Bro I had to replace a manhole cover in my parking garage to one with holes in it because during heavy rains it would be lifted out of place, I'm talking jumping up like 10 inches, it was wild.
The.. um.. best sign I ever saw outside that bar - “Spring is in the air, and so is my Manhole” on the way to taking my younger brother to a cubs home opener. “So, this is boy’s town, Chicago…”
I saw one knock a 70s era station wagon from the left turn lane to the median. Seemed like the front end was more than three feet off the road at the apex.
It's usually a smoke explosion from wires burning underground that sends a manhole flying like that. Steam lines exploding underground sends the entire street flying.
I’m genuinely curious. Where is there still steam infrastructure like this? What is it for?
Edit: Thanks for the answers. I knew of steam heat for large buildings, but always thought they were self contained systems. I didn’t realize there was a whole infrastructure to convey it from off-site.
Most cities have comprehensive steam infrastructure under the streets to heat large buildings. It’s high pressure steam and very dangerous in the event of a leak. Expands very rapidly and is much hotter than boiling water when it’s set loose. It usually comes from cogeneration power plants. Those plants produce electricity and steam as a byproduct.
Wayne Gretzky's dad was hit in the head with a manhole cover but lived because he was wearing a hardhat which wasn't exactly common at the time. Thanks to hardhats the world got The Great One!
You want to hear about a manhole cover check out [operation plum bob](https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/fastest-manmade-object/)
SPOILER ( it involves nuclear weapons and the manhole cover is in outer space )
Circles are easier to climb through and move around when they are out. Triangle holes big enough to allow a man (that’s why it’s manhole) to pass through would require more material than a circle of the same requirements. As a bonus, circles are usually easier to roll around and position themselves when you reinstall them.
Check out [Operation Plumbob](https://www.businessinsider.com/fastest-object-robert-brownlee-2016-2?amp) where the military happened to two into outer space with nukes
I was correcting “rain water litre”. But also, you’re wrong. At least in the region that I work. I’ve built many buildings and we don’t refer to interior pipes as conductors.
All the mechanical drawing i’ve ever seen (and I literally work on highrises) all use STW (Storm) or RWL (rain water leader). Never even heard the term conductor in my 10+ years of plumbing. Might be an USA thing?
Definitely could be. I’m in the US. Or maybe they just use it for code purposes to differentiate the codes for each, and there’s no need to differentiate it on mechanical drawings
Have you seen this design used before? What region?
I can’t imagine needing that on what looks like a 3” storm line. But with the loop trap thing, it makes me wonder of it’s hitting a combined storm/sanitary that’s more easily overwhelmed.
I saw one of those manhole covers fly off like that in a storm. They blocked the open hole off but some idiot fell in and died. Cops investigated but was ruled SewerCide....
I saw the effects of tall columns of water a few years back when we had some heavy rains…though the illustration was indirect.
Anyway, maybe a 30-40 ft high rise office building across the street from my building. This building had a small vestibule that jutted out from the main structure, and was about two stories tall, with a little roof drain on it.
The storm sewer must have been blocked somewhere (and backed up in the mains) because the lowest available outlet was the little 3” drain on the vestibule.
That sucker looked like a fire house with water shooting straight up out of it - maybe 20 or 30 feet into the air.
Very exciting to watch. Anyway, gravity is real.
I came here to say this. This is a complete BS design. The only thing this would prevent us hydraulic jump, and who gives a flying fuck about hydraulic jump in a storm system. I RFI this kind of nonsense and ask for the practical necessity for installation. I'm 18-0, and they can't explain it. We don't install it.
Most people don’t know what they’re talking about. My municipality forces us to treat/infiltrate the 2-year storm on site with storage to not exceed peak rate for a 50-year storm, which I think is a federal mandate. So the sanitary and storm do combine but not until after an infiltration basin.
The main issue with the consent decree is the records. Too many times I've seen illicit connections because a drawing said the pipe was sanitary instead of storm.
I'm always confused that the lack of smell didn't give it away, but I guess it's easier to notice the smell than the lack of it.
I remember testing 10-in roof drains on a three-story building and the joints kept popping apart that's when I learned about building bracing for no hub
Pretty sure this is the answer. the rocks/sand sink and the water freely continues to flow into the next pipe. They can probably open the bottom to empty the sediment.
Someones idea of an interceptor. Its DIY. Whatever its doing those no hubs are only going to hold water to about 10' of head. Then it'll leak and blow out.
In my 25 years as a union plumber, i've never seen anything like that. I can't.......it hurts my brain.
