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Good Craftsmanship Guide: Drainage
Good Craftsmanship Guide: Drainage
Drainage
Introduction
© NHBC 2004
No reproduction without NHBC prior permission in writing.
Contents
Drainage
Proximity to foundations 2
Gradients 4
Bedding 6
Laying/jointing pipes 7
Access 8
Backfill 13
Protection 17
Soakaways 18
Septic tanks 20
1
Proximity to foundations
Problem to avoid:
Undermining foundations
What to do:
where possible keep foundation bottoms lower than
drainage trenches
where possible keep drainage runs outside the
influence of the foundation loading
2
if it is necessary for drainage to be located within
the zone of influence of the foundation loading, lay
the drainage first and surround in concrete to a
suitable level, before excavating foundations
less than 1m
more than 1m
3
Gradients
Problems to avoid:
Drains prone to blocking
Drains do not self-cleanse if gradients are
not adequate
What to do:
install drainage in accordance with the design,
normally at the following minimum gradients:
4
take particular care when laying drainage close to
the minimum gradients
increase gradients where ground movement is
expected (e.g. in clay soils or in made ground)
Surface water:
– 75mm and 100mm drainage should be laid at a
gradient not less than 1:100
– 150mm drainage should be laid at a gradient not
less than 1:150
5
Bedding
Problem to avoid:
Drainage settling due to inadequate bedding
What to do:
bed pipes:
– on granular material, minimum 100mm deep
– directly on trench bottom but only where the
bottom can be accurately hand-trimmed but is firm
remove any temporary packing from under pipes
to avoid hard spots
provide adequate support for manholes and
inspection chambers in accordance with
manufacturers’ instructions
soft spots to be removed and replaced with suitable
material
6
Laying/jointing pipes
Problem to avoid:
Dislodged sealing rings
What to do:
ensure pipes are cut squarely
chamfer ends of cut pipe lengths
provide lubricant to ease connection and provide
seal without dislodging seal
7
Access
Problem to avoid:
Inadequate access for clearing blocked drains
What to do:
provide access in accordance with the design
ensure all pipes can be rodded
use correct sized access manholes, inspection
chambers and access chambers
8
Minimum dimensions for access fittings and chambers
Access fitting
small 150 diam 0.6 or less,
150 x 100 except where 150 x 100 150 150 x 100 1 Same size as
large 225 x 100 situated in a 225 x 100 225 225 x 100 1 access fitting
Inspection chamber
shallow 0.6 or less 225 x 100 190 2 — 190 1
1.2 or less 450 x 450 450 Min 430 x 430 430
deep greater than 1.2 450 x 450 450 Max 300 x 300 3 Access restricted
9
to max 350 3
proper support for the cover and frame. 2 Drains up to 150mm. 3 A larger clear
opening cover may be used in conjunction with a restricted access. The size is
continued over
Minimum dimensions for manholes
Type Size of largest Min internal Min clear
pipe (DN) (mm) dimensions 1 opening size 1
Rectangular Circular Rectangular length Circular
length and width diameter and width diameter
(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
Manhole
less than 1.5m equal to or
deep to soffit less than 150 750 x 675 7 1000 7 750 x 675 2 na 3
225 1200 x 675 1200 1200 x 675 2
300 1200 x 750 1200
greater than 300 1800 x (DN+450) The larger of 1800
or (DN+450)
greater than 1.5m equal to or
deep to soffit less than 225 1200 x 1000 1200 600 x 600 600
300 1200 x 1075 1200
Access 375 - 450
greater than 450
1350 x 1225
1800 x (DN+775)
1200
The larger of 1800
or (DN+775)
Manhole shaft 4
greater than 3.0m Steps 5 1050 x 800 1050 600 x 600 600
deep to soffit Ladder5 1200 x 800 1200
10
Winch6 900 x 800 900 600 x 600 600
Notes: 1 Larger sizes may be required for manholes on bends or where there
are junctions. 2 May be reduced to 600 by 600 where required by highway
loading considerations, subject to a safe system of work being specified. 3 Not
applicable due to working space needed. 4 Minimum height of chamber in
shafted manhole 2m from benching to underside of reducing slab. 5 Min clear
space between ladder or steps and the opposite face of the shaft should be
approximately 900mm. 6 Winch only - no steps or ladders, permanent or
removable. 7 The minimum size of any manhole serving a sewer (i.e any drain
serving more than one property) should be 1200mm x 675 mm rectangular or
1200mm diameter.
Reproduced from Tables 11 and 12 of Approved Document H to the Building
Regulations by permission of HMSO.
proprietary
manhole
continued over
11
Access
12
Backfill
Problem to avoid:
Damage to pipes due to unsuitable backfill
What to do:
place backfill as soon as the pipes have been bedded,
jointed and inspected by NHBC/local authority
carry out final visual inspection before backfilling
use granular material or selected backfill from the
trench excavation free from:
– stones larger than 40mm
– clay lumps larger than 100mm
– timber
– frozen material
– vegetable matter
compact backfill in layers not deeper than 300mm
continued over
13
Backfill
150mm
above
pipe 2 layers hand
compacted before
mechanical
compaction
protected if protected if
cover less cover less
than 900mm than 1.2m
less than
600mm
cover
75mm
100mm
14
Support and movement
Problem to avoid:
Damage to pipes due to differential movement
What to do:
ensure pipework can move where it passes though
substructure by:
– allowing at least 50mm clearance around pipe*
– providing a sleeve, or
– building pipe into wall with flexible joints within
150mm of the wall
* a greater allowance may be required, for example,
where settlement or clay heave may produce up
to 150mm differential movement.
the opening should be protected against vermin entry
continued over
15
Support and movement
50mm space
around pipe
opening
masked
both sides
150mm 150mm
600mm max max 600mm
max max
flexible flexible
joint joint
16
Protection
Problem to avoid:
Damage to access fittings and pipes
What to do:
provide temporary protection to access fittings
clearly identify access points so plant movement
can avoid damaging them
17
Soakaways
Problem to avoid:
Ineffective storage and disposal of surface water
What to do:
lower than the building
locate soakaways at least 5m away from building.
carry out a percolation test unless the ground is
free draining and granular. If in doubt carry out
a test
fill with clean hardcore 10mm - 150mm in size
provide PVC sheet or concrete blinding over the fill
to prevent topsoil being washed into the soakaway
18
PVC sheet or
concrete blinding
effective depth D
diameter D
19
Septic tanks
Problems to avoid:
Ineffective operation
Ineffective outfall
20
What to do:
check approval from:
– Environment Agency (England and Wales)
– Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sc)
– Environment and Heritage Service (NI)
carry out percolation test to ensure satisfactory
outfall disposal
site at least 7m from a dwelling. In Scotland they
should be at least 5m from a dwelling and a
boundary. The tank should be within 30m of a
vehicle access for emptying
ensure that effluent is drained away from the building
21
Inspection and testing
Problem to avoid:
Ineffective operation of drainage
What to do:
check that pipe runs are straight, with adequate
gradients
check all debris is removed from pipe runs
and chambers
check drainage system is in full working order
at completion
carry out air/water testing
22
Notes
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25
NHBC, Buildmark House, Chiltern Avenue,
Amersham, Bucks HP6 5AP
Tel: 0870 241 4302 Fax: 01494 735201 www.nhbc.co.uk
HB1961 03/04