Placing pipes

The Pipe tool places main line, lateral line, and drip tubing irrigation pipes on the drawing. (The drip tubing transfers the water to drip emitters along its length; this is different from drip outlet tubing, which allows water to leak out.) The parameters for the irrigation pipes are based on standard pipe types and diameter values from the catalog.

In Autoconnect mode, a pipe connects to existing outlets or other irrigation components as the pipe crosses over them while it is drawn. When Autoconnect mode is disabled, the end of the pipe needs to meet the other component to be connected. A pipe connected to another pipe splits the existing pipe in two. A pipe that is drawn over, but is not connected to, another pipe, displays with a “jump” arc to show that they do not intersect.

For a given flow rate, a smaller pipe results in a higher velocity. When pipes are placed with the Min Diameter Not Exceeding Velocity Limit option selected, the pipe’s size is adjusted automatically as needed to ensure a safe water velocity. The pipe size is set to the smallest pipe size (available from the Sizing List in the irrigation settings) that does not result in a velocity above the Maximum Velocity value from the irrigation settings. Both of these settings can be set independently for main lines and lateral pipes. After the pipe is placed, if any changes are made to the system that affect the calculated flow rate through the pipe, the pipe size adjusts to accommodate the flow.

The default pipe type specified in the irrigation settings is used for all the pipes unless a different type is selected with the Pipe option on the Tool bar.

1. Click the Pipe tool and mode. Click Pipe from the Tool bar. From the Resource Selector, double-click a resource to activate it. Select from one of the pipe libraries, or select the drip default type or main default type and set its properties after placement.

Alternatively, create a polyline and then select the Create Objects from Shapes command (see Creating objects from shapes).

The Object Properties dialog box opens. Select the default pipe settings. The Pipe tool uses these preferences until they are changed again.

Parameter	Description
Pipe Name	Names the object, which is useful for labels, irrigation schedules, and other worksheets
Note	Adds a note about the object, which is useful for labels, irrigation schedules, and other worksheets, and also for making notes when saving red symbol definitions
Design Information
Starting/ Ending Elevation	Specify the starting and ending elevation of the pipes (this value directly affects the pressure)
Sleeve Quantity	Indicates how many sleeves to create around the pipe
Use Default Sleeve Diameter	Uses the default sleeve diameter from the irrigation settings; deselect to enter the sleeve diameter manually. (Main line and lateral line diameters have different default diameter settings.)
Sleeve Diameter	Displays the default sleeve diameter; when Use Default Sleeve Diameter is deselected, enter the sleeve diameter
Use Default Trench Depth	Uses the default trench depth specified in the irrigation settings; deselect to enter the trench depth manually. (Main line and lateral line diameters have different default trench depth settings.)
Trench Depth	Displays the default trench depth, for informational purposes; when Use Default Trench Depth is deselected, enter the trench depth
Use Default Material	Uses the default pipe material specified in the irrigation settings
Min Diameter Not Exceeding Velocity Limit	Sets the pipe diameter to the smallest value that does not allow the velocity limit specified in the irrigation settings to be exceeded
Graphics
Sleeve Offset	Sets the offset distance between the pipe sleeves and the pipe
Show Nominal Diameter	Places a nominal pipe diameter label on the drawing
Show Flow	Places a flow rate label on the drawing
Show Flow Direction	Places a flow rate directional indicator on the drawing

3.Click to place the start of the pipe, and draw the pipe polyline, clicking at each vertex. Double-click to finish drawing the pipe.

If Autoconnect mode is on, the pipe connects any valid irrigation objects that it crosses. When one end of the pipe is placed on another pipe, they are connected, and the existing pipe is split into two pipes.

A pipe drawn over another pipe displays with a jump at the intersection of the two pipes. Adjust the jump radius with the control point; hide or show the jump with the Hide Jump or Show Jump drop-down context menu command.

