Bulletin : PP-003

Dec 2005
Rev.02

F.R.P
GRAHA

UNDERGROUND FPR PIPE INSTALLATION

PROCEDURE
1.0 CONDITION OF THE NATIVE SOIL AND ITS SURROUNDING

Based on the specification of native soil, we able to determine the suitable specification of
the trench, trench foundation (if it is required), bedding & backfill materials which is used,
also the compacting process that must be conducted.

According to the type of soil, the shape of trench should be as follows ;

For Solid / stable trench walls

The trench wall usually can be made vertical from the bed to the top of pipe without the use
of shoring or sheet pilling.

For granular or loose soils.

These types of soils are characterized by relatively high displacement under load, and soft to
medium soft consistencies. The walls of trenches in this type of soil usually have to be
sheeted or shored, or trench made wide enough to place a substantial amount of bedding
material in order to prevent excessive deformation in the pipe sides (see figures 1 & 2 ). In
some cases, additional depth or supplementary trench foundation material may be required.

Fig. 1 : Trench with sheeting wall

Fig. 2 : Trench with natural slope

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 Bulletin : PP-003
Dec 2005
Rev.02

F.R.P
GRAHA

For unstable soils.

Unstable soils require special precautions to develop a stable environment for buried pipe.
See figure 3 for a recommend trenching procedure. SC 1 bedding and backfill materials
should be used with a permeable, filter cloth (geotextile) to prevent migration of fill into the
native soil.

Fig. 3 : Trench for very soft or unstable soils

Unstable trench bottom.

If the trench bottom contains loose or montmorillonit type soils, trench bottom is described as
“unstable bottom”. In such case, unstable trench bottom should be stabilized, if possible,
loose soil should be removed. If there is no possibility to remove the loose soil, then
penetration of underground water into the trench bottom should be prevented with drainage
systems. Trench bottom should also be supported and stabilized against collapse by forming
bottom foundation layers.

Gravel or crushed can be used to form bottom foundation layers. Height of the foundation
should be 200 mm minimum and can be increased based on trench bottom soil
characteristics. Standard bedding should be applied over the foundation layer.

To prevent loos of pipe support and to strengthen foundation, filter cloth (geotextile) can be
laid onto foundation.

For roadway crossing.

Pipe passing under unpaved roadways should be protected from vehicular loads and
roadbed settlement. Burial depth under stable roadbeds should be determined per AWWA
M45 for vehicular traffic. If the roadbed is unstable or burial depths are shallow then concrete
sleeves are required see figure 4.

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Dec 2005
Rev.02

F.R.P
GRAHA

Fig. 4 : Typical roadways crossing

2.0 THE CONDITION OF THE WATER LEVEL

If the ground water level is rising onto the trench bottom, this case should be decreased at
least 200 mm below the trench bottom before bedding preparation.
For sandy or silty soils, a system of well-points to a header pipe and a pump is
recommended. The spacing between individual well-points and the depth at which they will
be driven depends on the ground water table. It is important to use a filter around the suction
point (coarse sand or gravel) to prevent clogging of the well-points by fine grained native
materials.
When the native material consist of clay or bedrock, well-points will not work. Dewatering is
more difficult to achieve in this case if the ground water table is high. The use of sumps and
pumps is recommended.
If the water cannot be maintained below the top of the bedding, sub-drains must be provided,
the sub-drains shall be made using single aggregate (20~25 mm) totally embedded in filter
cloth. The depth of the sub-drain under the bed shall depend on the amount of water in the
trench. If the ground water can still not be surround the bed (and if necessary the pipe zone
area as well) to prevent it from being contaminated by the native materials.

Gravel or crushed rock shall be used for bedding and backfill in such trenches. And the
following cautions should be noted when dewatering :

- Avoid pumping long distance through the backfill materials or native soils, which could
cause loss of support to previously installed pipes due to removal of materials or
migration of soil.

- Do not turn off dewatering system until sufficient cover depth has been reached to
prevent pipe flotation.

Minimum cover required on pipe crown to avoid upliftment of empty pipes in high water table
area is 1 meter or 1 diameter whichever is more. If sufficient cover is not available an the
area has possibility of high water table RCC precast block or insitu blocks of required weight
are to be used to counteract unbalance uplift forces.

