Hynds Box Culvert System D:01 October 2008

Precast reinforced concrete

Area(s) of Product Availability:

Applications introduction
• Stock Underpass for rural highway Hynds precast concrete box culvert units
crossings. are designed to be used as stormwater
• Pedestrian tunnels. culverts, stock underpasses for rural Product available in
• Stormwater Culverts. highway crossings, pedestrian tunnels,
• Vertical Chambers. ALL REGIONS
and vertical chambers.
Precast box culvert units simplify the
Unique Benefits construction process, allowing for the
• Large variety of strengths and rapid completion of works.
opening sizes - span and height can
be varied. This option is often more cost effective
• Speed of installation. than the in-situ construction process
• Low installation costs. required to achieve the same results.
• Purpose designed for various load
configurations up to
HN:HO-72. Design Options
• Longer life and smooth surface
when compared with steel culverts. Opening Size:
• Lower fill covers possible above the Stormwater Culverts
precast unit. Opening width and height is determined
HYNDS BRANCHES
• Able to be customised for special by the hydraulic requirements of the Technical Services Dep artment:
conditions or shapes. specific site. Hydraulic calculations Ph: 09 274 0316 Fax: 09 274 8393
• Simplifies preparation of site plans can be performed by referring to the techservice@hynds.co.nz
for council approval. CPAA “Hydraulics of Precast Concrete 0800 WE PIPE (93 7473)
• Optional precast wingwalls and Conduits Manual”.
headwalls available to match. NORTHERN REGION
Whangarei 09 438 7305
• Various joint sealing options Warkworth 09 425 9837
available. Albany 09 415 9259
Avondale 09 820 0122
Penrose 09 579 5605
Manukau 09 273 3053
Pukekohe 09 237 1274
CENTRAL REGION
Hamilton 07 847 3193
3m x 2m Box Culvert Underpass with Wingwalls - In-situ apron ready for casting. Tauranga 07 575 5791
Rotorua 07 346 0454
Te Kuiti 07 878 8326
Taupo 07 378 9915
CAPITAL REGION
Hastings 06 879 8989
New Plymouth 06 759 8157
Palmerston North 06 357 2638
Masterton 06 370 0700
Kapiti 04 297 0689
Petone 04 568 0933
Kaiwharawhara 04 472 4172
SOUTH ISLAND REGION
Nelson 03 543 8330
Amberley 03 314 8455
Christchurch 03 344 3500
Oamaru 03 434 3062
Cromwell 03 445 4760
Winton (Southland) 03 236 6044
Disclaimer: Users of the Hynds products and/or information within this
document must make their own assessment for suitability for their particular
circumstances. Product dimensions and specifications may vary according
to factory of manufacture or changes due to product improvements.
No warranty is neither expressed nor implied nor statutory is made by
Hynds in this document unless expressly stated in any sale and purchase
agreement entered into between Hynds and the user.

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Hynds Box Culvert System
Precast reinforced concrete

Table 1: Standard box sizes (other sizes made to order). Figure 1: Width and height diagram for Table 1.

HEIGHT

WIDTH

Recommended minimum cover over the

Pedestrian Tunnels box culvert is 400 - 500mm.
Opening size is to be determined by the
tunnel space desired. For Pedestrian CONCRETE SURFACE FINISHES
Tunnels, this is usually dependant on the
NZ Building Code. Hynds Box Culverts are generally
manufactured to F3/F4 finish as
detailed in NZS3114:1987 -
Stock Underpasses for Rural Highway
Specification for Concrete Surface
Crossings Finishes. This
The size of stock underpasses are
normally determined by the size of the
herd that will use the underpass or the
machinery that will be moved through
the underpass.
A rough guide to sizing a stock underpass
for the herd size is as follows:
• For a herd size of 450 - 650 head
of cattle, a 2m x 2m* box culvert
should be the minimum size opening
selected.
• For a herd size of 650 head of cattle
or more, the recommended minimum
size of the box culvert should be a
3m x 2m* structure.
The recommendations above are based
on the assumption that the underpass is
not too close to buildings on either side.
* Note: All sizes are span x depth.

sizes of Culverts
A variety of opening sizes are available
which suit most farm types and stock
quantities.
Preferred sizes are detailed in Table 1.
Box culverts can be manufactured with
other dimensions to suit specific site
conditions such as matching existing
box culverts.

Culvert Strength
Culvert strength is dependent on earth
loads, highway loads and cover to
the finished culvert. Hynds Technical
Services Department will design the
precast concrete box culverts to suit the
specified highway loading and cover.

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Hynds Box Culvert System
Precast reinforced concrete

Box Culverts being carefully placed on

well prepared bedding.

Basic Bedding Preparation Jointing

Sufficient foundation support and backfill Hynds box culverts are manufactured
compaction is required to prevent with a small spigot and socket joint
settlement of the imported layers conduit which locates and locks adjacent units
after installation. together. Joint gaps will vary from 5
to 20mm and may be left open
The bedding must be able to support
the full load of the installed culvert, it’s
contents, and the loads above the culvert.
For this reason the box culvert should be
laid on compacted granular hardfill to
the specified line and gradient. Bedding
design for a box culvert conduit should
be undertaken by a local consulting
engineer as local knowledge of ground
conditions is important to ensure a
successful installation.
As a general guide, the compacted
thickness of a basic bedding over the full
width of the trench can vary from 150mm
to 250mm thick (depending on culvert
bearing loads) with compacted layers not
exceeding 150mm thick. Trench width
for most should be installations equal
to the external width of the culvert plus
600mm.
Local soft spots in the trench must be
excavated and the voids filled with well
compacted hardfill to provide uniform
support under the entire structure. Failure
to do so could result in settlement of
the units at a latter stage. Additional
information is available in NZS3725.

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