Good Craftsmanship Guide

Drainage
Introduction

This Good Craftsmanship Guide

highlights key problems with drainage
and gives guidance on how to avoid
them. The problems are those most
commonly identified during NHBC’s
inspection of homes under construction.
All photographs are of defects and
were taken on real building sites.

The Guide, based on the NHBC

Standards, is intended for use by
NHBC registered builders and
inspection staff.

© NHBC 2004
No reproduction without NHBC prior permission in writing.
Contents

Drainage

Proximity to foundations 2

Gradients 4

Bedding 6

Laying/jointing pipes 7

Access 8

Backfill 13

Support and movement 15

Protection 17

Soakaways 18

Septic tanks 20

Inspection and testing 22

1
 Proximity to foundations

Problem to avoid:
Undermining foundations

What to do:
where possible keep foundation bottoms lower than
drainage trenches
where possible keep drainage runs outside the
influence of the foundation loading

2
 if it is necessary for drainage to be located within
the zone of influence of the foundation loading, lay
the drainage first and surround in concrete to a
suitable level, before excavating foundations

less than 1m

more than 1m

B is within A-150mm from

bottom of foundation
B

Note: If A is less than 1m, concrete drainage trench up to at least the

underside of the foundation concrete. If A is more than 1m, concrete drainage
trench up to at least B.

3
 Gradients

Problems to avoid:
Drains prone to blocking
Drains do not self-cleanse if gradients are
not adequate

What to do:
install drainage in accordance with the design,
normally at the following minimum gradients:

The following gradients may be used where flows exceed 1.0L/second:

Pipe diameter [mm] Minimum gradient
100 1 : 80
150 1 : 150

4
take particular care when laying drainage close to
the minimum gradients
increase gradients where ground movement is
expected (e.g. in clay soils or in made ground)
Surface water:
– 75mm and 100mm drainage should be laid at a
gradient not less than 1:100
– 150mm drainage should be laid at a gradient not
less than 1:150

5
 Bedding

Problem to avoid:
Drainage settling due to inadequate bedding

What to do:
bed pipes:
– on granular material, minimum 100mm deep
– directly on trench bottom but only where the
bottom can be accurately hand-trimmed but is firm
remove any temporary packing from under pipes
to avoid hard spots
provide adequate support for manholes and
inspection chambers in accordance with
manufacturers’ instructions
soft spots to be removed and replaced with suitable
material

pipe supported on hand-trimmed pipe supported on bed of

trench bottom granular material

6
 Laying/jointing pipes

Problem to avoid:
Dislodged sealing rings

What to do:
ensure pipes are cut squarely
chamfer ends of cut pipe lengths
provide lubricant to ease connection and provide
seal without dislodging seal

7
 Access

Problem to avoid:
Inadequate access for clearing blocked drains

What to do:
provide access in accordance with the design
ensure all pipes can be rodded
use correct sized access manholes, inspection
chambers and access chambers

8
 Minimum dimensions for access fittings and chambers

Internal sizes Cover sizes

Type Depth to invert Length x Width Circular Length x Width Circular

from cover level (m) (mm x mm) (mm) (mm x mm) (mm)

Rodding eye As drain but min 100 Same size as

pipework 1

Access fitting
small 150 diam 0.6 or less,
150 x 100 except where 150 x 100 150 150 x 100 1 Same size as
large 225 x 100 situated in a 225 x 100 225 225 x 100 1 access fitting

restricted for health and safety reasons to deter entry.

chamber

Inspection chamber
shallow 0.6 or less 225 x 100 190 2 — 190 1
1.2 or less 450 x 450 450 Min 430 x 430 430
deep greater than 1.2 450 x 450 450 Max 300 x 300 3 Access restricted

Notes: 1 The clear opening may be reduced by 20mm in order to provide

9
to max 350 3

proper support for the cover and frame. 2 Drains up to 150mm. 3 A larger clear
opening cover may be used in conjunction with a restricted access. The size is

continued over
 Minimum dimensions for manholes
Type Size of largest Min internal Min clear
pipe (DN) (mm) dimensions 1 opening size 1
Rectangular Circular Rectangular length Circular
length and width diameter and width diameter
(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
Manhole
less than 1.5m equal to or
deep to soffit less than 150 750 x 675 7 1000 7 750 x 675 2 na 3
225 1200 x 675 1200 1200 x 675 2
300 1200 x 750 1200
greater than 300 1800 x (DN+450) The larger of 1800
or (DN+450)
greater than 1.5m equal to or
deep to soffit less than 225 1200 x 1000 1200 600 x 600 600
300 1200 x 1075 1200
Access 375 - 450
greater than 450
1350 x 1225
1800 x (DN+775)
1200
The larger of 1800
or (DN+775)
Manhole shaft 4
greater than 3.0m Steps 5 1050 x 800 1050 600 x 600 600
deep to soffit Ladder5 1200 x 800 1200

