SeptiCAD Tutorial

 

Printable Version (PDF)

THE DESIGN

 

Start SeptiCAD with the toolbar icon

 

In the Main Design Menu choose the system type & enter the appropriate system information. 

 

Enter thickness of fill above system [default 8 inches]

 

Enter the elevations of 4 corners of the system in inches relative to Elevation Reference Point (ERP).  Select checkbox for Compound Grades if required.

 

Enter width and grade for 4 sides of the system [default - 4:1 grade & 36” width]

 

Enter Calculation Type

 

The Auto-Step method automatically calculates the maximum whole number elevation drop (step size) between chamber rows based on elevations and measurements of depth to the limiting factor on the highest corners of the upslope and downslope sides of the field.

 

The Force-Step method allows the designer to do the following: (1) set the elevation for the bottom of a Stone Bed or Cluster Concrete Chambers, (2) set the elevation for the bottom of the upslope chamber row and the elevation drop (e.g. 1 or 2.5) between rows. 

 

Choose Final Grade Type: Auto, 3% Crown, Sloping or Sloping 3%

 

Click Generate Design to open a Preview Design Window

 

In the Preview Design Window the drawing scales are set and shelf/chamber elevation can be modified.

 

If applicable, the Compound Grades input menu will follow.

 

Cross Section and Page 2/3 Maps are constructed in MODEL space. Review design and continue below:

 

IS THE DESIGN CORRECT?

   YES:  Press Continue Design tool on toolbar and skip to Continue Design below.

   NO:   Select everything in MODEL space <ctrl-A> and press delete. Then start a new septic design.  The menu will RE-FILL automatically.

 

Continue Design:

 

            The designer will be prompted for the following:

 

Enter Elevation Reference Point (ERP) information.  If ERP was not located with swing ties, just leave the swing tie distances blank and labels will be inserted on Page 2/3 Maps at the top of the page and ERP information will be printed to Page 3 on HHE-200 Form.

 

Enter 2nd swing tie - Horizontal Reference Point (HRP) information.

 

Septic Tank Invert Elevation Calculator: Enter length of pipe required between system and septic tank, the d-box elevation drop (if req.) and required septic tank outlet invert elevation will be calculated. Invert = bottom of pipe inlet/outlet elevation.

 

Enter Notes on Page 2 & Page 3.  In the Preferences the designer can: (1) set whether or not the designer will be prompted for notes and (2) set the location of the notes on the page.  

 

A sequence of 3 menus will appear to fill in the remaining information on the HHE-200 Form.  All of the information that can be automatically entered will be automatically entered (e.g. design flow & square footage equivalent once a soil profile is chosen; type of system; SE information)

 

The program will now print out all the information to the HHE-200 layout.  To modify any of the information on the HHE-200 layout, you must manually modify text, or add notes.  DO NOT use the Continue Design tool more than 1 time.

 

CREATE THE SITE PLANS

 

The remainder of the design work is drafting in MODEL space or print the design and hand-draft the rest of the design.

 

If you decide to change scales and are in the middle of drawing then, use map scale and label scale tools on toolbar to change scales.

 

Step 1: Verify and finalize the Cross-Section (bottom-left)

 

Move the Cross-Section to fit correctly on the page (the magenta colored GUIDE is locked after Continue Design is complete. 

 

If the fill extensions extend off the page (outside the box), the system dimension on the bottom of the page should be moved by selecting the end of the arrowhead, followed by a click-hold drag to the side of the page.

 

Step 2: Create the Page 2 Map 

 

The Page 2 Map is located in the top-right corner of MODEL space. Using the CAD drawing tools draw property lines, houses, wells, etc.

 

The Block Library tool is used to insert commonly used objects, such as septic tanks, test pit symbols, wells, pump stations, trees, etc.  The Block Library tool is customizable by the user. 

 

Try inserting RASTER images, such as tax maps, paper surveys, or aerial photography to quickly draw site features.  Many towns have tax maps available online. Aerial Photography can be obtained with Google Earth and MapQuest (+ many more ways).  Use the Georeferencing tools to reference the images to the system.  

 

Create other site features using the CAD drawing tools.

 

Step 3: Create the Page 3 Map

 

First, copy the information from the Page 2 Map that is relevant to the Page 3 Map.

 

To copy some of the objects from the Page 2 Map to the Page 3 Map, select the necessary objects and use the COPY command.  The COPY command will prompt for a base point, choose the corner of the system. Now place the copy to the same corner of the disposal field on the Page 3 Map.

 

Change label sizes using the label scale tools on toolbar

 

Modify the pipes on a chamber system. The default piping shown is parallel distribution. Serial distribution is drawn by selectively deleting some of the pipes.

 

If necessary use the Block Library to insert objects such as a distribution box, septic tank, pump station, etc.

 

Step 4:  Label objects and perform final adjustments to objects. 

 

Use either the labeling tools or the Label Library. 

 

Change the LINEWEIGHT or LINETYPE of object such as a property line or fence.

 

 

Step 5: Insert Location Map

 

First Click HHE-200 Layout tab. Location Maps are created in HHE-200 layout NOT  in MODEL space.

 

METHOD 1:

Draft the locations map with the polyline tool (PL) and use the auxiliary text fields in the Label Library menu to label roads with rotated text.

 

METHOD 2:

Use MapQuest tool on toolbar to show a map for the Lat/Long entered for HHE-200 Page 1.  The MapQuest map does not generally print out well on the location map, so the MapQuest map is generally used as a guide to trace roads for the location map.  Use the following steps to get the MapQuest map into the CAD program.  

 

Zoom to appropriate magnification at MapQuest website. 

 

Click on the Printer-Friendly link (top left of page – POPUP WINDOW).  Right click on the map that shows up, and save the image as BMP or JPG file. Close the website and in CAD insert this raster image.    

 

Use polyline (pl) tool to trace the roads on the map. 

 

Label roads and the site location using Label Library and rotated text.

 

Step 6:  Insert the Soil Logs using the SeptiCAD tool on the toolbar.

 

Step 7:  Review the Design before printing by either of the following methods:

 

(Method 1)  Examine directly in the CAD program.  Linetypes are a little different in an actual printed copy.

 

(Method 2)  Print all 3 HHE-200 Pages to a PDF and examine the PDF file.  The PDF file represents the exact way the file will print on a printer.

 

Step 8:  Auxiliary Steps

 

If you need to eMail the design, use the Stamp Tool to insert your signature, SE # and date on bottom of all the three HHE-200 pages. 

 

The HHE-204 Replacement System Variance Form is also included.