What Does
Man-Accessible Mean?
Man-accessible is a term used to describe a pipe, excavation or trench that is wide enough to accommodate entry of site personnel safely.
Man-accessibility is especially necessary for the manual internal inspections of pipelines. Pipe diameters are required to be a minimum of 1.0m to 1.2m to be deemed man-accessible. A structure that is not classified man-accessible can pose a safety risk to personnel attempting entry.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Man-Accessible
Manual inspections using man-accessible entries are considered to be more accurate mechanical inspections. Blockages, internal cracks, internal rusting, and tree root infiltration can all be accurately located and assessed in man-accessible pipelines.
Structures that are not man-accessible (i.e., not large enough for site personnel to enter) can still be manually inspected using remotely controlled equipment such as CCTV cameras and sonar equipment.
Structures classified as man-accessible should conform to local safety regulations to avoid potential hazards on the job site.