Table 300.5 Paver Walk

[infinity]

I have PVC pipe under a residential paver walk in a single family dwelling. What is the minimum burial depth? Is a concrete paver walk considered equivalent to a concrete walk?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

So the question is whether a brick paver is equivalent to 2" of concrete? Well you know the answer is going to be that pavers can come up easily so you need 18" but this is an authority having jurisdiction call. IMO, I would use the concrete dimensions

 

[Little Bill]

Well, location column, 2nd down, says "in trench below 2" concrete OR EQUIVALENT. So I would say a paver would be "equivalent" and you could use a 12" trench.

 

[ActionDave]

I've used the "or equivalent" wording to my advantage when running pipe under pavers.

 

[infinity]

Well, location column, 2nd down, says "in trench below 2" concrete OR EQUIVALENT. So I would say a paver would be "equivalent" and you could use a 12" trench.

I've used the "or equivalent" wording to my advantage when running pipe under pavers.

That was my thought as well. The rationale being that no one is going to dig up the PVC unless they remove the concrete paver walk. Pavers are at least 2" thick and made of concrete so if they do not meet the "or equivalent" requirement then what would?

 

[Fred B]

That was my thought as well. The rationale being that no one is going to dig up the PVC unless they remove the concrete paver walk. Pavers are at least 2" thick and made of concrete so if they do not meet the "or equivalent" requirement then what would?

While I agree with paver options just note there are a lot of paver thicknesses available. Some of the more decorative are not a full 2in, then not meeting the requirements. But maybe if HO might look to have a decorative paver the possibility would be to lay subgrade the 2in paver then any decorative paver can be put above.

 

[ActionDave]

Concrete comes in different grades and hardnesses. There's reinforced concrete and un-reinforced. A large degree of concretes strength is relative to the amount of water added when it is poured and most guys wet it up more than what is recommended. Maybe 1 inch of paver is all it takes to equal 2 inches of concrete.

 

[Fred B]

Concrete comes in different grades and hardnesses. There's reinforced concrete and un-reinforced. A large degree of concretes strength is relative to the amount of water added when it is poured and most guys wet it up more than what is recommended. Maybe 1 inch of paver is all it takes to equal 2 inches of concrete.

Unfortunately the code is not indicating any of these considerations regarding concrete grade or reinforcement, only thickness. So my interpretation would be 2 inches regardless of composition, baring code modification that would include further criteria.