Drainage
Installation Advice for Landscapes
I.
Multi-Flow in vertical installations
A.
Equipment needed:
-
4-inch chain trencher and/or trenching spade
-
wheelbarrow and/or turf utility vehicle such as a Gator™
or Mule™
B.
Materials needed:
-
appropriate size of Multi-Flow pipe
for collector system
-
appropriate Multi-Flow connectors
- clean,
very coarse, sand
|
- utility knife
- laser level or hand level
- centering devices (optional)
- water hose (optional)
- PVC or ABS pipe for transport system
- PVC or ABS adaptors if needed
- PVC tape
|

Begin trenching at the lowest point. Always check
with utilities before digging. |
C.
Procedure
1.
Trenching
Plot a path through your problem area to your discharge point
marking the path with paint or flags. The discharge point
can be a ditch, the street, a catch basin, another drain line
or a declining hillside. Begin trenching at the discharge
point and proceed toward the highest point of the problem
area. Stop periodically to ensure that you are maintaining
proper grade. Remove all excavated material from the site.
2.
Laying out your drain
Roll out your drain along side the trench. At the ends, pull
back the geotextile filter and snap the connectors in place.
They slip on more easily if you pre-stretch them. Push fittings,
such as end caps, couplers, side outlets or end outlets, firmly
over the pipe to ensure a secure fit. Then pull the fabric
over the fitting and hold it in place with wide water-proof
tape. This ensures that soil will not enter behind the fabric
and block the drain core.
3.
Connecting to transport system
Smooth, solid, rigid pipe makes for the most reliable transport
system. 3-inch pipe is used with 6-inch Multi-Flow; 4-inch
pipe is used with 12 and 18-inch Multi-Flow.
Frequently connection to the transport system will be made
with a multi-purpose connector. Most commonly this will
be a 0600M, 1200M, or 1800M. These connectors empty from
the bottom. A standard PVC or ABS elbow or tee can be slipped
over the Multi-Flow connector. Pipe glue will ensure a lasting
connection.
|

Cut
Multi-Flow collector lines to the desired length using a utility
knife.
A standard
PVC elbow can be slipped over the Multi-Flow connector.
|
In some situations it is best to discharge the water through
an end outlet or side outlet. In these cases, cut the plastic
membrane covering the opening of the outlet. Cut the hole
so that the exit pipe fits snugly and is located at the
bottom of the fitting. Insert the exit pipe into the opening
and seal the joint using wide waterproof PVC tape.
4.
Backfilling
Use clean very coarse sand to fill the trench. Hold Multi-Flow
in the center of the trench while backfilling. Bring the sand
to the surface or near to it. Jetting the sand-filled trench
with water will help to settle the sand in place quickly.
The trench can be topped off with topsoil or rock. Never cap
the trench with clay or other dense material.
|

Hold
Multi-Flow in the center of the trench while backfilling. |
II. Multi-Flow in horizontal installations

Planters
are one of several applications easily and effectively drained using
a horizontal installation.
|
A.
Equipment needed:
- spade and/or walk behind loader
- wheelbarrow and/or turf utility vehicle
- utility knife
- laser level or hand level
B.
Materials needed:
- appropriate size of Multi-Flow pipe for collector system
- appropriate Multi-Flow connectors
- clean, very coarse, sand
- PVC or ABS pipe for transport system
- PVC tape
|

This
multi-purpose outlet is one way to connect to the transport system
in a horizontal application. It connects to a 3-inch PVC or ABS
elbow. |
C.
Procedure
1.
Trenching
Usually horizontal installations do not require trenching.
When used in new constructions settings such as in planters,
under playground equipment, in golf greens, or under synthetic
turf, Multi-Flow is laid out over the prepared site prior
to bringing in fill. Mark a path from the system high point
to the discharge point. The discharge point can be a ditch,
the street, a catch basin, another drain line or a declining
hillside. If trenching is required, use a walk behind loader
and begin excavation at the lowest point and proceed toward
the highest point. Maintaining grade is especially critical
in horizontal installations. Remove excavated material from
the site.
2.
Laying out your drain
Roll out your Multi-Flow drain. At the ends, pull back the
geotextile filter and snap the connectors in place. They
slip on more easily if you pre-stretch them. Push fittings,
such as end caps or couplers firmly over the pipe to ensure
a secure fit. Then pull the fabric over the fitting and
hold it in place with wide water-proof tape. This ensures
that soil will not enter behind the fabric and block the
drain core.
|

Cover
with clean, very coarse sand before bringing in fill. |
3. Connecting to the transport system
Smooth, solid, rigid pipe makes for the most reliable transport
system. 3-inch pipe is used with 6-inch Multi-Flow; 4-inch
pipe is used with 12 and 18-inch Multi-Flow.
Connection
to the transport system will usually be made with a multi-purpose
outlet (taking in water from one side) or a multi-purpose
connector (taking in water from two sides). In the 6- inch
line, horizontal double wyes and horizontal crosses also
make good outlets. A standard PVC or ABS elbow or tee will
slide onto the Multi-Flow connector. Pipe glue will ensure
a lasting connection. Side outlets are also occasionally
used for this.
4.
Backfilling
Use clean very coarse sand to cover the Multi-Flow drain.
One to 2 inches of sand should be spread over the drain
and sand should extend 3 to 6 inches on each side of the
Multi-Flow. Never bring in fill containing clay or other
dense material. See
Selecting Backfill Material
for more information on this topic.
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more extensive version of this Landscape
Installation Guide can be opened in a printable PDF format.
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Technologies is qualified and always ready to assist customers in
designing and drawing drainage systems for their specific application.
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