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.

Distance

Fall

Pipe

Flow direction

FALL IN DRAINAGE PIPE

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 = 80

Gradient = 1 in 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.

Distance

Fall

Pipe
Flow direction

FALL & GRADIENT IN DRAINAGE PIPE

Gradient

1 in 80

Invert Levels

The Invert Level of a pipe is the level taken from the bottom of the inside of the pipe as shown
below.

INVERT LEVEL OF PIPE

Section through pipe

Water level

Invert level

Crown of pipe

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.

Cover and frame

Brick wall

Concrete base

Sloping concrete/mortar bed or haunching

BRICK BUILT MANHOLE

Pipe channel for access to system

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 or hose 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, 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.

Sloping surface

Underground sewer

Normal pipe gradient

USE OF BACK DROP MANHOLES

Sloping surface

Underground sewer

Excessive gradient
SEWER ON A SLOPING SITE

Back Drop manhole

Vertical section of pipe

Access cap

Back Drop manhole

Access cap

An easier way to construct a back drop manhole is to use an internal vertical section of pipe as
shown below.

Sloping surface

BACK DROP MANHOLE WITH INTERNAL OUTLET

PIPE

Outlet section of pipe

Access cap

Back Drop manhole

Cast Iron screw down lid

Step Irons

Sloping surfaces

Underground Foul Water pipe

Drop distance