Why are manholes round? What you need to know about the shape of sewer manholes. Specification and marking

Hello always dear friend!

There is a type of question that is considered to be a quick wits question. Sometimes this is true. But more often such questions are asked with several goals at once.Why hatches are round interview question just from this series. Although it is becoming less and less common, because it has already lost its former originality and the effect of surprise.

Let's remember that at the interview they want to evaluate not so much "Who are you?", but "What are you?".

1. How would you respond to this question? - the first goal of your interlocutor.

He wants to understand the degree of your emotional maturity.

2. Will you look for an answer to this question? is the second goal.

Let's remember that the employer is interested in several questions that he never asks directly. One of them: will you solve the problems that will inevitably arise in the course of your work.

Or you will look for reasons why the problem cannot be solved, or you will transfer problems to other people, including the leader.

3. The content of the response itself is the third goal.

Will you be able to solve problems that require intelligence and analytical thinking, logic?

If you say “I don’t know” or “I find it difficult to answer” instead of answering, this means that when faced with a difficult task, you are likely to save.

How to react?

Let's agree right away that we define this question “why the hatches are round” as, and not manipulative and not. Therefore, we respond constructively.

The worst thing you can do is puff out your cheeks and freeze something like this:

“Listen, what does this have to do with the subject of our meeting?”

After that, consider that you did not pass the test, although in fact you are right. The reason is that you did not accept the rules of the game that are offered to you. Again, this question is constructive and is not an attack on your personality. Therefore, it should be answered constructively.


Let's remember the principles of answering constructive interview questions:

  1. If you are asked questions, that's good. If you are not asked anything, how will they know that you are the best applicant?
  2. As a consequence of point number 1: Just give the interlocutor the right to ask any questions. Any question is your opportunity to be better than other candidates. You will answer confidently and calmly, and there is no reason to be afraid and nervous.
  3. Majority are asked to get to know you better, not to hear the correct answer. That's what you came here for, so they know what a great candidate you are.

How to answer?

  1. Listen to the end.
  2. Verbal reaction - and with the tips of the lips (teeth closed!), A slight nod.
  3. A small pause.
  4. Answer.

The most simple and logical answer to this question is:

Round hatch - cannot fall into the well. No matter how hard you try and twist it. The square one has a diagonal longer than its sides, and when raised, it can slide down into the well. Drown or even injure someone. Besides -the diameter of the top of the round manhole is usually larger than the bottom, and it cannot slide in under any circumstances.

In addition, round hatches are more convenient to move - it can be rolled.

A couple more questions from the same series

About the cake

Himself Question: How to divide the cake into eight identical pieces using 3 cuts?

Answer: First, you should make a cross-to-cross cut, thereby dividing the cake into 4 equal parts. Next, make one cut horizontally in half along the entire diameter. The pieces turned out lower, but the problem is solved - you have 8 equal pieces.

The second option: after your two cuts, we have 4 pieces. We can put them on top of each other. Then divide all four pieces in half with one cut.

About light bulbs

There are three light bulbs in the room. There are three switches in the corridor leading to the room.

Question: How many times does the door need to be opened to determine which light corresponds to which switch?

Answer: It is enough to open the door once. We turn on 2 switches at the same time, then turn off one. We enter the room: we see that one lamp is on. It's from the first switch. Place your palm on each of the remaining two bulbs. Which is warm - the one from the second switch, respectively, cold from the third.

In the event that, if any intelligible answer does not come to mind, start thinking out loud. Trying to find the right one is much better than a nervous reaction or a “difficult to answer” response. Keep in mind that some of these questions do not have a clear answer at all.

Your attempts to find an answer, a train of thought, solutions are often more important than the answer itself.

Thank you for your interest in the article. I would appreciate a comment (at the bottom of the page).

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Have a nice day and good mood!

The development of sewer systems in each state took place in its own way. The only common feature in all cities is the need to install manholes. Sewer manholes first appeared in the middle of the 19th century. Then they were made in a variety of shapes - from round to square. In recent years, only round models have been made. Why?

