A utility vault is an underground room providing access to subterranean
public utility
A public utility company (usually just utility) is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service (often also providing a service using that infrastructure). Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and ...
equipment, such as
valve
A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically fitting ...
s for water or natural gas pipes, or switchgear for
electrical
Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described ...
or
telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information by various types of technologies over wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic systems. It has its origin in the desire of humans for communication over a distance greater than tha ...
s equipment. A vault is often accessible directly from a street, sidewalk or other outdoor space, thereby distinct from a
basement
A basement or cellar is one or more Storey, floors of a building that are completely or partly below the storey, ground floor. It generally is used as a utility space for a building, where such items as the Furnace (house heating), furnace, ...
of a building.
[City of New York, New York. ''2014 Construction Codes.'' Building Code, Chapter 32]
"Section 3201.8. Definitions."
"Vault: Any space below the surface of a street, that is covered over, except those openings that are used exclusively as places for descending, by means of steps, to the cellar or basement of any building." Accessed 2018-04-09.
Utility vaults are commonly constructed out of
reinforced concrete boxes, poured concrete or brick. Small ones are usually entered through a
manhole or
grate on the topside and closed up by a
manhole cover. Such vaults are considered
confined spaces and can be hazardous to enter. Large utility vaults are similar to
mechanical or
electrical rooms in design and content.
See also
*
Dartford Cable Tunnel
*
Telecommunications pedestal
A telecommunications pedestal is a ground-level housing for a passive connection point for underground cables. Technicians require access to connection points. Placing such a point underground (e.g., in a utility vault) is expensive, so pedestal ...
*
Utility cut
*
Utility tunnel
References
External links
Underground Utility Vaults- National Precast Concrete Association
Building engineering
Rooms
Subterranea (geography)
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