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Optimal Pipe Gradients and Invert Levels

Pipe gradients for horizontal drainage pipes should be between 1 in 40 and 1 in 110 to allow adequate flow velocity. A gradient of 1 in 80 is suitable for initial pipe scheme calculations. If the gradient is too steep (>1 in 40) or too shallow (<1 in 110), solids in wastewater could become stranded and cause blockages. The fall and gradient of a pipe are calculated based on the vertical drop over a given distance, with gradient defined as fall divided by distance. Manholes are required for access, inspection, and cleaning of drainage systems and come in various materials like masonry, concrete, and plastic.

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41 views13 pages

Optimal Pipe Gradients and Invert Levels

Pipe gradients for horizontal drainage pipes should be between 1 in 40 and 1 in 110 to allow adequate flow velocity. A gradient of 1 in 80 is suitable for initial pipe scheme calculations. If the gradient is too steep (>1 in 40) or too shallow (<1 in 110), solids in wastewater could become stranded and cause blockages. The fall and gradient of a pipe are calculated based on the vertical drop over a given distance, with gradient defined as fall divided by distance. Manholes are required for access, inspection, and cleaning of drainage systems and come in various materials like masonry, concrete, and plastic.

Uploaded by

Rachel Ingram
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Pipe Gradients

Above ground and below ground horizontal drainage pipes should be laid to an adequate gradient.
Gradients from 1 in 40 to 1 in 110 will normally give adequate flow velocities.
A gradient of 1 in 80 is suitable for commencing calculations for pipe schemes.
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.

A gradient may be defined as fall divided by distance.

GRADIENT

FALL / DISTANCE

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

This can be converted into a gradient written as a ratio or 1: some number.


Gradient

1 / 0.0125

Gradient

1 in 80

80

The above formula may be rearranged for Fall if the gradient is known:

FALL

GRADIENT X DISTANCE

For example, calculate the fall in a 50 metre section of foul water pipework if the gradient is to be 1 in 80.
A gradient of 1 in 80 is converted to a number instead of a ratio.
1 / 80 = 0.0125
Fall

Gradient x Distance

Fall

0.0125 x 50

Fall

0.625 metres or 625mm.

The previous diagram may be completed by adding a pipe gradient.

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.

Manholes may be manufactured from masonry or precast concrete. Sometimes several precast concrete rings are
used to form a manhole which speeds up the on-site construction process. Normally deep manholes below 1.0
metre in depth require step irons to assist access for a workman.
Manholes and access chambers are also manufactured in PVC. An access chamber is not usually large enough to
admit a person but is suitable for access by cleaning rods orhose and they are used for domestic applications, a
common size of plastic access chamber is 450mm diameter. For the domestic market plastic, fibreglass or
galvanised steel lids may be used but cast iron lids are required where traffic crosses.

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, resultingin 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.

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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