What is a sewer hatch?

A manhole is a hole in concrete or ground that provides access to underground utilities. This hole is always closed with a lid, hatch, to avoid accidents. The hatch has another function - to prevent illegal entry into the underground communications system.

Types of manholes

Covers are divided into types. On them there are different embossing, patterns. So, for example, on the first sewer manholes depicted the coat of arms of the state, propaganda slogans. Now the covers display the serial number, date and initials of the manufacturer. Sewer people emit:

  • plastic;
  • iron;
  • rubber;
  • cast iron;

India is considered the leader in the manufacture of sewer manholes.

Why are manholes round?

For many years in a row, exclusively round hatches have been produced. There are several reasons for this:

  1. The cost of manufacturing a case for a round hatch is lower than any other shape (triangular, diamond-shaped, rectangular);
  2. Ease of travel. The round hatch is much easier to move: you just need to put it on its edge and roll it in the right direction;
  3. The round hatch is easier to open. He has any point of the circle is the concentration of stress. For example, all lids for jars are also only round;
  4. The round manhole will not fall into the sewer system. Any other form has a high probability of subsidence below the established level;
  5. The cross section of the pipes of the system is round. It is logical to make the same shape and cover that closes the sewer systems.
  6. An object of a square (triangular, rectangular) shape cannot be taken out through a round manhole cover.

In some countries, triangular sewer manholes are used. In Nashua (a city in the USA), underground systems are still covered with triangular lids. The sharp corners of the triangle indicate to the repair team the direction of the sewage flow. However, such hatches were recognized as hazardous to health, and their dismantling began.

The choice of a round shape of sewer covers is dictated by elementary practicality. Such hatches last longer, they are resistant to environmental influences. Less material is used to manufacture, they are cheaper. It is convenient to work if you need to get inside the sewer system, safe. The probability of subsidence of the round hatch is very small.

Have you ever wondered why, sewer manholes are everywhere round and not square? Manhole covers are made of cast iron, it happens that of concrete. This is to ensure that the lid is heavy and cannot open spontaneously. If we talk about cable ducts, then most often there are two shut-off and protective ones. The first weighs much lighter, it is usually made of steel and is needed in order to protect the cable from theft. They place it, just under the protective one, and on the lid itself they simply write the purpose of the hatch.

The simplest and most logical explanation

The square-shaped cover can easily fall into the hatch, for example, slip through the corner. This may be because the diagonal of the square is larger than its sides, that is, the lid can fall into the hole. And the circle has the same diameter, no matter how you turn it. And since the diameter of the upper surface of the hatch is always larger than the bottom, the cover will never fall inside the hatch, no matter what position it is in. The round cover is safer than other forms of cover, as it will not fall on the head of workers who are inside the hatch.

The most frivolous explanation

There is an explanation, which, of course, seems ridiculous. Hatches are round because the holes are round. Although, on the other hand, it is easier to dig a round hole than to align the corners of a square or rectangular or triangular hole. And in general, for example, it makes no sense to make a sewer well square, because you have to spend extra effort and extra time. In addition, round holes are more technologically advanced, they have a longer service life, they are resistant to temperature changes and transformation.

So, there is some truth in this statement too.

The fact is that round hatches are easier to transport. That is, the square cover only needs to be carried, and one person is unlikely to cope with this, because the hatch cover is very heavy. You will have to take at least two men to carry the manhole cover to the right place. A round one can be rolled, which is within the power of one adult man. Moreover, without experiencing any particular difficulties. Moreover, when closing the hatch with a round lid, there is no need to rotate it, combining it with the hatch opening. There is also some truth in this, round hatches are much more convenient. And yet, they are also convenient to manufacture, because again, you will have to tinker with square hatches, their corners may suffer during transportation, for example, fight back.

By the way, the question “Why are hatches round” is asked by recruiters to candidates. They say that the answer to this question allows you to assess the general level of intelligence, how capable it is of solving problems and tasks. By asking this question, experts want to see if the candidate for employees has the readiness and ability to enter into discussions and how the applicant solves the task or refuses to solve it. It is also very important how the candidate answers the question, seriously or with jokes. By the way, the world-famous company Microsoft has long been using this question when testing specialists who are going to be hired.

