Basic tab options

Choose how you want to specify the width of the trench. Then see the associated settings for each method below. As pipe sizes increase, the width will automatically increase.

• Total width - Select this to specify the fixed width of the trench from side to side, as well as a bottom offset and optional offsets around nodes.
• Side widths - Select this to specify whether to measure from inside or outside the pipe, side and minimum trench widths, and a bottom offset, as well as optional offsets around nodes.
• Diameter multipliers - Select this to specify whether to measure from inside or outside the pipe of the trench, a width as a factor of the pipe diameter, a minimum trench width, and a bottom offset, as well as optional offsets around nodes.

Method - Total width

Specify a total width for the trench (half of the width on each side of the center of the pipe). (1 above)

1. Center of shape
2. Invert of utility line
3. Height measured from center to lowest part of the shape

Figure: Height of user-defined shape

Note: Typically, you need a minimum of 1m (36") trench width that includes 0.3m (1') clearance on each side.
Note: For junction box nodes in a trench, the width is used, but any rotation angle is ignored.

Specify a depth for the trench bottom measured from the bottom of the pipe. (2 above)

Enter a height above the bottom of the trench to represent the hypothetical top of ground surface. (3 above)

Node

Adjust at nodes - Check this box to enable the settings below, which allow you to control the trench dimensions around utility nodes along a run.

For each node, the side-to-side and front-to-back offsets is determined. A template that has the bottom offset and appropriate side offset is placed before and after each node.

The type of utility node site improvement determines how the offsets are calculated:

• manhole - inside radius + wall thickness + offset
• junction box - width + wall thickness + offset (ignores box orientation)
• fitting - offset
• headwall - width + offset

Note: When you insert a template at a node, that template will be the driving template from that point on.
Note: Template adjustments at nodes are not shown in the preview pane.

Width offset - Specify a width for the trench on either side of a node.

Bottom offset - Specify a depth for the trench bottom measured from the bottom of a node.

Method - Side widths

Select an option for the point from which the side widths are measured:

• Inside - Select this to measure widths from the inner surface of the pipe.
• Outside - Select this to measure widths from the outer surface of the pipe.

• Left/Right- Specify the fixed widths on either side of the pipe. (1and 2 above)

Specify the minimum width of the trench. If this value is more than the total of the left + right side widths, then the two side values are adjusted up (in proportion) to meet the minimum. (3 above)

See the description for the same setting above.

See the description for the same setting above.

See the description for the same settings above.

Method - Diameter Multiplier

See the description for the same setting above.

Specify the factor by which to multiple the pipe's diameter (arrow above) to determine the left and right widths (1 and 2 above) of the trench.

See the description for the same setting above.

See the description for the same setting above.

See the description for the same setting above.

See the description for the same settings above.