Different types of manholes

A manhole is the name given to the construction of an access point to pipes in both sewage drains (foul)
and surface water drains (storm). These access points are usually situated at the beginning, end, or
change of direction, diameter, level or at intermediate points in a long straight line of pipe. Their use is
to provide access to the pipe for inspection or rodding purposes. The manhole is constructed at suitable
intervals along the sewer lines, for providing access into them. Thus, the manhole helps in inspection,
cleaning and maintenance of sewer. These are provided at every bend, junction, change of gradient or
change of diameter of the sewer. The sewer line between the two manholes is laid straight with even
gradient. For straight sewer line manholes are provided at regular interval depending upon the diameter
of the sewer.
Classification of Manhole
Depending upon the depth the manholes can be classified as:
1) Shallow Manholes
2) Normal Manholes
3) Deep Manholes
1) Shallow manholes: These are 0.7 to 0.9 m depth, constructed at the start of the branch sewer or at a
place not subjected to heavy traffic conditions .These are provided with light cover at top and called
inspection chamber.
2) Normal Manholes: These manholes are 1.5 m deep with dimensions 1.0 m x 1.0 m square or
rectangular with 1.2 m x 0.9 m .These are provided with heavy cover at its top
to support the anticipated traffic load.
3) Deep Manholes: The depth of these manholes is more than 1.5 m. The section of such manhole is not
uniform throughout . The size in upper portion is reduced by providing an offset. Steps are provided in
such manholes for descending into the manhole. These are provided with heavy cover at
its top to support the traffic load.
Other types of manholes:
Straight-through manholes
This is the simplest type of manhole, which is built on a straight run of sewer with no side junctions.
Where there is change in the size of sewer, the soffit or crown level of the two sewers should be the
same, except where special conditions require otherwise.
Side entrance Manholes
In large sewers where it is difficult to obtain direct vertical access to the sewer from the top should be
constructed in the nearest convenient position off the line of sewer, and connected to the manhole
chamber by a lateral passage. The floor of the side entrance passage which should fall at about 1 in 30
towards the sewer should enter the chamber not lower than the soffit level of the sewer. In large sewers
necessary steps or a ladder (with safety chain or removable handrail) should be provided to reach the
benching from the side entrance above the soffit.

Junction Manholes
This type of manholes are constructed at every junction of two or more sewers, and on the curved
portion of the sewers, with curved portion situated within the manhole. This type of manholes can be
constructed with the shape other than rectangular to suit the curve requirement and achieve economy.
The soffit of the smaller sewer at junction should not be lower than that of the larger sewer. The
gradient of the smaller sewer may be made steeper from the previous manhole to reduce the difference
of invert at the point of junction to a convenient amount.

Drop Manholes
When a sewer connects with another sewer, where the difference in level between invert level of
branch sewer and water line in the main sewer at maximum discharge is greater than 0.6 m, a manhole
may be built either with vertical or nearly vertical drop pipe from higher sewer to the lower one. The
drop manhole is also required in the same sewer line in sloping ground, when drop more than 0.6 m is
required to control the gradient and to satisfy the maximum velocity i.e., non-scouring velocity. The
drop pipe may be outside the shaft and encased in concrete or supported on brackets inside the shaft. If
the drop pipe is outside the shaft, a continuation of the sewer should be built through the shaft wall to
form a rodding and inspection eye, provided with half blank flange. When the drop pipe is inside the
shaft, it should be of cast iron and provided with adequate arrangements for rodding and with water
cushion of 150 mm depth at the end. The diameter of the drop pipe should be at least equal to incoming
pipe. A main line or house service line lateral entering a manhole at a higher elevation than the main
flow line or channel. If the higher elevation flow is routed to the main manhole channel outside of the
manhole, it is called an outside drop. If the flow is routed down through the manhole barrel, the pipe
down to the manhole channel is called an inside drop. Drop manholes are implemented in steep urban
sewer systems to reduce flow velocities. The dominant hydraulic features of drop manholes depend on
the operating conditions, affected by the manhole geometry and the approach flow features,
characterized in terms of the dimensionless impact parameter.