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 Bulletin : PP-003
Dec 2005
Rev.02

F.R.P
GRAHA

3.0 MINIMUM TRENCH WIDTH

Table 2 : The minimum width of trench standard.

DN (mm) Minimum Trench width (mm)

< 80 DN + 200
100 – 300 DN + 300
350 – 500 DN + 400
600 – 900 DN + 600
1000 – 1600 DN + 900
1700 – 2100 DN + 1200

Notes :
Trench width for butt joint should be executed must be widened (+ 1000 mm) in order to allow proper operations.

4.0 MULTIPLE PIPE INSTALLATION IN A SINGLE TRENCH

During installation of multiple pipes in a single trench, distance between any of the 2 pipes is
determined with the formula (R1 + R2) / 2, whereas R1 = radius of the first pipe and R2 =
radius of the second pipe. Complying with the formula we recommends below values for the
distance of pipes in the same trench.

Table 3 : The minimum distance between pipes

DN (mm) Minimum distance between pipes (mm)

200 - 600 300

700 - 1200 600
1300 - 2000 1000
2100 - 2500 1500

5.0 CROSS-OVER OF PIPES

In case of cross over of pipes (one pipe crossing over the other pipe), minimum distance
between 2 pipes should be determined as per below illustration and formula.

Fig. 5 : Cross-Over of pipes

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 Bulletin : PP-003
Dec 2005
Rev.02

F.R.P
GRAHA

6.0 BEDDING AND BACKFILLING

Table 1 : Recommended bedding and backfill materials.

Stiffness
Pipe Zone Backfill Materials Degree of Compaction
Category
%

SC1 Crushed rock with < 15 % sand, maximum 25 % As dumped

passing the 3/8” sieve and maximum 5 % (No compaction required)
passing No. 200 sieve.

SC2 Clean coarse grained soils with < 12% passing 75 – 85

No. 200 sieve.

SC3 Coarse grained soils with > 12% fines. 85 – 95

Sandy or gravelly fine-grained soil with > 30 %
retained on a no. 200 sieve.

SC4 Fine-grained soils with < 30% retained on a No. 85 – 95

200 sieve.

SC5 Highly plastic and organic soils > 95

Notes :
1. AWWA M45 soil stiffness categories.
2. Maximum particle size of ¾ inch for all types.
3. Compaction to achieve a soil modulus of 1000 psi.
4. Pea gravel is a suitable alternative.
5. A permeable fabric trench liner may be required when significant ground water flow is anticipated.

Bedding

The bedding shall be minimum 150 mm thick and shall provide the pipe with an uniform and
continuous support over its entire length. See figure 6 & 7

Fig. 6 : Proper bedding support

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Dec 2005
Rev.02

F.R.P
GRAHA

Fig. 7 : Improper bedding support

The bedding surface shall be even and recesses shall be left corresponding to pipe joints.
These receptances shall be backfilled after pipe installation and joining.

We recommends the use of pea gravel, or crushed stone or sand as bedding material., with
a fine content not exceeding 12 %. The maximum dimensions of the bed materials diameter
should not be greater than 20 mm.

The bed must be compacted until reaching 70 % of its maximum density, before the pipe
installation (90% Proctor Standard).

Backfilling

Backfilling material will be the same as used for bedding (maximum lime content 10 % and
maximum particle size 18 mm).

Tack care to contrast saddle bedding and do not hang the pipes. Use club to compact the
backfill material at the bottom of pipe. See figure 8 & 8.

Backfilling is ideally divided in two areas : primary backfilling which vertically extend from the
lower generatrix of the pipe as far as 70 % of the diameter and secondary backfilling,
extending as far as 150 mm above the upper generatrix of the pipe.

Backfilling shall be placed in singly compacted layers 200-250 mm high up to 70% of pipe
diameter and 300 mm high up to the top.

Backfilling up to the ground level with native material has to be completed.

Compaction can be made by using an impulsive compactor or any other suitable equipment.

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 Bulletin : PP-003
Dec 2005
Rev.02

F.R.P
GRAHA

Backfill Materials

Fig. 8 : Proper haunch backfill

Backfill Materials

Fig. 9 : Improper haunch backfill

7.0 JOINT PIPES PROCEDURE

See bulletin PP-004 (Butt & Wrap Joint Procedure) & PP-006 (Flange Joint Procedure)

8.0 HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE TEST

See bulletin PP-008 (Hydrostatic Pressure Test Procedure)