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Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:39 am
by Sparky83
This is an example of the most common error in site grading.

DO NOT use sketch circles to check the MINIMUM slope. You must measure the path that water will take downhill. Use sketch lines...shown in red. Sketch circles can only be used to measure a distance that is a straight line...basic geometry.

The green dimensions total 56'-0" even though the tips of the topo lines are within 50' of each other. Same for the blue dimensions at 65'-0" apart.

site grading no min slope.JPG


This file has better resolution. Thanks to mandyk650:

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 2:51 pm
by thd7t
Thank you! I have seen you post this diagram before, but was having trouble finding it. It looks like you are following low points (swales) and the percent grade is determined by the path of the water. Am I understanding this correctly?

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 4:42 pm
by Sparky83
thd7t wrote:Thank you! I have seen you post this diagram before, but was having trouble finding it. It looks like you are following low points (swales) and the percent grade is determined by the path of the water. Am I understanding this correctly?

The distance the water will travel....along the centerline of the swale (red lines) cannot exceed 50' if you have a min slope required of 2%.

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Fri Mar 03, 2017 9:40 am
by thd7t
This really clarified things for me.

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Sat Mar 04, 2017 10:20 pm
by Poedirty
Thank you!

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 10:34 am
by KOOTA
in order to avoid this you just make the distance between the 107' elevation swales larger? is there a max separation to stay with in, (talking about107 elevation line that goes around the building)

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 12:41 pm
by Sparky83
KOOTA wrote:in order to avoid this you just make the distance between the 107' elevation swales larger? is there a max separation to stay with in, (talking about107 elevation line that goes around the building)

The "points" coming from the north & south on the east side of the display should be close to each other. They are the same elevation so there is no minimum distance between them. If they are too far apart, they do not provide adequate runoff protection for the display.

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 7:09 pm
by redbird11
Hmmm...are you not changing your rise more than 1 foot?

1'-0"/.02= 50'-0". Something doesn't add up about this statement.

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 7:10 pm
by Sparky83
redbird11 wrote:Hmmm...are you not changing your rise more than 1 foot?

1'-0"/.02= 50'-0". Something doesn't add up about this statement.

What are you talking about?

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 2:26 pm
by redbird11
Sparky- I apologize, I see now that I did not know what I was questioning. The resolution of the screenshot showed up poorly on my phone. I have now looked at it on the computer, and I get it.

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 11:37 pm
by CAMARGO78
Sparky83 wrote:This is an example of the most common error in site grading.

DO NOT use sketch circles to check the MINIMUM slope. You must measure the path that water will take downhill. Use sketch lines...shown in red. Sketch circles can only be used to measure a distance that is a straight line...basic geometry.

The green dimensions total 56'-0" even though the tips of the topo lines are within 50' of each other. Same for the blue dimensions at 65'-0" apart.

site grading no min slope.JPG


This file has better resolution. Thanks to mandyk650:


In conclusion, this is a fail because the total distance water will travel exceeds 50'-0".
Am I understanding this correctly. or are we only considering the distance water will travel from one swale to the next?

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 11:51 am
by Raja
Sparky83 wrote:
thd7t wrote:Thank you! I have seen you post this diagram before, but was having trouble finding it. It looks like you are following low points (swales) and the percent grade is determined by the path of the water. Am I understanding this correctly?

The distance the water will travel....along the centerline of the swale (red lines) cannot exceed 50' if you have a min slope required of 2%.



Hey Sparky83, thanks for all your comments on this topic. I think I get the gist of some of the other issues raised on this vignette but I don't understand how you know that there's a max swale length...
But more importantly, what is the math to determine maximum swale length? Also would there be a minimum swale length and formula for that too?

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 12:29 pm
by Sparky83
Raja wrote:
Sparky83 wrote:
thd7t wrote:Thank you! I have seen you post this diagram before, but was having trouble finding it. It looks like you are following low points (swales) and the percent grade is determined by the path of the water. Am I understanding this correctly?

The distance the water will travel....along the centerline of the swale (red lines) cannot exceed 50' if you have a min slope required of 2%.



Hey Sparky83, thanks for all your comments on this topic. I think I get the gist of some of the other issues raised on this vignette but I don't understand how you know that there's a max swale length...
But more importantly, what is the math to determine maximum swale length? Also would there be a minimum swale length and formula for that too?

There is no such thing as swale length. Min and max slopes regulate the distance between contour lines. For min slope, there is a max distance between the "points" of contour lines in a swale.

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 12:39 pm
by Raja
Sparky83 wrote:
Raja wrote:
Sparky83 wrote:
thd7t wrote:Thank you! I have seen you post this diagram before, but was having trouble finding it. It looks like you are following low points (swales) and the percent grade is determined by the path of the water. Am I understanding this correctly?

The distance the water will travel....along the centerline of the swale (red lines) cannot exceed 50' if you have a min slope required of 2%.



Hey Sparky83, thanks for all your comments on this topic. I think I get the gist of some of the other issues raised on this vignette but I don't understand how you know that there's a max swale length...
But more importantly, what is the math to determine maximum swale length? Also would there be a minimum swale length and formula for that too?

There is no such thing as swale length. Min and max slopes regulate the distance between contour lines. For min slope, there is a max distance between the "points" of contour lines in a swale.


I see, so the 50' is just the result of max distance between swale points at the minimum slope required. Thanks!

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 9:50 pm
by jirafa1000
What MIN SLOPE should be considered if non is given?

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 7:57 pm
by cma52572
In other words a + b cant be more than 50'. That's my understanding.

Re: Site Grading - MINIMUM slope errors

PostPosted: Sun Apr 08, 2018 4:14 am
by Sparky83
jirafa1000 wrote:What MIN SLOPE should be considered if non is given?

It will be given.