10
Winch6 900 x 800 900 600 x 600 600
Notes: 1 Larger sizes may be required for manholes on bends or where there
are junctions. 2 May be reduced to 600 by 600 where required by highway
loading considerations, subject to a safe system of work being specified. 3 Not
applicable due to working space needed. 4 Minimum height of chamber in
shafted manhole 2m from benching to underside of reducing slab. 5 Min clear
space between ladder or steps and the opposite face of the shaft should be
approximately 900mm. 6 Winch only - no steps or ladders, permanent or
removable. 7 The minimum size of any manhole serving a sewer (i.e any drain
serving more than one property) should be 1200mm x 675 mm rectangular or
1200mm diameter.
Reproduced from Tables 11 and 12 of Approved Document H to the Building
Regulations by permission of HMSO.

ensure that manholes, inspection chambers, access

chambers and rodding eyes will be accessible, e.g.
not under fences
make sure the main channel of manholes and
inspection chambers is used. This will help to avoid
the build-up of solids

proprietary
manhole

make connections obliquely with the flow

continued over

11
 Access

slow radius bends

finish benching neatly with a steel trowel

use the appropriate type of cover, aligned with the
surrounding ground

12
 Backfill

Problem to avoid:
Damage to pipes due to unsuitable backfill

What to do:
place backfill as soon as the pipes have been bedded,
jointed and inspected by NHBC/local authority
carry out final visual inspection before backfilling
use granular material or selected backfill from the
trench excavation free from:
– stones larger than 40mm
– clay lumps larger than 100mm
– timber
– frozen material
– vegetable matter
compact backfill in layers not deeper than 300mm

continued over

13
 Backfill

avoid mechanical compaction until fill is at least

450mm above pipework

150mm
above
pipe 2 layers hand
compacted before
mechanical
compaction

provide protection for pipes under roads and drives

protected if protected if
cover less cover less
than 900mm than 1.2m

FLEXIBLE PIPES RIGID PIPES

provide protection for shallow pipes under garden

areas

less than
600mm
cover
75mm

100mm

14
 Support and movement

Problem to avoid:
Damage to pipes due to differential movement

What to do:
ensure pipework can move where it passes though
substructure by:
– allowing at least 50mm clearance around pipe*
– providing a sleeve, or
– building pipe into wall with flexible joints within
150mm of the wall
* a greater allowance may be required, for example,
where settlement or clay heave may produce up
to 150mm differential movement.
the opening should be protected against vermin entry

continued over

15
Support and movement

50mm space
around pipe

opening
masked
both sides

PIPES PASSING THROUGH LINTELLED OPENING

150mm 150mm
600mm max max 600mm
max max

flexible flexible
joint joint

PIPES BEDDED IN WALLS

provide concrete under rest bend at base of

SVP connection
ensure pipes under suspended floors are
adequately supported along their length to
allow for ground movement in clay subsoils or in
made ground
ensure an adequate void is left under pipework
below suspended floors to allow for clay heave

16
 Protection

Problem to avoid:
Damage to access fittings and pipes

What to do:
provide temporary protection to access fittings
clearly identify access points so plant movement
can avoid damaging them

17
 Soakaways

Problem to avoid:
Ineffective storage and disposal of surface water

What to do:
lower than the building
locate soakaways at least 5m away from building.
carry out a percolation test unless the ground is
free draining and granular. If in doubt carry out
a test
fill with clean hardcore 10mm - 150mm in size
provide PVC sheet or concrete blinding over the fill
to prevent topsoil being washed into the soakaway

18
 PVC sheet or
concrete blinding

effective depth D

diameter D

19
 Septic tanks

Problems to avoid:
Ineffective operation
Ineffective outfall

20
What to do:
check approval from:
– Environment Agency (England and Wales)
– Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sc)
– Environment and Heritage Service (NI)
carry out percolation test to ensure satisfactory
outfall disposal
site at least 7m from a dwelling. In Scotland they
should be at least 5m from a dwelling and a
boundary. The tank should be within 30m of a
vehicle access for emptying
ensure that effluent is drained away from the building

21
 Inspection and testing

Problem to avoid:
Ineffective operation of drainage

What to do:
check that pipe runs are straight, with adequate
gradients
check all debris is removed from pipe runs
and chambers
check drainage system is in full working order
at completion
carry out air/water testing

22
 Notes

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 Notes

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NHBC, Buildmark House, Chiltern Avenue,
Amersham, Bucks HP6 5AP
Tel: 0870 241 4302 Fax: 01494 735201 www.nhbc.co.uk

HB1961 03/04