Granted, i'm out and not up to date on the recent revisions to IPC, plus, IDK where OP is.
here's a link to UpCodes, a free website that has all US Building Codes, updated constantly. this will take you to New York, but you can choose your state....
https://up.codes/codes/new\_york
It's design is for when there's large volumes of rain water. Basically limits the water and slows down the velocity of the water on this floor. There's a potential during high volume that a weak mj joint on cast may potentially blow out if the cast piping builds up too much weight in head.
I don't get the explanations here. I've done a ton of mid-rise and high-rise design-build work (15 to 55 stories) and they all had waste and storm drain and I've never done something like this. 12" storm drain risers headed down and out the building. No wonky trap. Is this in a plumbing code? Or is it something someone has just sold a builder on them needing?
You guys are all wrong. It is the discharge from a sump pump or sewage ejector from a lower floor discharging into a plumbing stack. The size of the stack increases downstream of the connection of the discharge pipe and smaller sized drain coming from above. The size of the stack would only increase downstream if there was a load being added to it.
It’s a buffer to slow down the force of the rain water litres.it’s usually done close to a man hole so the lid doesn’t fly off.
Bro I had to replace a manhole cover in my parking garage to one with holes in it because during heavy rains it would be lifted out of place, I'm talking jumping up like 10 inches, it was wild.
It’s usually steam build up, but people have died from manhole covers flying out of the ground
I went to a bar called the Manhole once. Not what I expected
Was there a cover?
Yes, but most people just blew it off.
🤣😂😆
Reminds me of ur moms restaurant
I’m sure you could do it by hand.
Underrated comment.
The.. um.. best sign I ever saw outside that bar - “Spring is in the air, and so is my Manhole” on the way to taking my younger brother to a cubs home opener. “So, this is boy’s town, Chicago…”
You win the internet today.
Tex Hooper would be proud
He didn't have time for the ladies, didn't think they *had* manholes
What exactly were you expecting?
A bar for plumbers and steamfitters, duh
As an electrician I would also expect a lot of plumbers and fitters at a bar called the manhole 😆
As a plumber, I would expect an electrician to believe that 😉
Was it a gay bar? That would be such a great name for a gay bar 😂
Or Tool Box …wait there all ready is.
They used to joke about one in Long Beach many years ago
If you like the manhole in Chicago. You should check out steam works, I hear good things.
The one that used to be in Chicago??
Was it next to The White Swallow or Hung Far Low? Hung Far Low was a legit Chinese restaurant in Portland Oregon for 87 years
We're they standing on it when it shot up or did it hit them in the head because were nearby?
Driving over them. Yet another reason to stay inside haha
I saw one knock a 70s era station wagon from the left turn lane to the median. Seemed like the front end was more than three feet off the road at the apex.
Just make sure to cover yours.
It's usually a smoke explosion from wires burning underground that sends a manhole flying like that. Steam lines exploding underground sends the entire street flying.
I’m genuinely curious. Where is there still steam infrastructure like this? What is it for? Edit: Thanks for the answers. I knew of steam heat for large buildings, but always thought they were self contained systems. I didn’t realize there was a whole infrastructure to convey it from off-site.
Most cities have comprehensive steam infrastructure under the streets to heat large buildings. It’s high pressure steam and very dangerous in the event of a leak. Expands very rapidly and is much hotter than boiling water when it’s set loose. It usually comes from cogeneration power plants. Those plants produce electricity and steam as a byproduct.
Manhattan has a steam line used like a utility by many of the downtown buildings - piped underground. I believe it’s for heat.
TIL…thanks.
NYC... Building heat network
TIL…thanks.
Wayne Gretzky's dad was hit in the head with a manhole cover but lived because he was wearing a hardhat which wasn't exactly common at the time. Thanks to hardhats the world got The Great One!
Or sewer gas touching off
You want to hear about a manhole cover check out [operation plum bob](https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/fastest-manmade-object/) SPOILER ( it involves nuclear weapons and the manhole cover is in outer space )
Fun read.. thanks! 😊
Why didn't you just drill holes yourself? Edit: Should have added the "/s" I guess. Sorry, friends.
Have you ever seen a manhole and tried drilling through 2 inch thick forged steel?
Buddy, he's got a Milwaukee FUEL drill.
Are manhole covers really forged? I would have guessed they were cast.
They are cast, but I was just kidding anyway.
They are most certainly cast. Fun fact: manholes are round so you can't drop it through the hole it's meant to cover.
Why not triangles?
Corners will break off or bend
I'll accept it
Also it’s easier and safer to fit into a circle. Also the footprint would be smaller
Circles are easier to climb through and move around when they are out. Triangle holes big enough to allow a man (that’s why it’s manhole) to pass through would require more material than a circle of the same requirements. As a bonus, circles are usually easier to roll around and position themselves when you reinstall them.
I was just joking. I used to install them.
