How Deep Is A Water Line Supposed To Be

How deep should MDPE be installed?

MDPE is used in water or supplies across the Uk. Here is vital information of minimum and maximum depths for water and gas pipes.

Follow our advice and guidelines for safe installation depths of both h2o (blueish) and gas (yellow) MDPE. Water Pipage: Blue MDPE for drinking & Black MDPE for full general water supply.

Water supply pipe can be installed using various procedures and techniques, with mod pipelaying techniques offering low-dig or no-dig laying possibilities, and conventional open up cut trenching still being the most common install method.

How deep should Blue MDPE be installed?

Blue water supply MDPE should be laid in a trench at a depth of at least 750mm (measured from the pipe crown), simply no more than 1350mm, from the finished ground level and at to the lowest degree 350mm away from other utilities (such equally gas or electricity). Some water government let MDPE to exist laid at a shallower depth, depending on circumstances, but must exist insulated; check local water authority guidance.

A minimum 100mm cover should be placed in a higher place the crown of the pipage, with heavy compaction equipment non being used with less than 300mm cover. Backfilling should proceed in 300mm layers. To protect the pipe from potential future interference information technology is good do to install a marking record 300mm above piping crown, and may include tracer wire to allow for ground-level indentification of the pipeline.

The following procedure describes conventional open up cut trench installation of below ground water supply:

Consult the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, which require installers and owner/user/occupier to install pipework and use suitable pipework and fittings. Your local h2o authority should likewise offer a guide on how to install new supply pipework.
Prior to earthworks, identify the location of cables and pipes from other utilities.
The width of the trench should be the minimum of pipage outside diameter (OD) plus 250mm to permit for the right compaction of sidefill.
Where h2o pipe enters or runs underneath a building it must be located inside ducting, and information technology is essential they are sealed with a blanking cap (and usually besides with cream pipe insulation). No joints or fittings should exist used if pipe is located inside ducting.
Consult WIS 4-08-01 for details on bed and fill materials; in some instances MDPE may be laid straight onto the trimmed trench bottom where the soil is compatible, fine grained and complimentary from large stones and flints. In other cases the trench should exist excavated to a depth to allow for a minimum 100mm bed of gravel, crushed stone or coarse sand. A sand/gravel mix is adequate provided the gravel is less than 20mm in size.

MDPE for Water Supply

Gas pipe (Yellow MDPE)

Gas pipework, which is coloured xanthous, is ofttimes laid direct in open trenches in a similar method to bluish MDPE in a higher place. All the same, in some circumstances, pre-laid ducting is oft installed by the groundworker to permit for MDPE pipe to be installed at a afterward date.

Gas Pipage Ducting Diameters

The diameter of ducting required depends on the size of the MDPE being installed. The following is guidance but; check with your local potency for verbal details for your project:

For pipe sizes <= 32mm, use 60mm gas ducting
For pipe sizes <= 40mm, use 100mm gas ducting
For piping sizes <= 63mm, utilize 150mm gas ducting
For pipe sizes <= 90mm, apply 200mm gas ducting

Gas Pipe Comprehend Levels

Minimum depths of cover over ducting depends on where the pipework is beingness installed. Drawcord must exist inserted into the ducting and gas marking tape must exist laid at a minimum of 75mm above ducting to avoid future interference, and may include tracer wire.

For service pipework

Footpath/driveway - 375mm
Public footpath - 450mm
Public highway/verge - 450mm

For mains pipework

Footpath/driveway - 600mm
Public highway/verge - 750mm
Fields - 1100mm

It is important if you are plumbing fixtures new gas works in your property (individual ground) that you lot read guidelines carefully as you are responsible for safely guarding the trench and making sure anyone who has admission to the work on the property is not put at adventure. E'er consult your local potency for guidance, and contact JDP for advice and back up.

Yellow Gas Supply MDPE

Avert freezing pipes

According to 'The Section of the Environs', they recommend that pipes should be buried at least 600mm (two feet) undercover. At this depth, the soil acts as a natural insulator and prevents them freezing.