One of the Leading Company for GRP PIPE & FITTINGS

Engineering & Manufacturing in the World.

INSTALLATION MANUAL
for

UNDER GROUND
for

GRP PIPE & FITTINGS

BOSUNG ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING CO.,LTD.

www.bosungem.com
TEL:+82-32-441-8881 FAX:+82-32-441-8886

BOSUNG E. & M. STANDARD

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QCP I 03

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Installation Manual for

Underground Piping

Date

Document No.
Description

1. Underground Installation of GRP Pipe

1.1 Significance and Use
This manual describes procedures for the underground installation of fiberglass pipe. Included
are recommendation for trenching, placing pipe, jointing pipe, compacting backfill and
monitoring deflection levels. It is intended for use by designer, installation contractors with
the construction of buried fiberglass pipelines. Modification may be required for specific pipe
products, job conditions, construction equipment, or special local or regional conditions.

1.2 General Requirement

The soil conditions that relate to trench construction and pipe installation should be
determined prior to construction. If this information has not previously been established to the
satisfaction of the engineer, a soils exploration program should be constructed.

1.3 Terminology
Because pipeline installation terminology varies throughout the country, figure 1 has prepared
illustrate the meaning and limits of the terms foundation, bedding, pipe-zone backfill,
primary, and secondary, pipe-zone backfill, and backfill, as used in this document.

1.4 Trench Construction

1.4.1 Trench Bottom:
Excavate trench a minimum of 4 inch(100mm) below the bottom of pipe. The surface at the
trench grade should be continuous, smooth, free of large rocks grater than 1 1/2 inch(40mm).
If rounded, or grater than 1 inch(25mm) if angular, which may cause point loading on the pipe.
And compact the foundation material uniformly. If required by client shall be construction of
concrete foundation in bottom of trench.

BSS-0202-A

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Water control. It is always good practice to remove water from a trench before laying and
backfilling on pipe. Prevent runoff and surface water from entering the trench at all times.
1.4.2 Excavation
Where rock, cobbles, or hardpan excavation is encountered, excavated the trench bottom to
provide a minimum 6 inch(0.15m) of bedding under the pipe.
1.4.3 trench width
Minimum width at the bottom of the trench should be 1.25 times the outside diameter of the
pipe plus 12 inch(305mm). The width of the trench at the top of the pipe (see figure 1.1)
should not be grater than necessary to provide adequate room for jointing the pipe in the trench
and compacting the pipe-zone backfill at the sides of the pipe. However, if the trench-wall
material is a soil that will not provide the side support for the pipe required by the design
procedure, increase the trench width and specify a high degree of compaction (70% relative
density) for the pipe-zone backfill material.
Side clearance (see Figure 1.1) must always be wide enough to allow for adequate space to
ensure proper placement of backfill in the haunch region and to operate compaction equipment.
Typically Side clearance for is a minimum of 0.75*ND/2 and for small pipe is minimum 20
inch(500mm). For larger diameter pipes and smaller value for side clearance may be adequate
depending on the native soil, backfill material and compaction technique.
1.4.4 trench depth
Determine the trench by the intended service, properties, size of the pipe, and local conditions
such as the properties of soil and combination of static and dynamic loading. Take care to
ensure that the burial depth is sufficient to prevent the conveyed fluids from being affected by
frost penetration. Follow local, state, and federal safety regulations. If required, shore, sheet,
brace, or otherwise support the trench walls with sufficient strength to protect the employees
working in the trench.

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1.4.5 Minimum Depth of cover

Depth of cover must be minimum of 0.5 meters for operating pressure up to 150psi(10 bar).
Pipes operating at pressures 230psi(16 bar) and greater must be buried at least 0.8 meters for
small diameters and 1.2 meters for large diameters. Select type of traffic load, if any, to which
pipe will be subjected, and the corresponding minimum burial depth.(see table 1.4.5)
Table 1.4.5 Traffic Load Select and Minimum Burial Depth

Select Traffic Load Level

Wheel Load
(KN)

40

50

72

90

100

Rail
Road

Min. Burial
Depth, (m)

0.5

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.5

1.5

3.0

NOTE: But, determine the Minimum Burial Depth by the size of the pipe, and local
conditions such as the properties of soil and combination of static and dynamic
loading.

2. Installation
Store and handle the pipe carefully to prevent pipe damage. Inspect each pipe unit for damage
prior to installation. When installed in a trench, the pipe may be deflected in the joint to a
minimum radius recommended by the manufacture for the kind, type, grade, wall thickness, type
of joint, and diameter of a particular pipe. Where a change in horizontal or vertical alignment, or
both, will produce sufficient thrust to cause movement of the pipe, provide suitable anchors.

3. Backfill
For pipe larger than 10inch (250 mm) in diameter, where the primary pipe-zone backfill is
compacted by tamping or surface vibrators. Place the primary pipe-zone backfill material in layers
on each side of the pipe and compact it in accordance with below procedure. Take extra care to
compact the material under the haunches of the pipe. Place the compact primary pipe-zone
backfill to a minimum depth of 70% of the outside diameter of the pipe.