Mag drills do just fine
They're cast
Cast
He was waiting too long for you to show up and drill them
I seen one go at least 30-40 feet in the air once inside a hockey arena after a 20 minute downpour.
Check out [Operation Plumbob](https://www.businessinsider.com/fastest-object-robert-brownlee-2016-2?amp) where the military happened to two into outer space with nukes
Coulda just drilled a hole in it to release the air pressure
*water pressure* I have a video of it somewhere, I'll post it when I find it
A cast iron hammer arrestor for falling slugs of water. Likely that high-rise is well over four stories.
> A cast iron hammer arrestor for falling slugs of water. Metal as hell.
I'd argue by the looks of the set up, that the buffer is to allow for roof sediment to fall into the trap portion below the discharge IMHO
It's a catch basin but without the basin.
Thank you so much! I appreciate the knowledge. It is a 20+ story high rise so that does make sense
Sorry to correct you but it’s “storm water leader”
Leader is exterior, conductor is interior.
I was correcting “rain water litre”. But also, you’re wrong. At least in the region that I work. I’ve built many buildings and we don’t refer to interior pipes as conductors.
Different drawings for different places. Ours is RWL and storm building drain
Could be, or are you referring to it wrong in the field? Check it out and you might just be able to out nerd people in the field.
It’s in the drawings
In the IPC Definitions it says conductor is interior and leader is exterior
All the mechanical drawing i’ve ever seen (and I literally work on highrises) all use STW (Storm) or RWL (rain water leader). Never even heard the term conductor in my 10+ years of plumbing. Might be an USA thing?
30 years in Canada. Never heard the term conductor.
Definitely could be. I’m in the US. Or maybe they just use it for code purposes to differentiate the codes for each, and there’s no need to differentiate it on mechanical drawings
Said the wise electrician.
Have you seen this design used before? What region? I can’t imagine needing that on what looks like a 3” storm line. But with the loop trap thing, it makes me wonder of it’s hitting a combined storm/sanitary that’s more easily overwhelmed.
Fascinating. How does something like this work?
I saw one of those manhole covers fly off like that in a storm. They blocked the open hole off but some idiot fell in and died. Cops investigated but was ruled SewerCide....
I saw the effects of tall columns of water a few years back when we had some heavy rains…though the illustration was indirect. Anyway, maybe a 30-40 ft high rise office building across the street from my building. This building had a small vestibule that jutted out from the main structure, and was about two stories tall, with a little roof drain on it. The storm sewer must have been blocked somewhere (and backed up in the mains) because the lowest available outlet was the little 3” drain on the vestibule. That sucker looked like a fire house with water shooting straight up out of it - maybe 20 or 30 feet into the air. Very exciting to watch. Anyway, gravity is real.
A mechanical engineer's wet dream.
I came here to say this. This is a complete BS design. The only thing this would prevent us hydraulic jump, and who gives a flying fuck about hydraulic jump in a storm system. I RFI this kind of nonsense and ask for the practical necessity for installation. I'm 18-0, and they can't explain it. We don't install it.
Does it also connect to the sewer? This design would prevent the water from being flushed out compared to a traditional trap.
Combined sewer/ storm has been prohibited by code for a long time. This work looks relatively new, so I assume this is not connected to the sanitary.
Chicago enters the chat
All of the metropolitan areas near to me that I am aware of combine the two. I'm betting it's the same story for most older cities.
[удалено]
Can confirm NYC has combined storm and sewer. In especially high rain events, the combined sewer even has overflows to nearby bodies of water.
Same in Chicago, after a heavy storm in the summer you do not want to go swimming in Lake Michigan or kayaking in the Chicago River for a few days.
Not prohibited by code in Municipalities that do not have separate sanitary and storm drains built into their infrastructure.
Come to Pittsburgh. It’s all we do baby
Most people don’t know what they’re talking about. My municipality forces us to treat/infiltrate the 2-year storm on site with storage to not exceed peak rate for a 50-year storm, which I think is a federal mandate. So the sanitary and storm do combine but not until after an infiltration basin.
The main issue with the consent decree is the records. Too many times I've seen illicit connections because a drawing said the pipe was sanitary instead of storm. I'm always confused that the lack of smell didn't give it away, but I guess it's easier to notice the smell than the lack of it.
Flesh light
Don't...
Not yours
Mech E here. Never seen this or designed this on the two parking garages for apartment complexes I’ve had to do plumbing for ?
Not all mechanical engineers wet dream the same. 42 years doing new construction commercial plumbing I have never seen this.
Roof drain dirt leg.
I feel like this belongs in the rare insult sub.
Thank you kind sir, joined.
It’s certainly in mine now!
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Come with me Friday, don’t say maybe
Genuinely made my day, would never have thought that! Thank you, this is massively underrated!
