Installation data

Pipe laying Bedding & backfill

Where the as-dug material is suitable*, the When the pipes are to be laid in rock,
The following information is based on the recommendations in BS 5955: Part 6 bottom of the trench may be trimmed to compacted sand or gravel, or in very soft
form the pipe bed and the as-dug soil used or wet ground requiring mechanical means
‘Installation of PVCu pipework for gravity drains and sewers’ and BS EN 1610 as sidefill and backfill in accordance with of trimming, the bedding should be a
BS EN 1610 bedding construction type B minimum of 100mm.
‘Construction and testing of drains and sewers’ and is intended as a general guide (see drawing below). *Suitable material is defined as material in accordance with
the recommendations of BS 5955: Part 6: 1980 Appendix A,
to good practice in the selection of bedding and backfill materials for Marley solid Where the as-dug material is un-suitable having a maximum particle size not exceeding 20mm.
as bed and surround, installation should be
wall and Quantum underground drainage systems. carried out in accordance with BS EN 1610
bedding construction type 1, as shown
below.
Excavation Granular material for bed Trenches should be excavated to allow for
Trenches should not be open for extended
& surround of PVCu drains the depth of bedding material. Before any
periods in advance of pipe laying and and sewers pipework is installed the bedding material
should be backfilled as soon as possible. should be laid evenly along the bottom of
Suitable imported granular material for
It is essential that the sides of the trench the trench.
bedding and surrounding PVCu solid
are adequately supported during pipe wall and Quantum pipes for private and The sidefill material must be the same as the
laying. Trench widths should be as narrow adoptable sewer applications is detailed bedding material and extended to the crown
as is practicable but not less than the pipe in the table below: of the pipe and be thoroughly compacted.
diameter plus 300mm to allow adequate
Grading complying with the requirements Where the backfill above the pipe contains
sidefill to be placed. Deeper excavations
of BS EN 1610. Granular material also stones larger than 40mm or where the
should ideally incorporate a sub-trench in
includes aggregates for concrete to pipework is deeper than 2m in poor
accordance with the diagram below.
BS EN 12620. ground, the granular material must
extend at least 100mm above the pipe
crown. Alternatively, backfill material can
be graded to eliminate stones exceeding
40mm and this selected material used for
the first 300mm above the pipe.

Excavation Granular material Bedding & backfill

Trench width in accordance with Nominal pipe size Granular material size
BS EN 1610 Tables 1 & 2

10mm nominal single-size

100/110mm
Angle of
14 to 5mm course graded Selected backfill
must not contain 300mm
unsupported 10 or 14mm nominal single-size 300mm
trench to be 150/160mm stones larger 100mm
in accordance 14 to 5mm course graded than 40mm
with BS EN 1610 Pipe
10,14 or 20mm nominal single-size
Pipe OD+ 150/225mm and over Pipe diameter
Bedding 14 or 20 to 5mm course graded diameter Sidefill 100mm
Sub trench
depth dependent on
excavated
as shown in situ soil type
and condition Bed and sidefill with
Pipe OD
Trench bottom trimmed suitable granular material
+ 300mm
to form pipe bed

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 Installation data

Pipe laying
It is important to ensure that the ground is prepared correctly and that suitable bedding
and backfill material is used, depending on the soil type and the loading required.

Shallow domestic drains Drains under solid ground floors Concrete bed & surround Drains under private roads
Pipes laid at depths less than 600mm Drains often have to be laid under The flexible nature of PVCu pipes enables If the depth of cover under a road or
and which are not under a road should, buildings in order to connect sanitary them to accommodate ground movement driveway is less than 0.9m, a concrete slab
where necessary, be protected against pipework which has been positioned and other differential settlement that spanning the trench width is required.
damage by placing over them a layer some distance from the outer walls. may occur under normal conditions.
of concrete, paving slabs or similar. A Where this occurs, deep hardcore within Therefore, the use of concrete bed and Adoptable sewers under roads
minimum 75mm cushioning layer of the foundation boundaries should be surround is not recommended and
granular material must be laid between compacted first. The trench for the pipe only under special circumstances, at For adoptable sewer applications pipe
pipes and the slabs or concrete. should then be excavated and suitable very shallow cover depths or where it is bedding details should be in accordance
material employed for the bedding and necessary to safeguard foundations, should with the Water Industry Specification.
Where drains are laid in fields, additional
backfilling operation. If trenches are dug it be used. Where the use of concrete Selected as-dug material may be used for
protection may be required from
from original ground, pipes may be laid bed and surround is unavoidable, it is bedding and sidefill provided it meets the
heavy vehicles and equipment. It is
and surrounded as necessary before the recommended that pipes are laid in 3 evaluation procedure and compaction
recommended that the installation is
top layer of hardcore is formed. Where a metre lengths and a compressible board fraction test values specified in WIS
carried out with a concrete slab spanning
pipe passes through a wall or foundation of is shaped to fit around each joint. Pipes 4-08-01. The minimum cover under public
the trench as shown for drains under
a building, a lintel or sleeve should be built- should also be wrapped with polythene to roads should be 1.2m to the top of the
private roads (on opposite page below).
in to provide clearance around the pipe. prevent the ingress of cement slurry into pipe. The above information is for general
ring seal joints. guidance only and detailed proposals with
regard to bedding and sidefill materials for
sewers must be submitted to the relevant
Adopting Authority for formal approval at
the design stage of the project.

Shallow domestic drains Drains under solid ground floors Drains under private roads Adoptable sewers under roads
Road construction Road construction

Concrete Concrete
slab polythene slab
membrane spanning
trench
Less than
600mm
Mesh
backfill reinforcement Backfill compacted in layers
Paving slab Less if required 1.2 min
not exceeding 250mm thick
under highways
than 0.9m min
75mm min 900mm

200mm min
100mm elseware Initial backfill
granular material 100mm
Pipe minimum material not less
diameter 100mm min than 300mm thick
heavy compaction
100mm Pipe diameter equipment not to
be used
dependent on 100mm
Pipe diameter
in situ soil type Pipe diameter Selected backfill must not
Bed and surround with 150mm granular material
and condition contain stones larger than 40mm 100mm min above pipe crown
suitable granular material 100mm
Bed and surround with
suitable granular material
Trench dug out of Bed and surround with Bed and surround with
compacted hardcore suitable granular material suitable granular material

For applications in accordance with DTP requirements, please refer to the technical design and installation guide,
12 | MARLEY Underground Drainage Systems MARLEY Underground Drainage Systems | 13
available to download from marley.co.uk