If you have a higher than average water table or you simply donand#039;t want to dig out a deep excavation, consider our shallow soakaway options. The crates that make up this set are only 440mm deep yet they still have a 24-tonne vertical load capacity, this means that even allowing for a sand base and 300-500mm of backfill the soakaway depth is only 890mm deep (1090mm if under a driveway).These sets are comprised of eight Rainsmart Ellipse Single Soakaway Crates (24.2-tonne vertical load capacity) and sufficient non-woven geotextile membrane to wrap all outward faces of the soakaway including the base. Each set also includes cable ties for holding the crates together until the side fill has been introduced and a rubber mallet for assembling the crates.Assembly of the crates for these soakaways should take around 12 minutes in total. You can view a quick video on assembling flat-packed soakaways below.Soakaway DimensionsThere are two different layouts for our shallow dig soakaways, allowing you to choose which installation is best suited to your available space.This soakaway set isandnbsp;a squarer shaped soakaway measuring 1600mm (L) x 1430mm (W) x 440mm (D).Ourandnbsp;90003Fandnbsp;option is a longer, narrow soakaway measuring 3200mm (L) x 715mm (W) x 440mm (D).The component parts are the same for both options, so if you arenand#039;t quite sure which shape is most suitable for you can order either version and decide on-site.Load rating and capacity (volume of water held)Rainsmart soakaway crates have a void ratio of 95% - this is the amount of free space within the crate structure that can be used for rainwater storage. The capacity of both of these 1 cubic metre shallow soakaways is an industry-leading 955 Litres. Under normal conditions, this would be sufficient to hold water from a roof area of approximately 50 square metres.The vertical load capacity of over 24 tonnes per square metre enables Rainsmart crates to be installed beneath gardens and pedestrian areas. The lateral (side) crush load of 18 tonnes per square metre is currently unrivalled by any other crate available in the UK.All outward-facing crate surfaces of any soakaway should be wrapped in a non-woven geotextile membrane, which enables water to flow into the soakaway but stops any surrounding soil or sand particles from entering.Connecting Pipes to SoakawaysThe 110mmandnbsp;(orandnbsp;160mm)andnbsp;drainage pipe is fed into the soakaway via one of the four circular 160mm open entry points. 110mm pipes simply rest on the bottom of this opening and we recommend that the pipe is inserted approximately 300mm inside the crate.andnbsp;Geotextile membraneandnbsp;should be installed over the opening first and then a small cross should be cut in the membrane at the entry point with a sharp knife. Carefully peel back the membrane, insert the pipe and tape or clamp the membrane tightly around the outside of the pipe to stop the ingress of any soil particles.Joining crates togetherOur cubic metre sets all include cable ties for holding the crates in position while the side fill is poured into the hole. Please note though that no ties or clips on any soakaway crate systems are structural, it is the sand base and the crucial sand or gravel side fill that holds the whole installation correctly in position.Consider a pre-filterTo maintain your soakaway and extend its working life you should ideally incorporate into the system a pre-filter such as ourandnbsp;Sentinel Silt Trap. Empty the filter on a regular basis, you will be surprised at how much silt it retains.For a closer look and more comprehensive look at Soakaway Crates in general, including installation tips,andnbsp;please take a look at our detailed introductory video.