Polymer Surface Water Meter Boxes (15mm-20mm)

Precautions must be taken to prevent the water inside the water meter from freezing. Water expands when water freezes. Freezing will damage the meter internals and will distort/burst the meter body. The meter box should also be installed at least one meter away from any cold point like a standpipe for example where the water can freeze back down the pipeline from that point.

Do not solder capillary type fittings while fitted to the inlet/outlet of the meter box or use heat while this meter box is fitted in the pipeline. Heat travels down the pipe during this process and this will damage the internals of the water meter irreparably.

Any position where the meter fitted inside this meter box may be subjected to shock, cavitation, water hammer or surging due to rapid operation of valves etc. must be avoided as damage to the meter will result.

This meter box has passed the SABS light duty load test. (7 Kn.) It is suitable for pedestrian and light vehicle traffic only. Do not install this meter box where any heavy vehicular traffic is expected, and the meter box will be damaged structurally if subjected to any excessive weight.
The soil directly under the meter box must be well compacted before the installation of the meter box and the meter box must be placed on a foundation of two bricks or a small concrete slab to ensure stability and prevent movement and subsidence of the meter box after installation. Failure to comply will result in shear stress damage being caused to the inlet/outlet connections of the meter box and pipe connection should the meter box be subjected to heavy loads.

Typical surface meter box installation.

1. All pipe work MUST be flushed thoroughly before the meter box is installed.
2. Water meter boxes have either male or female threaded inlet and outlet connections. A suitable male or female threaded pipe adaptor of the correct size will be required to make the connection to the meter box.
3. 3 to 4 turns of thread sealing tape (P.T.F.E) must be turned onto the thread of the male end of either the meter box or the male adaptor. N.B. Hemp and Stag must not be used.
4. The adaptor is now ready to be fitted to the inlet and outlet fitting of the meter box. The adaptor must be turned in by hand until it stops and then tightened gently using a spanner. N.B. Do not overtighten the fitting. Doing this will strip the threads on the fittings of the meter box and cause leaks to the meter assembly.
5. The ground under the meter box must be well compacted. Two bricks or a small concrete slab must be placed under the meter box as a foundation and must be LEVEL to ensure that the meter box placed on top of it will also be level. Ensure that the depth to the foundation is correct, the lid of the meter box must be flush and level with the finished ground level.
6. The water supply pipe must now be fitted to the adaptor to make the connection to the inlet/outlet fittings of the meter box. Do not overtighten the fittings as this will result in leaks.
7. The meter installer must work cleanly and ensure that all debris is removed/flushed from the pipeline before connecting up to the meter box and pressure testing. This is to prevent meter stoppages.
8. When charging the lines, turn the water on gradually to ensure that all air is expelled before the valve is fully open. A water meter will suffer irreparable damage if subjected to high velocity air before it has been completely expelled from the system. The pipeline must be filled with water with all air present expressed before the valve is opened fully. The meter will then operate correctly. 
9. The installation must be pressure tested to ensure that there are no leaks and to ensure that the meter is operating correctly.
10. The pipe trench and meter box installation must now be backfilled and compacted around the meter box to ensure that the installation is stable and ensure that there is no subsidence after rain etc.