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What is the minimum burial depth for PVC sewer pipe?

According to ASTM D2321, Standard Practice for Underground Installation of Thermoplastic Pipe for Sewer and Other Gravity-Flow Applications:

“The minimum depth of cover should be established by the engineer, based on an evaluation of specific project conditions.”

“In the absence of an engineering evaluation, the following minimum cover requirements should be used. For embedment materials installed in accordance with Table 3, provide cover (that is, depth of backfill above top of pipe) of at least 24 in. or one pipe diameter (whichever is larger) for Class I embedment, and a cover of at least 36 in. or one pipe diameter (whichever is larger) for Class II, III, and IV embedment, before allowing vehicles or construction equipment to traffic the trench surface, and at least 48 in. of cover before using a hydro-hammer for compaction.”

Also, the Uni-bell PVC Association Handbook of PVC pipe states:

“A minimum cover height of 12 in. is recommended for PVC (SDR35) pipe subjected to highway loads of up to 18 kip axle. To prevent cracking of the road surface, special attention should be given to the selection, placement, and compaction of backfill material around shallow buried flexible pipe (such as PVC pipe).”

Please refer to the following Technical Bulletin: Burial Depth Guidance for Gravity Sewer PVC Pipe

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