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Maximum particle size for the pipe-zone backfill is limited to material passing a 40mm. To
enhance placement around small diameter pipe, typically 375mm and smaller, or to prevent
damage to the pipe wall , a smaller maximum size should be use. At the discretion of the engineer,
the secondary pipe-zone backfill material may be compacted to 6 to 16 inch(150 to 300mm)
above the top of the pipe. Bring the entire pipe-zone backfill up uniformly on both sides of the
pipe, with not including rocks or clods grater than 1 inch(25mm) in diameter being placed within
6 inch(150mm) of the outside pipe. The following installation procedures are intended to assist
the installer in achieving an acceptable pipe installation. However, regardless of soil conditions
and installation method, the initial and long-term deflections must not exceed the values given in
Table 3.1
Table 3.1 Allowable Vertical Deflection
Pipe size

Deflection % of Diameter

Large diameter (300mm and greater)

(Long Term)

5.0

Small diameter (15mm to 250mm)

(Long Term)

5.0

Install foundation and bedding as required by the engineer according to conditions in trench
bottom. Provide a firm, stable, and uniform bedding for the pipe barrel and any protruding
features of its joint.(see Figure 3.1, 3.2). The depth of the layer being compacted must be
controlled as well as the energy placed into the compaction method.

Figure 3.1 Proper bedding support

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Figure 3.2 Improper bedding support

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Figure 3.1.1.2 Soil stiffness categories

Soil Group

Soil Stiffness Category

Crushed rock and gravel with 15% sand 5% fines.

SC1

GW, GP, SW, SP, dual symbol soils containing one of these
designations such as GW-GC containing 12% fines or less

SC2

GM, GC, SM, SC with more than 12% fines; and ML, CL, or
borderline soils beginning with one of these designations, such as
ML/CL, with 30% or more retained on the No.200 sieve.

SC3

ML, CL, or borderline soil beginning with one of these

designations, such as ML/MH, with less than 30% retained on the
No. 200 sieve.

SC4

CH, MH, OL, OH, PT, CH/MH, and any frozen materials

SC5

Place embedment materials by methods that will not disturb or damage the pipe.
A blunt tool may be used very effectively to push and compact the backfill under the pipe, without
raising the pipe up. (See Figures 3.1.1). Work in and compact the haunshing material in the area
between the bedding and the underside of the pipe before placing and compacting the remainder
of the pipe zone embedment.(see Figure 3.1.1)

Figure 3.1.1.1 Proper compaction under haunches

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Do not permit compaction equipment to contact and damage the pipe. Use compaction equipment
and techniques that are compatible with materials used and located in the trench.

Figure 3.1.1.2 Adjacent piping system

Compaction of soils containing few fines (SC1 and SC2 with less than 5% fines). Backfill
Types SC1 and SC2 are relatively easy to use and very reliable as backfill materials for pipe. If
compaction is required, use surface plate vibrator, vibratory roller, or internal vibration. The
compacted lift thickness should not exceed 12 inch(300mm) when compacted with surface plate
vibrator, vibratory roller. When compacted with internal vibrators, it should not exceed the length
of the internal vibrators. Density determination should typically be in accordance with ASTM
D4253 and D4254.
Compaction of soils containing some fines (SC2 with 5% to 12%). These soils may behave as
a soil containing few fines or as a soil containing a significant amount of fines.
Compaction of soils containing significant fines (SC3, SC4 ). Backfill type SC3 and SC4 soils
are acceptable and readily available as backfill materials for pipe installations. Many local soils in
which the pipe is installed is type SC3 and SC4 and therefore the trenched soil can be directly
reused as pipe-zone backfill. Precaution is to be taken with these soils as they can be moisture
sensitive. The characteristics of the type SC3 and SC4 soil is often dictated by the characteristics
of the fines. Backfill Type SC3 and SC4 are acceptable backfill materials in many
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conditions; however, their relatively low stiffness precludes their use in deeper installations, and
their moisture sensitivity limits their use where standing water interferes with their compaction.

3.1.2 Backfill Materials

Regardless of the backfill grouping and whether the backfill soil is imported or is the native soil
excavated form the pipe trench the following general restrictions apply:
1. The maximum particle size and stone size must respect the limits given in Table 3.1.2.1
2. No soil clumps greater than two times the maximum particle size
3. No frozen material.
4. No organic materials.
5. No debris (tires, bottles, metals, etc.).
Table 3.1.2.1 Maximum Particle Size
The maximum particle size in the pipe zone is per the following:
DN

Max Size (mm)

Less than 500

13

500 to 600

19

700 to 900

25

1000 to 1200

32

1300 to Greater

40

In addition stones larger than 8 inch(200 mm) in diameter should not be dropped on the 300mm
layer covering the pipe top form a height greater than 7 feet(2 m).
8.7.1

Vibrator and Moisture

Moisture control may be required when compacting the soil to achieve the desired density with
reasonable compaction energy and easily used compaction equipment. To achieve desired relative
compaction, moisture control will most likely be required during compaction. Compaction tests
should be conducted periodically to assure proper relative compaction is achieved. Moisture
content must be controlled during placement and compaction.
BSS-0202-A

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A4(210X297)