Hi everyone I'm Samantha an engineer at Prinsco.
Today we will be walking through the installation of a culvert.
A culvert allows water to flow freely under a
road or driveway preventing flooding along the roadway or nearby property.
Prinsco's corrugated plastic pipe is an ideal solution for culvert drainage needs
as it provides an efficient and long lasting solution.
Before we get started we always call 811 to have the utilities marked.
It is also important to check the local and state requirements and obtain the proper permits.
Check the local requirements to ensure you have the proper diameter pipe for the flow rate needed.
For this project you will need pipe, metal or plastic aprons, and split couplers
depending on the length of your culvert.
To determine how much pipe you need, estimate the length of the culvert and
round up to the nearest 20 feet, as the culvert comes in 20 foot lengths
Make sure to account for extra pipe on each end to extend beyond the slope of the driveway.
To complete this job you will need excavating equipment. This could be a shovel, skid loader,
or excavator depending on the size of your job.
You will also need compaction equipment, a reciprocating or hand saw,
and personal protective equipment.
All right let's start the installation.
Today we will be installing a culvert at the Prinsco test site.
Although this ditch may look different from yours, the basic installation steps are the same.
First we will excavate the culvert area to the desired grade.
Then remove four additional inches to allow for our bedding material.
Make sure your excavation is properly sloped.
The width of your excavation will depend on the diameter of your pipe.
Use this chart to determine the proper trench width for your culvert. This is also available
in Prinsco's culvert installation guide available at prinsco.com/residentialresources.
In our case we will be installing a 12-inch culvert,
so our trench needs to be a minimum of 30 inches.
With the excavation complete we need to add the four inches of bedding.
Crushed stone is preferred.
A well-graded sand or gravel, or a sand and gravel mix is also acceptable.
Compact this material around the edges of the trench.
Do not compact the area where you will be setting the pipe.
Now that our bedding is in place and prepped it's time to set the pipe.
If needed, cut the pipe to length using a reciprocating saw or handsaw. Make a square
cut in the valley of the pipe. Be sure you always stay clear of the blade and the pipe is steady.
Set the pipe in the center of the trench.
If you are using more than one length of pipe,
couple them together using a Prinsco split coupler.
To do this, line up the two ends of pipe. Slide the coupler under the connection and
fold it over the pipe. Cinch the zip ties tight to secure the connection.
Next, we'll install the aprons on each end of the pipe.
Dig out additional area for the apron and apron toe plate so they will be properly aligned for
the inlet and outlet elevations, matching the flow line of the pipe
Align the tie downs in the valley between corrugations, at least two corrugations in
from the end of the pipe. Tighten the tie downs in the valley of the pipe for a firm connection.
With the pipe and aprons in place it's time to start the initial backfill.
Using the same material as the bedding, start back filling the trench.
Be sure to evenly fill the entire length of the pipe to not disturb grade or shift the product.
Ensure the backfill is knifed into the haunch area under the edge of the pipe.
Continue backfilling to the top of the pipe, stopping occasionally to compact the material.
Make sure the material falls in between the corrugations of the pipe.
Now it's time for the final backfill.
Using native material fill a minimum of 12 inches above the pipe. If rutting is a concern
add an additional six inches of final backfill,
always maintaining a minimum of 12 inches of backfill above the pipe.
Once the final backfill is complete you can add a gravel or pavement surface to your driveway.
If properly installed your culvert will have a loading capacity of h25 and hs25 loading,
equaling a maximum axle weight of 40,000 pounds. Vehicular loading
is illustrated in Prinsco's culvert installation guide.
That's how you properly install a culvert. I hope this guide was helpful. You can
find additional information on the Prinsco website at prinsco.com/residentialresources.
Thanks for watching.