I've got to put a new foul drain under a shared drive and public footpath. It would be really convenient to join existing sections if it was quite shallow i.e. top of pipe about 12" below surface. Is this permissable by building regs? Would it need concreting in solidly or what?
cheers Jacob
Mmm.
Mmm Hmm.
I don't think the regulations, so much as the issue of sheer collapse under the weight of 30 tom lorries delivering concrete etc to your door, is the issue.
The drians have to run at a slight fall..rises ar not allowed..so you can't really go down-under-up anyway..you will get material collecting in the u bend and blockages. That IS regulatory.
So it seems to me that the problem resolves into how to ensure the drain sdo not get smashed by whatever goes over the top.
To each side, certainly you should bury them deep in shingle to allow some movement. ast least 6" all round. As to the drive itself..? I would go down pretty deep - 3ft or so and to a bit either side, and build concrete slab under them, and then some concrete blocks either side and a series of lintels over the top, so that what they are in is a concrete tube..and then fill that with shingle.The idea us that weight directly over the pipe transfers laterally over a larger area and does not directly affect the pipe.
You could simply cast a section in a concrete block , but if the whole block sinks, you may be in trouble.
A lot depends on what loads you expect to carry on the drive. There is a world of difference between a 30 tonner and a family car.
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