Sewage pipe under my patio

[DIYso]

Hi all,
I have dug up my patio, and my intentions were to relay some stone slabs down.

I have come across what appears to be a junction box for sewage! Taking kitchen waste and toilet waste, from the back(side!) of my house, and channelling of to the sewer mains. Sorry I dont know the technical term!

I was considering lowering the level of my patio and I have a few questions:

1) Do I NEED to leave access to this juntion chamber (now that i know its there? (i realise it MAY be in my interest to fit a recess tray incase of blockages).

2) Are there regulation governing the size/volume of this chamber? It measures 400x600, depth of approx 400. I was considering removing one course of bricks to assist in lowering the new floor level, but dont know if I am restricted indoing this as it would reduce the capacity.

Cheers

 

[oilman]

Capacity? It is there only to allow access for clearing blockages. Depth is not important. You could remove a course of bricks. Before you do, make a frame that will sit in the bottom of the hole, and lay a sheet of cardboard to entirely fill the hole outline. It is not funny having to separate bricks from shh it.

 

[noseall]

Recessed i.c. covers look the biz but be prepared for a lot of cutting! You will have the equivalent of about 4.3m of cutting to do, should the lid not happen to fall on any slab joints.

 

[DIYso]

Cheers folks,
If there is no limit in capacity/volume, i might take 2 courses of bricks off the top to get the floor level Im after.
It has never blocked so shouldnt be a problem I hope!!

Think the cutter will be doing a little overtime!

D

 

[noseall]

If there is no limit in capacity/volume, i might take 2 courses of bricks off the top

Potentially you could take it down to within one course of the pipe top. As oilman has said, don't let any half-enders find their way into the system.