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Pipe Gradients
Above ground and below ground horizontal drainage pipes should be laid to an adequate
gradient.
If a gradient is too steep i.e. steeper than 1 in 40, the liquid may run faster than the
solids in the sloping foul water pipe thus leaving the solids stranded, which could then
block the pipe.
If the gradient is not steep enough, i.e. less than 1 in 110, then the pipe could still block if
the solids slow down and become stranded.
The fall in a pipe may be defined as the vertical amount by which the pipe drops over a
distance. The distance can be between sections of pipe or between manholes. The
diagram below show pipe fall and distance.
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For example is a 24 metre section of drainage pipe has a fall of 0.30 metres, calculate the
gradient.
Gradient = 0.30 / 24
Gradient = 0.0125
Gradient = 1 / 0.0125 = 80
Gradient = 1 in 80
The above formula may be rearranged for Fall if the gradient is known:
For example, calculate the fall in a 50 metre section of foul water pipework if the gradient
is to be 1 in 80.
1 / 80 = 0.0125
Fall = 0.0125 x 50
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Invert Levels
The Invert Level of a pipe is the level taken from the bottom of the inside of the pipe as
shown below.
The level at the crown of the pipe is the Invert level plus the internal diameter of the
pipe plus the pipe wall thickness. It may be necessary to use this in calculations when
level measurements are taken from the crown of a pipe.
Manholes
A manhole or access chamber is required to gain access to a drainage system for un-
blocking, cleaning, rodding or inspection. A typical manhole is shown below.
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A back drop manhole is used in areas where the surface level slopes as shown below.
If the undergroung sewer pipe is to stay below ground it must follow the average gradient
of the slope. This invariably means that the pipe gradient becomes too steep, resulting
in the solids being left stranded in the pipe therefore causing a blockage.
To overcome this problem the back drop manhole was developed, as shown below.
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An easier way to construct a back drop manhole is to use an internal vertical section of
pipe as shown below.
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