Sewer Pipe Installation Requiring a Pipe Laser 1

[TBCEng07]

Some of the inspectors have been requesting that we require contractors to use a pipe laser for sanitary sewer construction. I think about half of the contractors around here use a laser. The others just use a rotating head laser level or some of the old timers will still shoot the elevations with an engineer's level.

What has everyone else seen used as far as specifications? right now our spec does not require a pipe laser. To me this falls into a "means" and "methods" area. as long as they get the pipe installed at the correct elevation and slope i dont really care if they use a carpenter's level. to write a spec to tell them how to do the work seem overkill.

 

[coloeng]

I would agree that this is in the "means and methods" realm of the contractor. If your inspectors are having issues with the sewer line not being installed properly then they should make the contractor redo the work. If it is truly a problem,the contractors will get the equipment that they need to properly install the sewer line instead of having to pay to redo work.

I would be nervous about specifying the means and methods because if for some reason they didn't work, and the contractor can show that they didn't work, guess who could be on the hook for any problems.

 

[semo]

Some of it depends upon how accurate you need to be and what slope you are trying to obtain. If it is an 8" pipe at minimum slope (0.4% grade), the fall across a 20 ft stick of pipe is only 0.08 feet. Very hard for a lot (not all) of contractors to install accurately.

It is some means and methods; however, it also makes installation easier and the better contractors will use it. Having a contractor not use the laser in todays time is like getting a survey performed using a chain. Why not let them install it with a 4 foot level and base the slope on the bubble location?

I would not trust a contractor that doesn't use a laser.

Making a contractor redo the work is easier said than done and making sure it's done correctly the first time is the best solution. I am not afraid of it being in the specifications and have had to point it out in our specifications occasionally. Usually to a contractor that hasn't constructed sewer line many times.