How to Guide
102
Plastics Technical Manual
INSTALLATION PROCEDURES
Antifreeze Solutions for ABS 
DWV Systems
0OMZUIFGPMMPXJOHBOUJGSFF[FNBZCFVTFEXJUIPSJODPOKVODUJPO
XJUI"#4%87GPBNDPSFTZTUFNT
t HMZDFSPMCZXFJHIUJOXBUFS6TFVOEJMVUFE
t  NBHOFTJVN DIMPSJEF CZ XFJHIU JO XBUFS 6TF
undiluted.
t i1MBTUJD 1JQF "OUJGSFF[Fw FTQFDJBMMZ NBEF GPS QMBTUJD
pipe).
%POPUVTFBOZPUIFSUZQFBOUJGSFF[FFYDFQUUIPTFSFDPNNFOEFE
above.
Bedding and Backfilling
1.  Even though sub-soil conditions vary widely from place 
to place, the pipe backfill should be stable and provide 
protection for the pipe.
2.  The pipe should be surrounded with an aggregate material 
which is easily worked around the sides of the pipe. 
Backfilling should be performed in layers of 6 inches with 
FBDIMBZFSCFJOHTVGmDJFOUMZDPNQBDUFEUPUP
compaction.
3.  A mechanical tamper is recommended for compacting sand 
and gravel backfill which contain a significant proportion 
of fine-grained material, such as silt and clay. If a tamper 
is not available, compacting should be done by hand.
4.  The trench should be completely filled. The backfill should 
be placed and spread in uniform layers to prevent any 
VOmMMFETQBDFTPSWPJET-BSHFSPDLTTUPOFTGSP[FODMPET
PSPUIFSMBSHFEFCSJTTIPVMECFSFNPWFE"45.%
TUBOEBSEDBMMTGPSTUPOFCBDL mMMUPQBTTUISPVHIBOw
TJFWFBOEUIBUSPDLTJ[FTIPVMECFBCPVUUIPGUIFQJQF
PVUTJEF EJBNFUFS )FBWZ UBNQFST PS SPMMJOH FRVJQNFOU
should only be used to consolidate only the final backfill.
Trenching
The following trenching and burial procedures should be used 
to protect the piping system.
1 .  Excavate the trench in accordance with applicable codes 
and regulations, ensuring that the sides will be stable 
under all working conditions.
2.  The trench should be wide enough to provide adequate 
room for the following.
" +PJOJOHUIFQJQFJOUIFUSFODI
B.  Snaking the pipe from side to side to compensate for 
FYQBOTJPOBOEDPOUSBDUJPOJGSFRVJSFEBOE
C.  Filling and compacting the side fills. 
The space between the pipe and trench wall must be wider 
than the compaction equipment used in the compaction 
PG UIF CBDLmMM.JOJNVN XJEUI TIBMMCF OPU MFTT UIBO
the greater of either the pipe outside diameter plus 16 
inches or the pipe outside diameter times 1.25 plus 12 
inches. Trench width may be different if approved by the 
design engineer.
3.  Install foundation and bedding as required by the en-
gineer according to conditions in the trench bottom. 
Provide firm, stable and uniform bedding for the pipe 
barrel and any protruding feature of its joint. Provide a 
minimum of 4 inches of bedding unless rock or unyield-
ing material is encountered in the bottom of the trench, 
in which case a minimum of 6 inches of bedding shall 
be used. For more severe conditions the guidelines in 
"45.%TIPVMECFGPMMPXFE#MPDLJOHTIPVMEOPU
be used to change pipe grade or to intermittently sup-
port pipe over low sections in the trench.
4.  To prevent damage to the pipe and disturbance to pipe 
embedment, a minimum depth of backfill above the pipe 
should be maintained before allowing vehicles or heavy 
construction equipment to traverse the pipe trench. 
Pipe should always be installed at least below the frost 
level. The minimum depth of cover should be established 
"EEJUJPOBM JOGPSNBUJPO JT DPOUBJOFE JO "45. % 
i6OEFSHSPVOE *OTUBMMBUJPO PG 5IFSNPQMBTUJD QJQF GPS
4FXFSTBOE0UIFS(SBWJUZ'MPX"QQMJDBUJPOTwOPOQSFTTVSF
BQQMJDBUJPOTBOEJO"45.'i$POTUSVDUJPO1SPDFEVSFT
GPS#VSJFE1MBTUJD1JQFw"45.4UBOEBSETBSFDPQZSJHIUFE
EPDVNFOUTBOEDBOCFQVSDIBTFEGSPN"45.*OUFSOBUJPOBM
 #BSS )BSCPS %SJWF 8FTU $POTIPIPDLFO 1"  PS
iIUUQXXXBTUNPSHw
/PUF5IJTTFDUJPOJTBHFOFSBMSFGFSFODFHVJEFBOETIPVMEOPU
be considered a complete engineering resource addressing all 
aspects of design and installation of pipe in buried applications. 
Charlotte Pipe recommends that a design professional use 
this manual along with other industry references taking into 
account sub-surface conditions unique to each project and that 
all installations be made in accordance with the requirements 
GPVOEJO"45.%BOEJODPNQMJBODFXJUIBQQMJDBCMFDPEF
requirements.
Underground Installation
by the design engineer based upon an evaluation of spe-
cific project conditions. In the absence of an engineer-
ing evaluation, Charlotte Pipe recommends referring to 
4FDUJPOJO"45.%i6OEFSHSPVOE*OTUBMMBUJPO
of Thermoplastic pipe for Sewers and Other Gravity-
'MPX"QQMJDBUJPOTw