To summarize, it is easiest to say that The lid is supposed to be round., including manhole covers!

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Why are hatches round? Those that close-open the entrance to the sewer system. Those that have to be bypassed so that misfortune does not happen. They are so habitually included in everyday life that many people do not notice a foreign object in their path and automatically step over a dangerous place.

There are also car owners who diligently go around the sewer outlets to the surface in order to save the suspension. For this reason, the question of the shape of the lid can excite a fairly large number of people.

Why was this form chosen?

Man is a being of a higher order, thanks to his ability and desire to discover the world, to seek and find answers to questions of interest. And people are very curious. Why are giant elephants afraid of mice? Where do the fallen stars go? How to make a magic wand? Why is the manhole cover without corners and extra loops?

Of course, there are squares, stars, triangles on the pavement. But this happens so rarely that it can be classified as an exception. And the pattern is a hatch in the shape of a circle. And there are several reasons for this:

1. The ideal shape for sewer wells is round. They are easier to maintain. The likelihood of clogging is minimal. It is clear that for closing wells it is most rational to use covers of the same shape, but in a slightly increased diameter.

2. The production of round caps is cheaper for factories than the production of other forms. This is mainly due to material savings. What is a circle? This is a pretty good geometric figure. With a limited amount of material, choosing just such a shape will allow you to get the maximum area (compared to other figures). After all, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe circle to the circumference is greater than that of squares or rectangles.

3. You can also save on thickness if you choose the right hatch shape. The resulting load is evenly distributed, reducing the internal pressure, only in a circle. Therefore, the lid can be thinner, even while maintaining its strength and reliability.

4. The sewer hatch covering the circular well will not fall inside. From no position. And these are additional safety measures for performing plumbing work.

5. Each point on the circumference of the hatch is a point of stress concentration. The uniform distribution of the load, which has already been mentioned above, has another advantage. It is this form that makes it easier to open the well by shifting the heavy cover to the side.

With rectangular hatches, it's a little different. There tension is concentrated in the corners. With such covers you have to tinker.

6. Round options are easier to move, not only because of the distribution of the load, but also simply because of the absence of corners. As a rule, sewer covers are made of cast iron. This is very heavy material. And any product from it is almost unbearable. The circle can be put on edge and rolled.

In addition to the above reasons, one more important point should be mentioned. There is such a production pattern: the less protrusions and corners a part has, the less marriage will come out from under the machine. Therefore, the production of round hatches is more than justified.

Many have faced the question of why sewer manholes have a round shape. Most have heard it in job interviews. In this way, "insidious" HR managers test the general erudition and ability for creative thinking of potential employees.

Also often this question is used in various competitions and quizzes. If you study the device of sewer manholes, then the answer to the question will become obvious and quite understandable. This is what we'll do.

Manhole device

A sewer well usually consists of a shaft and a working room, and the hatch serves as a cover. The working room is equipped and arranged depending on the type of serviced communications and the requirements for their operation. The depth of the shaft and the size of the room also depend on this.

  • Usually the height of the room is 1.8 meters, but it can be more or less. The main criterion for its determination is the depth of communications. The length of the shaft directly depends on the depth of the room. Usually the mine is round and 0.7 meters in diameter. There must be a ladder in the mine so that the worker can go down to the room. The material for the construction of the mine is usually brick or concrete.
  • The cover on the sewer manhole is necessary to prevent foreign objects and people from entering the mine. The round shape prevents the cover from falling into the shaft if someone steps on it, which means it protects against accidents. This is the main reason why the shape of sewer manholes is made round.
  • Also, the covers have a fairly large mass, and sometimes this also raises questions. This fact can also be easily explained. Very often, sewer manholes are located on the roadway and when the car wheels are moving, they fall on the cover. If the cover were light, it would easily turn over, opening the shaft and creating the possibility of accidents. To avoid this, the lids are cast from cast iron, which is considered one of the heaviest metals.
  • On the surface of the lid, there are usually raised stripes, letters, or other patterns and images. This is also not done by chance. The ribbed surface prevents slipping and increases the adhesion strength of car tires and pedestrian soles to the surface of the sunroof. There are flat covers, and there are ones that are curved in the middle, but you will never find those that are concave inside.

