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An Expert Guide to Landdrain Installation
Even though heavy rains are nothing new to us in the UK, there's a significant difference between damp land after rainfall and waterlogged land. The latter can lead to serious issues for building foundations, nearby structures, landscaping, and garden areas. Usually caused by excessive rain, clay-rich soils, or proximity to large bodies of water, waterlogging demands immediate action. Prevention is often far better—and certainly less expensive—than a cure, which is why land drains are frequently considered a wise investment for areas prone to waterlogging.
Land drains, also known as perforated drain pipes, are a proven method used across various sectors, including commercial, residential, industrial, and agricultural settings, to channel surface water away from buildings and avoid flooding, standing water, and damage to fields, gardens, and properties. They're relatively straightforward and cost-effective to install, potentially preventing costly repairs down the line. In this guide, we'll provide you with useful information and installation advice if you're planning to implement a land drainage system as part of a commercial construction or residential DIY project.
Key Takeaways:
- Land drains, or perforated drain pipes, help redirect surface water away from buildings to prevent flooding, standing water, and property damage.
- These systems consist of perforated piping installed in trenches beneath the ground and covered with aggregate, enabling water to flow into a designated disposal point.
- Land drain pipes are typically made of high-density polyethylene (rHDPE), offering strength and durability while resisting water erosion. Available in a variety of lengths and diameters, they range from 60mm to 160mm and are suitable for different scenarios.
- There are two main types of land drain pipe: coils and twinwall drains. Twinwall drains are more robust due to their rigid structure, making them ideal for areas where significant weight may press down on the pipe.
Land drainage systems allow surface water to flow down into prepared trenches that house perforated pipes, which are embedded between layers of aggregate like gravel or stone chips. These pipes are installed at a slight gradient to ensure water flows smoothly through the perforations and into the pipes, eventually reaching a designated disposal point at a safe distance from any property. This disposal point is usually a storm drain, a soakaway system, or a nearby natural water source such as a stream or river.
This type of land drainage system is also known as a French drainage system, named not after the country but after the surname of an American judge and farmer who popularized the method in a book about farm drainage back in 1859.
Most land drainage piping is made from rHDPE because it offers reliable strength and durability without succumbing to water erosion. It comes in a range of lengths and diameters from 60mm to 160mm, with the most common sizes being 25m and 50m lengths. At EasyMerchant, we offer numerous length and diameter options to meet diverse needs.
There are two primary types of land drain pipe: coils and twinwall drains. Due to its rigid design, the twinwall type provides extra robustness, making it more suitable for situations where substantial weight might be placed above the pipe.
Unlike underground ducting, which follows a standardized color-coding system for easy identification, drainage pipes are solely designed to divert water and prevent waterlogging. Consequently, they are usually only available in standard shades of black or occasionally yellow. Always ensure that your land drain is kitemarked to BS4962:1989, as this indicates it has been tested and meets UK standards for approved use!
Installing a Land Drain System:
If you're dealing with a waterlogged garden, sports field, landscaped area, or driveway, or if a recent percolation test suggests potential future issues, you might be considering a land drain solution to resolve the problem. However, before starting, we recommend you take into account the following considerations:
- **Consult Relevant Authorities**: Once you have a general plan or layout for your garden or field drainage, the first step is to consult with the local authority to confirm that the proposed destination for collected water is permitted. Councils typically own storm drains, so exceeding their maximum capacity could result in flooding and hefty fines. Additionally, watercourses may be protected, so if you're directing water toward a nearby body of water like a river, stream, or lake, you’ll likely need permission from the Environment Agency.
- **Prevent Sediment Buildup**: To protect parts of your land drain system from sediment buildup that can obstruct water flow, you should either use a catch-pit or silt trap to stop soil, silt, and debris from accumulating and causing blockages, or install a non-woven geotextile approximately 10cm above the land drains to prevent stones, sand, and other materials from entering the pipes.
- **Select the Ideal Gradient**: For all collected water to flow freely from your land drains to your chosen and permitted disposal point, you must ensure that gravity works with your system rather than against it. A gradient of around 1 in 150 (0.666% Grade) is recommended for a stable and gradual flow. A steeper grade could cause water to flow too aggressively, potentially leading to flooding issues.
- **Choose the Perfect Soakaway Crate**: If you're planning to use a soakaway crate system as the disposal point for collected water instead of a storm drain or natural water source, ensure you select the appropriate crates. These crates act as temporary underground water storage tanks, so it’s crucial to pick ones with the correct load rating to handle any traffic above them.
- **Achieve Optimum Efficiency**: Unless you're addressing a very large waterlogged area, ideally, the land drain should be no more than 2.5 meters away from any part of the area experiencing surface water problems. In gardens, placing the land drain piping in a herringbone pattern with side branches connected to a central spine via Y junctions is the best approach. For larger areas, achieving a maximum distance of just 2.5 meters isn't usually practical or affordable, so the position of your land drain solution should be no further than 10 meters from the affected area.
At EasyMerchant, we stock a wide range of land drainage pipes and underground drainage products from leading manufacturers. Your order can be delivered swiftly thanks to our efficient delivery service. If you have any questions or can't find the product you need, feel free to call us, and we'll be happy to help you source exactly what you're looking for.
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