Question about drain inspection chamber construction - Victorian terrace house

[conoraoneill]

Hi everyone,

I have a question out of curiosity about a drain inspection hole.

We have a Victorian terrace, with an inspection cover just at the rear of the house in our garden.

Can anyone tell me what the base of the chamber is likely to be made from? i.e under the benching/pipe.
Would it be a concrete base or a gravel bed, or is the pipe just laid straight into the ground?

The reason I ask is that a few years ago we repaired some of the edge of the benching, which had eroded away. I'd like to know more about how the chamber is constructed, to understand how serious it would be if it happened again.

Thanks a lot!

 

[HERTS P&D]

Put the cover back on and find something else to worry about.

Andy

 

[noseall]

Hi everyone,

I have a question out of curiosity about a drain inspection hole.

We have a Victorian terrace, with an inspection cover just at the rear of the house in our garden.

Can anyone tell me what the base of the chamber is likely to be made from? i.e under the benching/pipe.
Would it be a concrete base or a gravel bed, or is the pipe just laid straight into the ground?

The reason I ask is that a few years ago we repaired some of the edge of the benching, which had eroded away. I'd like to know more about how the chamber is constructed, to understand how serious it would be if it happened again.

Thanks a lot!

Benching or haunching is usually trowelled concrete or strong sharp sand mortar, depending if it was haunched the same day.

 

[^woody^]

Concrete base. Sleep easy

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Regardless of anything else, it will probably have been better built than most drainage of today's new builds. Some damage to the brickwork/benching often occurs in older systems due to wear and/or the effects of Hydrogen Sulfide attack, but the fact so much Victorian drainage is still working 120 years+ after they laid it is testament to their standards.

 

[jacko555]

All thanks to Bazalgette, who i suspect is @tony1851. Who is also Brunel, Rennie, Telford and potentially the chap who had some input into Stonehenge and the pyramids.

Like highlander.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Chap I know has his eye on Stonehenge. Wants to put it through a crusher. #type1