Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 51 - PUBLIC HEALTH-SANITARY CODE
Part XIV - Plumbing
Chapter 3 - General Regulations
Section XIV-307 - Trenching, Excavation, and Backfill

A. Support of Piping. Buried piping shall be supported throughout its entire length.

B. Open Trenches. All excavations required to be made for the installation of a building drainage system, or any part thereof within the walls of a building, shall be open trench work and shall be kept open until the piping has been inspected, tested and accepted.

C. Mechanical Excavation. Trenches shall be properly graded and tamped to support the load of the pipe installation.

D. Backfilling. Adequate precaution shall be taken to insure proper compactness of backfill around piping without damage to such piping. See §705. H of this code.

E. Tunneling. Where necessary, pipe may be installed by tunneling, jacking or a combination of both. In such cases, special care shall be exercised to protect the pipe from damage either during installation or from subsequent uneven loading. Where earth tunnels are used, adequate supporting structures shall be provided to prevent future settling or caving. Pipe may be installed in larger conduit which has been jacked through unexcavated portions of the trench.

F. Single Trench Prohibited. Water service pipes or any underground water pipes shall not be run or laid in the same trench as the building sewer or drainage piping, except as provided for in Chapters 6 and 7 of this code.