My concern with directional drilling (and I also thought about doing this) is, as BAretired mentioned, will/can the existing fills support the plumbing?
I won't be able to install hangers from the underside to support the plumbing.
What a F'n nightmare this has become.
Jed,
That is exactly what I said....after I stopped laughing at what the MEP had proposed/done........and yelling at the architect for not informing me sooner and not informing the MEP about the slab.
Unfortunately, I was not given a copy of his drawings until after the drawings were sent out...
This slab is in the original part of the building, built circa 1995.
I'm not sure what kind of fittings the ME specified.
We are renovating this area and constructing an addition. Our addition also has a structural slab-on-grade.
i had thought about small openings. Unfortunately, the local Building Dept needs to inspect the under slab plumbing that will be installed. based on past experience want to see 100% of the pipe not just small sections here and there.
The other issue with small openings is the piping...
the soil below the slab is/was unsuitable fill. Instead of excavating the unsuitable material out, the original engineer designed the slab-on-grade as a two way slab spanning between piers on deep footings.
It looks like a scissor truss. Scissor trusses still have a horizontal thrust that needs to be resolved. If it is not properly resolved, the exterior wall or walls will be pushed out and start to lean. look at the joint between the sloped 2x6 and top of the wall. You may find a hairline...
I have a project in which the slab-on-grade is an 8" thick two-way flat plate slab.
The building is being renovated and the Mechanical Engineer has shown the existing slab being saw cut and trenched to install new under slab plumbing. There are at least two trenches that run the length of...
Try the Timber Frame Engineering Council (TFEC) Tech Bulletin 2009-01 and the TFEC Standard for Design of Timber Frame Structures and Commentary - (TFEC1-07)
I believe they have values for oak pegs