336-431-5852
aceavant@aceavant.com
5358 Poole Rd, Archdale, NC 27263
336-431-5852
aceavant@aceavant.com
5358 Poole Rd, Archdale, NC 27263
Storm drain pipe installation, catch basins, culverts, and storm sewer systems for commercial and industrial site development across North Carolina
We install the complete storm drainage system from catch basins and inlets through storm pipe, manholes, and outlet structures.
Storm drain pipe installation is sequenced with earthwork and paving so pipe is in the ground before stone base and asphalt cover the corridor.
Storm drain basins and grated inlets are set to finished grade and coordinated with the paving layout so surface drainage flows to the designed collection points.
We install culvert pipe for road crossings, driveway entrances, and drainage channel crossings to NCDOT and project specifications.
RCP, HDPE, and corrugated metal pipe selected based on cover depth, load, and site conditions.
Trench excavation, pipe bedding, installation, and compacted backfill are part of our storm drain installation scope.
Riprap aprons and energy dissipators at storm system outlets prevent scour at the discharge point.
Storm drain installation handled alongside water, sewer, and force main by the same crew and point of contact.
A storm drain system is the network of underground pipes, inlets, basins, and structures that collects surface runoff from paved areas, roofs, and graded surfaces and conveys it to a detention basin, retention pond, or municipal storm sewer. On a commercial development site, the storm drainage system is what prevents parking lots from flooding, protects building foundations from water intrusion, and manages the increased runoff that results from replacing pervious natural ground with impervious pavement and rooftop. The system is designed by the civil engineer as part of the site plan and must be installed, inspected, and accepted before paving and site completion.
Storm drains and sanitary sewers are two separate underground pipe systems that are never connected to each other on a properly designed and constructed site. The storm drain system collects rainwater and surface runoff and conveys it to a surface water outlet, detention basin, or municipal storm sewer without treatment. The sanitary sewer system collects wastewater from buildings and conveys it to a treatment facility. Cross-connecting the two systems is a code violation that introduces untreated sewage into surface waterways and allows stormwater inflow to overload sanitary sewer treatment capacity. We install storm and sanitary systems as separate scopes with the separation distances and connection control required by the project design and local code.
Commercial storm drain pipe installation covers the full underground drainage system from the collection points at catch basin inlets through the pipe network and out to the system outlet. On a typical commercial development, the storm drainage scope includes trench excavation and bedding, storm pipe installation from inlets to the system outlet, storm manhole installation at grade change and access points, catch basin and inlet setting, outlet structures, and the riprap or energy dissipation protection at the discharge point.
We install storm drainage systems to the civil engineer’s design and the specifications of the local drainage authority, coordinating inspections and testing requirements throughout the installation.
Storm drain pipe material selection depends on the cover depth, the external load from traffic and soil, the pipe diameter, and the project specification. The most common materials for commercial storm drain installation are reinforced concrete pipe, high-density polyethylene pipe, and corrugated metal pipe.
Reinforced concrete pipe is the standard material for larger diameter storm mains and for installations beneath heavy traffic areas where load resistance is a priority. It is specified by most municipalities for storm mains that will be dedicated to the public system.
HDPE pipe is used for smaller diameter storm laterals and in applications where flexibility and light weight are advantages during installation. It is resistant to corrosion and handles differential settlement better than rigid pipe in unstable soil conditions.
Corrugated metal pipe is used for culverts, headwalls, and storm crossings where the installation conditions or cost requirements favor metal over concrete or HDPE. Service life depends on soil pH and moisture conditions.
We select pipe material based on the project design and the local drainage authority requirements, and we install each material type to the bedding and jointing requirements that the material specification demands.
We review the civil drainage drawings before mobilizing and coordinate with the local drainage authority on inspection hold points and testing procedures that apply to the installation.
Trench excavation is performed to the depth and width required for the pipe size, burial depth, and bedding thickness specified in the design. Trench walls are shored or sloped to OSHA requirements for the trench depth and soil conditions.
Bedding material is placed and compacted in the trench bottom to provide uniform support along the full pipe barrel. Proper bedding is one of the most important factors in storm pipe performance and longevity, and one of the most frequently skipped steps on storm drain installations where schedule pressure leads to shortcuts.
Storm pipe is installed in the trench from the outlet end working upstream, with joints made to the pipe manufacturer’s requirements and the project specification. Grade is maintained throughout installation to the slope shown on the civil drawings.
Catch basins, storm drain inlets, and manholes are set at the locations shown on the civil drawings, with frames and grates adjusted to finished pavement grade after paving is complete.
Outlet structures are installed at the system discharge point, with riprap aprons or energy dissipators placed to protect the outlet from scour and prevent erosion from concentrated discharge.
