
il
any ot er overburden determined by
Box culverts are used to provide access
for underground services.
their location. CATTLE CREEPS
concrete box culverts the most cost-
effective means of diverting water ROAD CROSSING Precast concrete box culvert units can
courses, especially with the ever- Box culverts ore designed to carry full provide durable construction and
present risk of corrosive elements in highway looding for any application shelter for all conditions of exposure.
the water or soil. and offer a rapid means of
All association members offer the construction. TYPICAL FLOW CAPACITIES
capability of individually designed 1200 1500 1800
structures for oll applications and
MULTI-CELL CONSTRUCTION
The largest flow capacity i n the 600 9:s: 8:s: 1:I 2,00
2400
loading conditions. This publication is o
minimum space with rectangular box 0.uu 1.12 1.38 1.80 I .B4
guide to the variety of applications in 0.98 1.32 1.66 2.00 2.35
sections laid side b side and only a
which precast concrete box culverts can
be used, as well as providing
settlement.
Y
nominal gap to a low for relative
1000 :::: :::: 1.72
2.31
2.02
2.70
2.32
3.28
. ,.
information to assist i n their
specification. PIPE REPLACEMENT
Box culverts con be designed for as
little a s 200mm cover and, where
necessary, for no side pressure relief 1500 i,:: 3.07 352 I

.
CULMRnNG OF WAtERCOuRSES from the ground. No flow area i s
4.97 5.88
.... t,
To permit the development of land
wasted in arch profiles.
crossed b y water courses, a w i d e 3.70 4.2L I
range of sizes offers greater selection PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE 6.37 7.58
i.
for economy and to ive the best flow SUBWAYS
and headroom or width i s restricted.
91
capacity, even when t e gradient i s low Sections are ovailable in suitable sizes
for pedestrian subways and 4.08
I

9.30
lengths in excess of lOOOm have been underpasses. larger sections w i l l
culverted. Where appropriate topered accommodate cars and light
commercial vehicles. Provision can be CIRCULAR PIPE
- . . . . - : .... ........ ........
,, r mode for lighting ond special finishes.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .--- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DISCHARGE RATE 2- :I%
SEAOUTFAUS Diameter Discharge
Precast concrete box culvert units with rnm rate d / s
increased cover to reinforcement and 1050. 1.00
effective crack control provide the 1200 1.42 2700
durability to resist the most extreme 1350 1.93
conditions of exposure. 1500 2.54
THRUST-BORED CULVERTS 1650 3.25
Specially designed sections are 1800 4.08
available for installation by thrust-bore 1950 5.03
methods in suitable applications for 2100 6.11
trenchless construction. 2400 8.65
 -......... --.......
.-
..........-..
- -- .
. . .
-

STANDARD SIZES FLOW CAPACITY CHOICE OF SECTION

Standard sizes are based upon clear
internal width and clear internal height.
An extensive range of sizes is available
with spans rangin from 1200 to
6OOOmm and heigtts from 600 to
3000mm. Not every manufacturer will
necessarily offer all of this range. Some
Dischor e rates for box culverts in the
9,
range s own below are calculated for
a gradient of 1 in 1000 in accordance
with the Colebrook-White equation
assuming the box culvert i s running full
under uniform flow conditions.
Comparable discharge rates for circular
Choice of section will be based on
finding a flow capacity sufficient for the
desi n rate of flow or a flow area to
matc? the
l required storage volume. Box
culverts may be desi ned with the
height greater than l e width; the
discharge rate of the section i s

