Vitrified Clay Pipe Engineering Manual

Vitrified Clay Pipe

  • Over 5 Billion linear feet of VCP installed in the U.S.
  • In service in the U.S. for over 200-years
  • THE longest-lasting, most sustainable pipe material

The Vitrified Clay Pipe Engineering Manual has been prepared by the National Clay Pipe Institute (NCPI) and is offered by the member manufacturers of the Institute as an aid to those requiring engineering reference data applicable to the design, construction, installation, and testing of sewer systems and other projects in which Vitrified Clay Pipe (VCP) should be used.

For at least 6,500 years, clay pipe has been used in sanitary sewers.  The design standards and planned functions have changed significantly over the last six millennia, but the knowledge base acquired over that period is an important part of the development of the clay pipe of the 21st century.

Find out more about VCP, design guidelines, installation techniques, and long-term operations and maintenance in the Vitrified Clay Pipe Engineering Manual.

Get our Vitrified Clay Pipe Engineering Manual in its entirety by clicking on the button provided or go directly to the chapter of your interest by clicking on the links below.

Chapter 1: Vitrified Clay Pipe

Properties ● Pipe Specification Considerations ● Manufacturing Process ● Perforated Pipe ● Vitrified Clay Pipe Specification & Testing Standards

Chapter 2: Gravity Sewer Design

Planning and Layout ● Curvilinear Sewer Design ● Selecting Pipe Sizes ● Manning’s “n” Coefficient

Chapter 3: Corrosion, Solvent‐Based Chemicals, Abrasion & High Temperature Applications in Sanitary Sewers

Internal and External Corrosion ● Abrasion Resistance ● Solvent Based Chemical Applications ● High Temperature Applications

Chapter 4: Structural Analysis of Rigid Conduits, Underground

Using the Marston Load Equations for Computing Trench and Tunnel Loads ● Modified Marston Equation When CLSM Bedding is Utilized ● Concentrated and Distributed Superimposed Dead and Live Loading Equations

Chapter 5: Trench Load Tables

Chapter 6: Structural Design of Rigid Conduits, Underground 

Rigid Pipe Bearing Strength ● Effect of Trench Width ● Allowable Bedding and Backfill Materials ● Haunch Support ● Bedding Classes and Load Factors ● Design Factor of Safety

Chapter 7: Open Trench Construction

Excavation ● Trench Shoring ● Foundation Support ● Pipe Installation ● Compaction of Backfill

Chapter 8: Jacking Pipe & Trenchless Installation Methods

Vitrified Clay Jacking Pipe ● Slurry Microtunneling ● Static Pipe Bursting ● Pilot Tube Method

Chapter 9: Construction of Special Structures

Manholes ● Pipe Manhole Connections ● Terminal Cleanout Structures

Chapter 10: Residential Building Sewers

Lateral Sewer Installation ● Tapping an Existing Line

Chapter 11: Inspection & Testing

Inspection Tools ● Air and Hydrostatic Infiltration Acceptance Testing

Chapter 12: Operations & Maintenance

Sewer Cleaning ● Hydro-Mechanical Tools

Glossary of Terms

Index