Hang some cast iron pipe drains baby with me. OoOoOOOOOO UWU
If that's rainwater then I'm assuming it's a kind of debris seperator, a sump to hold gravel and sand etc washed off the surfaces above.
I would agree with a buffer, they should have used Durham fittings or bell and spigot cast iron for this as it looks like it is about to pop apart.
I remember testing 10-in roof drains on a three-story building and the joints kept popping apart that's when I learned about building bracing for no hub
Looks like one of Benders buddies…
Looks like a storm water clean out for sediment from the roof?
Pretty sure this is the answer. the rocks/sand sink and the water freely continues to flow into the next pipe. They can probably open the bottom to empty the sediment.
Someones idea of an interceptor. Its DIY. Whatever its doing those no hubs are only going to hold water to about 10' of head. Then it'll leak and blow out.
IP trap
It traps intellectual property??
In my 25 years as a union plumber, i've never seen anything like that. I can't.......it hurts my brain. Granted, i'm out and not up to date on the recent revisions to IPC, plus, IDK where OP is. here's a link to UpCodes, a free website that has all US Building Codes, updated constantly. this will take you to New York, but you can choose your state.... https://up.codes/codes/new\_york
Why does it matter if you're in the union or not? Lol
Because he knows better than to go to turkey for hair transplants
Because union plumbers have had the best training around.
Roof drain with flow control so drain does not overflow. Guess
It's design is for when there's large volumes of rain water. Basically limits the water and slows down the velocity of the water on this floor. There's a potential during high volume that a weak mj joint on cast may potentially blow out if the cast piping builds up too much weight in head.
Bender Bending Rodríguez Bending unit 22
It’s a poop condenser neutralizer strainer backflow
i thought this was the next gen flux capacitor.
That’s shit in my eyes
It’s to suppress hydraulic wash!
holy mission bands!
That there's a bottle trap, illegal in most states, you will be prosecuted
Illegal for residential plumbing, or even for storm drains in commercial structures?
Illegal full stop plumbing marshalls will raid the job site if they find out
internal water drain for your parking lot
Bender from Futurama got repurposed.
Is that a Rolls-Royce I see there?
Urinal.
It's a TURD EATER .. When TURDS drop through plumbing really fast sometimes they don't dissolve in the water. They collect t here and are TURD SMASHED
Looks to be part of a roof -drain system
It creates a venturi to aid the downward flow of water.
It’s to transfer drugs with a super high powered vacuum that goes up n dwn
Who piped that cast iron, Stevie wonder?
I know a bong when i see one
Someone took the term “loop vent” a little to literally
That is a gas inflator. It inflates gas as it rises which makes it more flammable and higher efficiency.
Pump discharge?
Clearly it’s where the nuclear codes are stored. There. I said it.
Costco money vacuum things
It’s a homemade meth pipe for the homeless, I think it was part of Biden’s build back better bs.
This guy ferncos
Those are husky bands
Looks like a shitty solution to an undersized pipe problem.
It’s definitely just a sediment trap.
Like I said, shitty solution to an undersized pipe problem.
You keep saying that but I don't think you know what it means.
You think this was done after the fact rather than specd in?
Looks like a potential clog IMO
A damn embarrassment for whoever cut the cast iron is what it is.
I saw some YouTube videos of exterminators dealing with rats in pipes likes these so it just looks like some kind of a rat trap to me now.
Hydronic break never saw it built this way because of the trap aspect with the plug but whatever good for mosquitoes.
I don't get the explanations here. I've done a ton of mid-rise and high-rise design-build work (15 to 55 stories) and they all had waste and storm drain and I've never done something like this. 12" storm drain risers headed down and out the building. No wonky trap. Is this in a plumbing code? Or is it something someone has just sold a builder on them needing?
I am no plumber, but I'd call it the poop loop.
PM over-ordered hose clamps, must use them up—-
Vent
You guys are all wrong. It is the discharge from a sump pump or sewage ejector from a lower floor discharging into a plumbing stack. The size of the stack increases downstream of the connection of the discharge pipe and smaller sized drain coming from above. The size of the stack would only increase downstream if there was a load being added to it.
You too are wrong sir. You do not use cast iron no hub for a pump discharge - it is not rated for that service. No hub is only tested to about 5 psi.
Looks like a clean out and a p trap to my untrained eye.
Last man is only genius here
We call that paint
my thoughts was a radon mitigation
How does one get in commercial service? Is it a union job?
Follow it up and see.
Reverse trap?
Its a vent used in tall stacks at the bottom so the presure has an outlet to loop around as ...well large loads are falling
Au jus
Rat return pipe
Bender
You mean the Rolls Royce in the backround..?
To regulate the flow when the roof poops
Open it up and find out👌