Section 217.58 - Testing Requirements for Manholes(a) All manholes must pass a leakage test.(b) An owner shall test each manhole, after assembly and before backfilling, for leakage using hydrostatic exfiltration testing, vacuum testing, or any other method approved in writing by the executive director. A manhole must be tested separately and independently from the collection system pipes. (1) Hydrostatic Testing. (A) The maximum leakage rate for hydrostatic testing or any alternative test methods is 0.025 gallons per foot diameter per foot of manhole depth per hour.(B) To perform a hydrostatic test, an owner shall seal all wastewater pipes coming into the manhole with an internal pipe plug, fill the manhole with water, and maintain the test for at least one hour.(C) A test for concrete manholes may use a 24-hour wetting period before testing to allow saturation of the concrete.(2) Vacuum Testing. An owner must perform vacuum testing according to either subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph. If a manhole fails the vacuum test, the owner must apply grout to the exterior of the excavated manhole before retesting the manhole.(A) Texas Test. (i) To perform a vacuum test, an owner shall plug all lift holes and exterior joints with a non-shrink grout and plug all pipes entering a manhole.(ii) Grout may not be placed in horizontal joints before testing.(iii) Stub-outs, manhole boots, and pipe plugs must be secured to prevent movement while a vacuum is drawn.(iv) An owner shall use a minimum 60 inch/lb torque wrench to tighten the external clamps that secure a test cover to the top of a manhole.(v) A test head must be placed at the inside of the top of a cone section, and the seal must be inflated in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.(vi) There must be a vacuum of 10 inches of mercury inside a manhole to perform a valid test.(vii) A test does not begin until after the vacuum pump is off.(viii) A manhole passes the test if after 2.0 minutes and with all valves closed, the vacuum is at least 9.0 inches of mercury.(B) American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Test. The owner may require manhole testing that meets the requirements of ASTM D1244-11.30 Tex. Admin. Code § 217.58
The provisions of this §217.58 adopted to be effective August 28, 2008, 33 TexReg 6843; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 40, Number 47, November 20, 2015, TexReg 8307, eff. 12/4/2015