10 Things to Consider When Buying Corrugated Metal Arch Pipe

Understanding your local requirements for culvert and drainage projects isn't always straightforward. Below you'll find some of the basics you'll need to know when shopping for culverts, as well as some beneficial tools and resources to help make shopping for culverts an easier experience. These are some of the most common questions we're asked when our clients are researching culverts, and we hope these resources can help you in your journey.

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If you have additional questions, we're here to help on-site at  Elcho Road, Wellandport. Or both and at 905-386- or .

What type of culverts exist? Which culvert is best?

There are two common types of culverts, Corrugated Steel Pipe (CSP) and High-Density Polyethylene Pipe (HDPE). CSP is available in multiple factory-applied finishes to accommodate the wide variety of performance and hydrology considerations including Galvanized, Aluminized Type 2, and Polymer- Laminated. HDPE BOSS ranges from 100mm to 900mm in diameter. It combines a smooth interior wall and annular exterior corrugations for gravity-flow drainage applications.

CSP offers the optimum combination of strength, flexibility and performance, and is available in round or pipe arch profiles.

HDPE BOSS is more lightweight and cost-effective when compared to CSP. While maintaining durability, chemical resistance, and UV resistance.

CSP Culvert Profiles

HDPE Benefits

How do I properly install culvert?

To learn more about the general installation guidelines of CSP, view this Corrugated Steel Pipe Institute (CSPI) installation manual.

The CSPI is the association of Canadian corrugated steel pipe (CSP) manufacturers. An impartial organization that works with manufacturers, engineers, and municipalities around the world to gather data and information.

Our HDPE culverts are manufactured by Armtech, as a part of their BOSS product line. For Installation steps, view page 5 of our HDPE culvert brochure.

Culvert warranties are case-specific. Let us know if you have any issues and we will assess the situation to find a solution. Make sure to follow proper installation procedures to reduce the risk of issues. Most importantly, ensure that the product you're buying is the correct one for your job. We're more than happy to assist you with the process of culvert selection.

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Want more information on Corrugated Metal Arch Pipe? Feel free to contact us.

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What culvert does my municipality require?

We highly recommend checking your local municipal requirements prior to purchasing your culvert. Municipalities can have specific regulations for where or how HDPE and CSP culverts can be installed.

CSP: Manufactured to CSA Standard G401

HDPE: Manufactured to meet or exceed the cell class requirements of ASTM D.

Roadauthority.com offers some guidelines, information, and prequalification's for specific culverts being used in public infrastructure. They also offer links to the CSP and HDPE culverts available at Ontario Agra. Both our CSP and HDPE culverts are fully certified to meet or exceed municipal requirements.

If you have any questions that weren't addressed in this article, please reach out to our sales team for assistance. With years of knowledge and experience across the province, we've got the answers you're looking for.

(905) 386- |  |  Elcho Road, Wellandport, ON

One is a relatively shallow but wide ditch, approximately 18" deep by about 8' across. I have kept it very shallow, flat, and wide as that is the best way to prevent erosion. Typically, it has only a little bit of water which could easily be handled by a 10" culvert about 90% of the time. HOWEVER, about 2-3 times each year, we have a deluge which will result in the entire ditch being full. Also, this ditch runs along about 100yds of my new road, before it dumps out to the side and away.

I need to add a culvert to connect my new road to an old access point and therein lies my issue.

I need something which will handle the high water, but I need it to be relatively shallow depth given the grade and adjacent road height. Overall, we figure an 18" culvert will handle the load, however, I don't have 18" of depth to work with, and cover it adequately. I looked at putting 2 culverts side by side, but putting in 2-12" culverts does not provide the amount of even 1 18". Close, but not quite. And I add in the difficulty of putting 2, in line culverts side by side, in such a way that they don't wash out. I know I can use concrete and build a wall, etc, but I am trying to keep this as simple and 'unobtrusive' as possible.

So I found a 'pipe arch' which sounds like it will work, but I have spoken to no one who has used them before. Typically, it appears, they are used in more major road construction and are larger in diameter, ie several feet. But they do make an 18" pipe arch, which is basically an 18" corrugated metal culvert 'squashed down' to a semi-oval 12" height. Apparently it maintains the capacity of the 18" culvert but takes up the 'height' of a 12". This would allow me to install it with adequate cover in place of a 12" culvert but provide the needed capacity.

In reading about installation, it appears to be pretty standard, just must be sure to adequately compact soil below the lower curvature, then install with normal compaction and cover.

But I wanted to ask whether anyone here has used them and has anything more to offer in thoughts and/or recommendations in their use or avoidance.

I have been putting in a new road, and finally have reached the last 2 places which will need culverts.One is a relatively shallow but wide ditch, approximately 18" deep by about 8' across. I have kept it very shallow, flat, and wide as that is the best way to prevent erosion. Typically, it has only a little bit of water which could easily be handled by a 10" culvert about 90% of the time. HOWEVER, about 2-3 times each year, we have a deluge which will result in the entire ditch being full. Also, this ditch runs along about 100yds of my new road, before it dumps out to the side and away.I need to add a culvert to connect my new road to an old access point and therein lies my issue.I need something which will handle the high water, but I need it to be relatively shallow depth given the grade and adjacent road height. Overall, we figure an 18" culvert will handle the load, however, I don't have 18" of depth to work with, and cover it adequately. I looked at putting 2 culverts side by side, but putting in 2-12" culverts does not provide the amount of even 1 18". Close, but not quite. And I add in the difficulty of putting 2, in line culverts side by side, in such a way that they don't wash out. I know I can use concrete and build a wall, etc, but I am trying to keep this as simple and 'unobtrusive' as possible.So I found a 'pipe arch' which sounds like it will work, but I have spoken to no one who has used them before. Typically, it appears, they are used in more major road construction and are larger in diameter, ie several feet. But they do make an 18" pipe arch, which is basically an 18" corrugated metal culvert 'squashed down' to a semi-oval 12" height. Apparently it maintains the capacity of the 18" culvert but takes up the 'height' of a 12". This would allow me to install it with adequate cover in place of a 12" culvert but provide the needed capacity.In reading about installation, it appears to be pretty standard, just must be sure to adequately compact soil below the lower curvature, then install with normal compaction and cover.But I wanted to ask whether anyone here has used them and has anything more to offer in thoughts and/or recommendations in their use or avoidance.

For more information, please visit Corrugated Pipe Bunker.