Why You Should Consider Joint Trenching

October 28, 2021 3:37 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

If you’re building a new home or business, you might be wondering, what does joint trenching do? How can this process benefit your project? Joint trenching, or common trenching, is a common practice in the early stages of construction. It involves bundling different utilities together and burying them in one single trench. Construction crews can include pipes and cabling for electricity, gas, water and telecommunications all in a common trench, including main lines and service lines.

What is the purpose of joint trenching? Read on to learn the basics you need to know.

What is the purpose of joint trenching?

The practice of joint trenching is increasing throughout the country. To answer the question of what joint trenching does, it essentially makes the construction process easier. It saves you money in any building construction project.

Instead of creating several trenches to install underground utilities, you really only need to create one. This translates to significant time shaved off your project calendar, reducing your costs in a meaningful way.

What is the process of joint trenching?

During joint trenching, utility companies coordinate installation scheduling, with the electric lines typically going in first. A professional excavation contractor will first create the trench, then provide all necessary site information to utility companies.

Hiring the right excavation contractor is essential, since certain utility lines can’t run too closely together. Choose a reputable contractor with a great record of service, since trench design needs to account for each utility’s particular standards for depth.

What are the advantages of joint trenching?

Other than the reduction in project timelines and construction costs, as described above, joint trenching provides one key advantage: it keeps all utilities concentrated in one place. Joint trenching relieves underground utility congestion, making it much easier for you or anyone working on your property to know where not to dig.

If you decide to take on any property improvements in the future, joint trenching makes that process much easier, since there’s only one trench to work around. Should any underground utility lines need repair, you’ll easily know where to dig, which translates to less environmental disturbance.

What other considerations should you keep in mind with joint trenching?

Water and electricity don’t mix, and neither do electricity and telecommunication lines. The design of a joint trench needs to follow local codes regarding how pipes and cables are placed within the trench. Pay close attention to ensure adequate spacing between lines and provide enough of a dirt buffer between them to make sure they function safely and efficiently for years to come. For the sake of everyone’s safety, follow these guidelines, at minimum:

  • 24 inches between electric and gas lines
  • 12 inches between water and electric lines
  • 12 inches between electric and telecommunication lines

Remember to keep all electric line trenches at least 24 inches away from sewer lines, both horizontally and vertically.

Now that you understand what the purpose of joint trenching is, finding the right excavation contractor will ensure you get the best results from the process. Contact Es7 Comm-2 U, Inc. today. We have extensive experience creating joint trenches that keep construction projects on time and on budget.

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