Problems with drainage

Would short lengths of steel drainage pipe where they pass through what was once reinforcement solve the problem?

thats not a bad idea, however im after strengthening under tension, over the length of the foundation strip, not sure that would compensate. But its a cracking idea, cheers

It's just that the habit these days is to use PVC pipe for underground drainage, which may not be strong enough for the duty if there is a need to maintain the reinforcement in the concrete contiguous with the drain.

Dutile iron may be another option if there are perceived to be long-term corrosion problems with steel, or a steel pipe lined with polythene may be a third possibility; certainly polythene liners are an acceptable re-fit for leaking drainage pipes where excavation and replacement is not viable.

Cheers, and your right to be honest.

Unfortunatley weve got all of the pipe already on site, we intend to protect it using polystyrene to allow for some compression, and bedding in plenty pea gravel surrounding the foundations to allow for settlement. Anyway, ive heard about mixing steel fibres into the foundations, what do you reckon, have you had any experience with the use of this?

One must always be honest.

Can you bend sections of rebar so as to circle the pipes (Make a cage) to protect them? Have an outer sheath of of steel pipe?

not a bad idea, but we have limited space, trying to maintain the depth of the foundations as they are. The drain passes through the floor-slab and out through the toe of the foundation, this would mean making the foundations deeper - unfortunately not an option.

Damn those designers!

As for the steel pipe I'm consulting the structural engineer at the moment and will let you all know what we decide to do,

Cheers

Just make sure when the problems start adding up, that the name of the designers is ready at hand, to swat away the flies.

I recommend calling your civil engineer as soon as something like this comes up. They should know more about the project site than anyone else and can solve your problem. If they don't and/or can't, then call us!

<...Damn those designers!...>

Not until they have been brought to site and shown why their design(s) don't work, and have had an opportunity to redesign!

Cheers all!

Youve been a big help, got a few new ideas to try out on future projects. Thought i'd let you know that we have decided to raise the ground levels surrounding the building and to add 3 extra courses of brick/ block work so that the drainage passes through the wall as opposed to the strip foundations, this wy we dont have to alter anything internally or adjust the foundations considerably

Cheers again

Simon

That's a good idea.