After pipe installation is complete and inspected, the trench is backfilled in compacted lifts to the density required by the project specification and the paving authority for installations beneath or adjacent to paved surfaces.
Storm drain basins and inlets are the collection points where surface runoff enters the underground drainage system. Catch basin installation involves setting a precast or cast-in-place structure at the design location, connecting the outlet pipe, and setting the frame and grate to finished pavement grade. Storm drain grate selection depends on the location and the type of surface drainage being collected. Grated inlets in traffic areas use heavy-duty frames rated for the wheel load they will carry. Inlets in pedestrian areas and landscaped zones use lighter frames and smaller opening grates suited to the surface they are set in.
We coordinate catch basin and inlet locations with the grading and paving design so surface drainage flows to the collection points as the civil engineer intended, and we set frames and grates after paving is complete so finished grades are accurate.
Storm drain pipe installation trench width, depth, shoring, and backfill requirements are governed by the pipe size, cover depth, soil conditions, and the traffic load that will be applied to the trench after backfill. Minimum trench width is typically specified as the pipe outside diameter plus a working clearance on each side to allow proper bedding placement and joint assembly. Trench depth is determined by the cover requirement for the pipe size and the traffic load, with minimum cover depths specified in the project design and the local authority’s standards. We excavate, shore, and backfill storm drain trenches to the requirements that apply to each installation location rather than applying a standard approach across all conditions.
Culvert installation conveys storm drainage beneath roads, driveways, parking areas, and other surface improvements where an open channel crossing is not practical. We install culverts for driveway entrances, road crossings, and drainage channel crossings to NCDOT standards and project specifications, including headwall and endwall construction, inlet and outlet protection, and the backfill compaction required to support the road or driveway structure above.
Culvert size is determined by the drainage area and the design storm flow, and pipe material is selected based on cover depth, load, and soil conditions. We install culverts to the invert elevations shown on the civil drawings and confirm that inlet and outlet grades match the drainage channel conditions at each end of the culvert.
Storm drain pipe failures, collapsed inlets, and blocked culverts on commercial properties cause surface flooding, pavement damage, and erosion that get worse with every rain event if not addressed promptly. We respond to storm drain repair needs on commercial and industrial properties with the excavation equipment and pipe materials to locate the failure, excavate to the damaged section, make the repair, and restore the trench and surface before the next storm event. Repair work includes video inspection of the pipe where the failure location is uncertain, excavation to the damaged section, pipe or structure repair or replacement, and trench restoration.
Storm drain pipe installation needs to be coordinated with water main, sanitary sewer, and other underground utilities to maintain separation distances and avoid conflicts in the trench corridor. Storm pipe is typically the largest diameter underground utility on a commercial site and is often installed first in areas where the pipe runs conflict with water and sewer alignments. We sequence wet utilities installation as an integrated scope so storm, water, and sewer are installed in the correct order relative to each other and relative to the grading and paving schedule.
Storm drain installation is on the critical path of commercial site development because paving cannot begin until underground drainage is complete and the trench is backfilled and compacted to the density required beneath the pavement structure. We work with the GC and civil engineer to phase storm drain installation within the overall site schedule so pipe is in the ground and inspected before stone base and paving crews need to move into each area of the site.
A storm drain is an underground pipe system that collects surface runoff from paved areas and conveys it to a detention basin, retention pond, or municipal storm sewer. It is separate from the sanitary sewer system and does not connect to wastewater treatment.
Storm drains collect rainwater and surface runoff and discharge it to surface water or detention without treatment. Sanitary sewers collect wastewater from buildings and convey it to a treatment facility. The two systems are never connected on a properly designed site.
Common materials include reinforced concrete pipe for larger mains and heavy traffic areas, HDPE pipe for smaller laterals and flexible installations, and corrugated metal pipe for culverts and crossings. Material selection is based on the project design and local authority specifications.
A catch basin is an underground structure with a grated surface inlet that collects surface runoff and connects to the storm drain pipe system. The basin provides a sump below the pipe outlet that traps sediment and debris before they enter the storm pipe.
Culvert installation conveys storm drainage beneath roads, driveways, and other surface improvements. We install culverts to NCDOT and project specifications including headwall construction, inlet and outlet protection, and the backfill compaction required to support the structure above.
Yes. We respond to storm pipe failures, collapsed inlets, and blocked culverts on commercial and industrial properties with the equipment and crew to diagnose, repair, and restore the system before the next storm event.
Yes. We self-perform storm, water, gravity sewer, and force main installation as an integrated wet utilities scope coordinated with grading and earthwork by the same team.