On the wells of cable ducts, two covers are usually located at once - protective and locking.

The protective one is on top. A lock is additionally located on the locking cover, which prevents unauthorized persons from entering the shaft in order to steal the cable. These lids are lighter than conventional lids because they are made of steel.

Also, sewer hatches can be installed in the wells of gas, heat, water and other engineering networks, as well as storm sewers.

Each of them is designed to ensure that no stranger or animal accidentally or specifically enters a sewer well, mine and does not get unhindered access to underground utilities.

Varieties of sewer manholes

Sewer hatches can be divided into several types depending on the design, the material from which the hatch is made, and the type of communications that it closes. Sewer manholes can close drain systems, cable (electrical or telephone), storm drain systems.

Depending on the material used in the manufacture, cast iron, plastic, composite, concrete, reinforced concrete and rubber manholes, as well as manholes made of a polymer-sand mixture, can be distinguished.

Useful information! Each material has its pros and cons, taking into account which you can choose the best option for a particular situation. But still, the traditional option is a gray or ductile iron manhole. This material has high strength, is resistant to mechanical influences of various nature, is independent of weather conditions, and its service life exceeds the shelf life of all other materials.

Manhole safety

The main purpose of giving the sewer manhole a round shape is to ensure the safety of the population. Unfortunately, cases of an adult or child falling into an open sewer shaft are not uncommon. If the mine is shallow, then this can result in one or more fractures, but a great depth can even threaten death.

A common cause of such falls is the theft of a manhole cover.

Now many people, walking down the street, are distracted by talking on a mobile phone or writing SMS messages, sometimes getting so carried away that they forget to look under their feet. This distraction leads to accidents.

Also, a car can get into an open hatch, which at best will lead to minor damage to the car, and at worst, to injury to passengers. Fans of riding other modes of transport are also in danger - scooters, motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, roller skates or skateboards. Hitting the hatch at high speed is fraught with serious injury.

Fun Facts About Manholes

If the sewer hatch was installed a long time ago, then opening it can be a serious problem. In this case, specialists weld a metal handle to the hatch from above, open the hatch, perform the necessary operations, close it, and then cut off the handle.

Also, hatches with existing holes have long been launched into production, into which a hook can be inserted and thus the cover pulled out.

But such hatches cannot be used when closing electrical, telephone and cable networks. This is due to the fact that water can get into the holes due to rain or snow melt, which can damage the networks and adversely affect the operation of the entire system.

The issue of the excess mass of sewer manholes should also be explained.

This weight is given to the lids specifically to make it difficult and sometimes prevent their theft. The fact is that free metal has always attracted fans to profit at the expense of the state. So, in the last decade of the twentieth century, several thousand manhole covers were stolen on the territory of the Soviet Union. Thieves rented them for scrap, thereby earning substantial money.

Useful information! To avoid theft, wooden shields, plastic hatches or concrete circles are currently used, which cover the main cover from above. Covers fastened with metal hinges have also become widespread. They cannot be simply removed and carried away; special equipment will have to be used, which will complicate the process of theft.

Also, the hatches are made so massive that teenagers do not play games in the sewers or use them for other, less decent things.

There are several other explanations for why sewer manholes are round.

  • Firstly, this form facilitates transportation. The hatches are quite heavy and in order to move the cover, for example, a square one, you need to use the strength of one or even two adult men. The round lid can be easily rolled on the ground by any teenager and for any distance.
  • Secondly, there are no problems when installing the cover. It is unlikely that anyone will have questions about its location in the hatch of the well. The only mistake here may be to install it on the wrong side up, but this is not very critical for operation.
  • Well, and thirdly, less material is used for the production of round products.