Open construction (line construction)

Open construction in natural gas high pressure pipeline construction; the pipe to be laid is on the right, the excavation on the left

Laying pipes in an open trench

The open construction method is a method in pipeline construction for the underground laying of supply and disposal lines. As a rule, the surface of the earth is “opened” and a trench is dug to lay the lines.

more details

The trench can either be built under the protection of an embankment or with the help of a trench sheeting . This depends, among other things, on how deep the trench needs to be, how much space is available for the construction project and what kind of building site is required. Trenches that have not been sloped or built in are - for reasons of occupational safety - only permitted in Germany to a depth of 1.25 meters. In deeper trenches there is a risk that the trench walls collapse, which in addition to damage has often cost human lives.

After the pipes have been laid, the dug trench is backfilled and the soil is compacted .

An alternative to the open construction method is trenchless pipeline construction (also called "closed construction method"), in which there is no need to dig a trench and B. be laid with the help of horizontal bores .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ DIN 4124: 2010-10 Construction pits and trenches - embankments, shoring, working space widths ; P. 8