Parameter	Description
Save Pipe	Saves the selected pipe as a red symbol definition in the active file; this would typically be done for a custom pipe, or a pipe with modified catalog data
Pipe Name	Names the object, which is useful for labels, irrigation schedules, and other worksheets
Note	Adds a note about the object, which is useful for labels, irrigation schedules, and other worksheets, and also for making notes when saving red symbol definitions
Pipe Type	Indicates whether the pipe is a main line, lateral line, or drip line tubing
Display in Drawing	Select either Design Information or Calculated Information to affect the display of all calculated values and coverage zones in the drawing; see Concept: Design and calculation parameters for irrigation
Design Information
Length	Displays the length of the pipe, which can also be adjusted with the pipe control points on the drawing
Starting Elevation/Ending Elevation	Specify the starting and ending elevation of the pipe (this value directly affects the pressure). If the pipe is attached to an irrigation object, the object’s Z value changes to match any change to the pipe’s elevation. Sending the network to the surface of a site model determines these values automatically.
Sleeve Quantity	Indicates how many sleeves are placed around the pipe
Use Default Sleeve Diameter	Uses the default main or lateral line sleeve diameter from the irrigation settings; deselect to enter the sleeve diameter manually
Sleeve Diameter	Displays the default sleeve diameter; when Use Default Sleeve Diameter is deselected, enter the sleeve diameter
Use Default Trench Depth	Uses the default main or lateral line trench depth specified in the irrigation settings; deselect to enter the trench depth manually. The trench depth value is for informational purposes only.
Trench Depth	Displays the default trench depth; when Use Default Trench Depth is deselected, enter the trench depth
Input Pressure	Specifies the input pressure required for the pipe to provide the proper output pressure, given the pressure losses due to friction and elevation pressure change
Output Pressure	Specifies the output pressure required for the downstream components to operate as designed; main line pipes take into consideration only the requirements of the outlets in the neediest downstream zone Output pressure = (input pressure - friction pressure loss) + elevation pressure change
Friction Pressure Loss	Sets the pipe’s pressure loss due to friction at the design flow rate
Elevation Pressure Change	Reports the change in pressure due to elevation changes from the start to the end of the pipe. If the pipe flows downhill, the pressure change is positive, while negative pressure change results from a pipe that flows uphill.
Flow	Displays the pipe’s calculated flow rate based on either the sum of all design flow rates for downstream outlets (lateral lines) or the sum of all the design flow rates of the outlets in the neediest downstream zone (main line)
Velocity	Displays the water velocity based on design flow rate and pipe diameter
Calculated Information
Input Pressure	Displays the pipe’s calculated pressure, based on upstream components, at the pipe input side
Output Pressure	Displays the resulting output pressure, after any pressure loss or elevation pressure change is applied to the input pressure Output pressure = (input pressure - friction pressure loss) + elevation pressure change
Friction Pressure Loss	Shows the pipe’s pressure loss due to friction at the calculated flow rate
Elevation Pressure Change	Calculates the change in pressure due to elevation changes from the start to the end of the pipe. If the pipe flows downhill, the pressure change is positive, while negative pressure change results from a pipe that flows uphill.
Flow	Displays the pipe’s flow rate based on either the sum of all calculated flow rates for downstream outlets (lateral lines) or the sum of all the calculated flow rates of the outlets in the neediest downstream zone (main line)
Velocity	Displays the water velocity based on calculated flow rate and pipe diameter
Catalog Data
Use Default Material	Uses the default pipe material specified in the irrigation settings
Material	Displays the default material; when not using the default material, select the material to use, or select Edit List to open the material catalog (see Concept: Using the irrigation catalog)
Min Diameter Not Exceeding Velocity Limit	Sets the pipe diameter to the smallest value that does not allow the velocity limit specified in the irrigation settings to be exceeded; if deselected, choose the pipe diameter manually. If the Size Pipes command was executed for the pipe, its nominal diameter is set by the command, and the option is automatically deselected.
Nominal Diameter	When Min Diameter Not Exceeding Velocity Limit is deselected, choose the pipe’s nominal diameter. If the Size Pipes command was executed for the pipe, its nominal diameter is set by the command.
Inside Diameter/Outside Diameter	Displays the pipe’s inner and outer diameter values
Comment	Adds an informational note to the catalog data
Non-potable	Indicates that the pipe carries non-potable water
Graphics
Sleeve Offset	Sets the offset distance between the pipe sleeves and the pipe
Attach Tag/Label	Automatically attaches a Tag/Label object to the object. The last selected tag/label for the object type is applied; click the tag/label to edit its properties (see Adding labels to irrigation objects).
Show Nominal Diameter	Places a nominal pipe diameter label on the drawing
Show Flow	Places a flow rate label on the drawing
Show Flow Direction	Places a flow rate directional indicator on the drawing
Vertex parameters	Edits the vertices of the path object that the pipe is based upon; see Editing vertex-based objects

Mode	Description
Main	Creates a main line pipe
Lateral	Creates a lateral line pipe
Drip Tubing	Creates drip tubing
Pipe	Opens the Resource Selector to select a pipe resource for placement; double-click a resource to select it. Select from one of the pipe libraries, or select the drip default type or main default type for the pipe and set its properties after placement.
Autoconnect	With this mode enabled, when the pipe is drawn over existing, valid irrigation objects such as valves, outlets, and POCs, they are automatically connected to the pipe. Connecting the drawn pipe to an existing pipe splits the existing pipe. When this mode is disabled, the drawn pipe is not connected to objects unless the pipe’s endpoint touches the objects.
Polyline creation options	Selects the method for drawing the polyline upon which the object is based; see Creating polylines
Preferences	Sets the default preferences for the pipe object