s
may offer an extended ran e or non-
standard sizes. A practico range of
sections i s illustrated.
CORNER SPLAYS
Standard box culverts are provided
with internal corner splays which are
not standardised between association
members. In this publication, to give a
conservative value for flow area and
discharge rate, sploy sizes have been
taken as:
200 x 200mm for widths up to 3000mm
300 x 300mm for widths up to 4200mm
400 x 400mm far widths up to 600Omm
JOlNTlNG
Joints are rebated and may be left open
in certain cases but a preformed strip
compressed within the joint i s
commonly used. The strip should be
applied to the box culvert just before it
i s l a i d i n the trench. For further
information on this and other aspects of
layin see "A Guide to Site Practice"
(Avafable free from the Association).
pipes are given.
For an gradient between 1 in
1000 a n J 1 in 250, the gradient
multiplier should be applied.
A value of 0.3mm has been
assumed for the roughness coefficient
kS which depends upon the accuracy of
laying and jointing in addition to the
quality of the box culvert surface.
Where a different value is required,
the discharge rate at the appropriate
gradient may be adjusted by use of the
roughness multiplier.
Thus for a 2 100 x 1 200mm section
laid at o gradient of 1 in 600 and with
an assumed roughness coefficient of
0.6mm, the discharge rate is given by
3.63 x 1.3 x 0.93 = 4.39m3/s.
The flow capacity of a box culvert is
determined b a number of different
factors. In adJition to the gradient and
roughness coefficient, the geometry of
the inlet and outlet and the tailwater
level can affect the mode of flow. This
may prevent the box culvert from
running full or under uniform flow
conditions and the flow capacity will be
lower than the full discharge rote.
unchanged. Varying pro ortions of
width to height are availaEle to meet
restrictions on width, depth or
headroom. The smallest width to height
ratio allowed by the conditions of
installation i s usually the most
economic.
SPECIFICATION A N D DESIGN
Box culverts carrying highway loading
to Department of Transport standards or
other specified surfoce loading are
usually designed to B S 5 4 0 0 or
BS 8 1 10 and the Box Culvert
Association Standard Specification:
1991 (available from the Association at
a price of €3.00).
The Box Culvert Association
Specification covers materials,
manufacture, tolerances, external
loading, design a n d detailing
standards. It provides a check list of
information required from the specifier
and provides for the issue of a
compliance certificate.

KEY T O TABLE GRADIENT MULTIPLIER ROUGHNESS

Figures in Btu?= Flow area (m2) Gradient Multiplier MULTIPLIER
Figures in BLACK= Discharge rate (m3/s)
1 in 1000 1 .o Roughness Multiplier
1 in 800 1.1
All dimensions in mm. Coefficient ks
1 in 700 1.2
2700 3000 1 in 600 1.3 0.06 1.1 1
.:. .
... 0.15 1.05
3.78 4.28 1 in 500 1.4
3300 3600 1 in 400 1.6 0.3 1 .oo
L .:: 1 in 300 1.8 0.6 0.93
4.94 5 60 0 11 8.76
42W
1 in 250 2.0 1.5 0.85
J'. ...
.... ... i !,:
s.80 7.73 8.52 0.46 it37

4800 5400
....
0.77
...
$.Si 11.08 12.33 14 BJ
....
17.13
?.. ,
19.70

.....
id:&
%
12.38
. ...
.. . . ...
:
13.78
...
15% I8 54
I4
21.50
. 24 75

. . ......
.... . .~ ..
..... .:.:
i2.93 I4.b 18 57 18.49 22.38 26.08 30.07 %.m

... ...
:. ,.
. . ....
15.10 17.31 1:9.U 21.73 26 36 30 0 35 00 4041

....:t .....:.:
, . , :.
1988 25.05 30.45 35.73 41.32 W,G

~ .-._ ................. . . . " ._ ..

Comprising the United Kingdom's leading manufacturers of
precast concrete box culverts, the Box Culvert Association is
actively involved in research and development programmes
aimed at extending the application of box culverts and
advancing installation techniques to speed construction and
maximise efficiency.

The Association produces a number of publicotions to assist

in the correct specification and installation of precast
concrete box culverts. These include:

Applications Guide
Guide to Site Practice
Box Culvert Association Standard Specification:1991

Members of the Box Culvert Association:

Albion Concrete Products Ltd.

Pipe House Wharf, Modo Road, Swansea,
West Glamorgan SA1 1TD
Tel: 01792 655968 Fox: 01792 644461

F C Precast Concrete Ltd.

Alfreton Road, Derby DE2 1 4BN
Tel: 01332 364314 Fox: 01332 372208

Milton Pipes Ltd.

Milton Regis, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 2QF
Tel: 01795 425191 Fox: 01795 478232

Tarmac Precast Concrete Ltd.

Tallington, Stamford, Lincs PE9 4RL
Tel: 01778 381000 Fox: 01778 348041

ASSOCIATION
Box Culvert Association Although the Box Culvert Association makes every
60 Charles Street Leicester LE 1 1FB endeavour to ensure that any advice, recommendation or
Tel: 01 16 253 6161 Fox: 01 16 251 4568 information it may give is accurate, no liability of any kind
e mail: briprecast Q aol.com (including liability for negligence) i s accepted in this
respect by the Association, its servants or agents.
January 1997 edition.

Designed and published by the Box Culvert Association.

B E T T E R B U I L T I N
A Product Association
of the British Precast
Concrete Federation conerete