Grating over headwalls and endwalls 1

[LHA]

An architect I am working for is insisting we put grating over headwalls and endwalls to keep kids out. I think these are a terrible idea.

I've never seen a grated headwall in the field that is not clogged. I've never seen a grated endwall in the field that is not clogged, unless it is already broken off due to past clogging. I am also not aware of a single child ever being harmed by entering a stormpipe, so if anyone knows of documentation of a kid who was hurt in a storm pipe, please forward.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a grating design that doesn't clog? Maybe with space underneath, although that would seem to defeat the purpose.

Engineering is the practice of the art of science - Steve

 

[BigInch]

Use the grating!

My son got stuck in one. Fortunately we got him out, but it was 15 years ago and he still won't go near one.

Worker Recalls Near-Drowning In Drain Pipe

http://www.wkrc.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=8E462320-F7D6-4665-B82D-952B3A193E48

[PDF] PUBLIC WORKS Cover&Back.eps
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
feet of new storm water pipe and 9 new catch basins. will replace old infrastructure on ... Drowning is. the number one cause of flood deaths. Currents can ...

http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/downloads/cmo/newsletter/December 2004/PUBLIC WORKS ALL PAGES.pdf

It's an Honour - Honours - Honoured Australians - Allan Sparkes
Courageous policeman saves drowning boy ... ‘After crawling some 30 metres against the flow of the storm water pipe I found him hanging onto a piece of ...

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honoured/sparkes.cfm

[COLOR=white red]I trust you will do the right thing.[/color]


Going the Big Inch!

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[cvg]

use the rack, but design the culvert for clogging. Assume the rack is 50% clogged, calculate the headloss through the remaining bars and then design the culvert to handle the headloss through the clogged rack.

 

[dicksewerrat]

If you slope the entrance rack at about 30 degrees from horizontal, it should clean it self somewhat with the water flow. They are also fairly easy to clean from above the downstream side of the entrance. Pulling the debris up the rack and off. I wouldn't put one on the outfall. If a kid does go in, at least he will be washed out.

Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.

http://WWW.amlinereast.com

 

[BelspringKen]

We had an instance where the clients wanted us to do that.
We were able to use a drop inlet to catch flow from the ditch rather than use a culvert.

Public safety is a big concern. If its in a residential area, better to be safe than sorry.

 

[TerryScan]

In 1999, during Huricane Floyd, three children were swept into a storm drain pipe. Two died.

One thing I recall about the story that I found personnally troubling was that parents allowed (or did not supervise) small children to play in a flooded ditch during a huricane.

http://tinyurl.com/jgkft

http://tinyurl.com/gdgd9

 

[DMcGrath]

A quick call to the jurisdiction's Public Works Dept (or equivalent) may end the discussion. They might be required outright under certain conditions.

 

[proletariat]

I would not use them either if not required to by ordinance sometimes. I can even see a case for bars on the upstream end inside of a residential subdivision where debris will be kept to a minimum. Downstream usage is dumb, however. In order to save money, I've specified a Contech galvanized end section w/ bars instead of a DW endwall on the downstream end.

 

[LHA]

Thanks for the input, all.

Thanks to Terry for the detail. It is reassuring to know that I had started to draft one up myself, and it is conceptually identical to the DelDOT one you cited...6"clear, horizontal bars only.

I can live with them on the inlets, I've told the PM that. On the endwalls is just crazy. It appears many of you agree.

They are not req'd by local Ord., just some Arch telling me that "everyone always does it" and "it's common sense". When I point out that there are more pipes without them than with them, so apparently everyone doesn't do it; or that intentionally placing an obstruction across an artificially created floodway (which is what a stormpipe is) is against common sense, the room gets quite.

I will, however, put them on outlet ends, where the pipe leads directly to a sumped Water Quality inlet. Those have WQ hoods over the ends, and I am worried that a kid couldn't get out of that. Also, no debris will be expected, because of the hood.

Engineering is the practice of the art of science - Steve

 

[blueoak]

I see grates on endwalls that are good for safety. We get a lot of flash floods. The city maintenance people say it is a pain to install because they have to spend a while walking the pipes to get out kids and homeless. On critical flood control structures I have seen pins built to break. You have to reinstall and sometimes search for your grate.