Scraper (service) type manhole

All sewers above 450 mm in diameter should have one manhole at intervals of 110 to 120 m of scraper
type. This manhole should have clear opening of 1.2 m x 0.9 m at the top to facilitate lowering of
buckets.
Flushing Manholes
In flat ground for branch sewers, when it is not possible to obtain self cleansing velocity at all flows, due
to very little flow, it is necessary to incorporate flushing device. This is achieved by making grooves at
intervals of 45 to 50 m in the main drains in which wooden planks are inserted and water is allowed to
head up. When the planks are removed, the water will rush with high velocity facilitating cleaning of the
sewers. Alternatively, flushing can be carried out by using water from overhead water tank through
pipes and flushing hydrants or through fire hydrants or tankers and hose. Flushing manholes are
provided at the head of the sewers. Sufficient velocity shall be imparted in the sewer to wash away the
deposited solids. In case of heavy chocking in sewers, care should be exercised to ensure that there is no
possibility of back flow of sewage into the water supply mains.
Manhole Ring or Chamber

This is the name given to a circular pipe placed in its vertical position and used at access points
to drains. Manhole rings and cover slabs are designed to BS5911-3, BS5911-4 to withstand

pressures up to motorway standards. They are used as an alternative to insitu concrete or brick
manholes and are less expensive because of their fast and easy method of construction.
Manhole rings and cover slabs to suit are manufactured in various depths and diameters to
facilitate the range of pipe diameters and actual depth on site from ground level (GL) to invert
level (IL).
Sealing Manholes

Because of the high cost of treating sewage, manholes should be watertight to prevent infiltration
of surface water into manholes. Therefore the joints should be sealed with an approved mastic
strip and the lifting holes provided in each component should be properly sealed with 3:1 sand
and cement or approved sealant.
Step or Ladders

To enable service engineers access down the manhole to the pipe, galvanised steps or plastic
encapulated rungs or complete ladder should be fitted.
As a general rule:1. No step required if distance from (GL) Ground Level to (IL) Invert Level is less than 1.0
metre.
2. Steps, usually placed at 300mm vertically are used if the (GL) to (IL) does not exceed 2.5
meters.
3. Where distance is greater than above, then a complete ladder may be required.
Concrete Surround
Reinforced manhole rings generally do not require a concrete surround for strength purposes or
where depth does not exceed 4.5 metres. However, below this depth, or where an opening is cut
through a manhole on site, depending on its size in relation to Diameter or depth of ring, then a
30N Concrete surround 150 mm thick may be required or as Engineer specifies. (eg in situations
of high water table).
Back Filling Manholes
Manhole rings should be carefully back filled with granular material, free from boulders which
may cause damage.
Type T manholes
A new design for mainline manholes has recently been considered that should ease installation
and reduce installation costs. This design is called a type T manhole. Type T manholes are
fabricated by the concrete pipe manufacturers and are constructed to be part of the pipe. This
type of manhole is a precast design that is delivered to the site and set in place. An advantage to
the type T manhole is a much more efficient hydraulic design and construction time is reduced
over the standard design.
A type T manhole is a precast steel reinforced concrete manhole. The advantages of a type T
manhole are that they can be delivered to the site and set in place more easily than the standard
box base, saving construction time thus using less time for lane closure when this is an important

factor and they are more efficient hydraulically than the box base manhole being that the
manhole is a part of the pipe itself.
However, even with the believed ease of construction, improved hydraulic efficiency and
reduced cost the actual structural performance of the finished manhole inplace must be
evaluated.

GRP manholes and chambers

GRP manholes and chambers are made of GRP pipes as integral part of pipe installations.
Their design is based on GRP pipes and GRP plates, joined together with the use of
polyester glass fibre laminates. The technology used in the production process of GRP
manholes and chambers guarantees that they are completely sealed, fully corrosion proof,
have excellent durability and can be safely serviced and maintained. Manholes and
chambers are monolithic products with defined composition and properties.