Netafim TECHLINE AS Guide

TECHLINE AS™
DESIGN GUIDE
A complete guide for the design of on-surface and sub-surface drip
irrigation systems using Techline AS™.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 4
OVERVIEW 4
WHAT IS TECHLINE AS™ 5
Applications 6
Specifications 6
Technical Data 6
DESIGN CRITERIA 7
Site Survey 7
Point Of Connection 7
Which Techline AS™ Product Should You Use? 8
Types Of Layouts 9
“GRID” Layouts 9
“LITE” Layouts 9
What Do These Layouts Have In Common 9
Standard “GRID” Layout 10
Standard “LITE” Layout 10
How To Calculate Equal Techline AS™ Row Spacing 10
Length of Techline AS™ Rows 11
Centre Feed “GRID” Layouts 11
Other “GRID” Considerations 12
Mainline Sizing 13
Submain Sizing 13
Zone Water Requirements 14
Techline AS™ Flow Charts 14
Fittings 15
Pipe Stakes 15
Line Flushing Valves 16
Automatic Line Flushing Valve 16
Manual Flushing Valve 16
Air/Vacuum Release Valve 17
Filters 18
Pressure Regulating Valves (PRV’s) 18
Pressure & Flow Checks 19
Line Indicator Flag 19
Slopes and Mounds 20
Techline AS™ in Turf (SDI) 21
Techline AS™ in New Sodded Turf 21
Techline AS™ Above and Below Grade 21
TechFilter (SPU) 22
Techline ASTM (Bioline AS™) 23
TECHLINE AS™ INSTALLATION DRAWINGS 24
Square Layout 24
Centre Feed Layout 24
Triangular Layout 25
Typical Island Outlet 25
Odd/Curve Layout 26
Circular Layout 26
Headwork’s with RPZ 27
Headwork’s with DCV 27
Control Valve (Above Ground) 28
Control Valve (Sub-Surface) 28

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TECHLINE AS™ DESIGN FORMULAS 29
Formula 1.1 Estimated Total Length Of Dripperline 29
Formula 1.2 Application Rate 29
Formula 1.3 Number Of Drippers In A Zone 29
Formula 1.4 Flow Per Zone 30
Formula 1.5 Estimated Total Zone Flow 30
CALCULATING TECHLINE AS™ RUN TIMES 31
TECHLINE AS™ INSTALLATION GUIDE 35
Specifications 35
System Maintenance 37
Techline AS™ System Inspection Checklist 38
Techline AS™ Installation Tools 39
TECHLINE AS™ ACCESSORIES 40

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INTRODUCTION:
This manual has been prepared to assist with the correct use of Techline AS™ for irrigation
projects that are either On-Surface Drip Irrigation (OSDI) for garden areas or Sub-surface Drip
Irrigation (SDI) for turf areas. Included are design steps, technical data, design layouts, as well
as some design installation details and check list using both “Grid” and “Basic” layout methods.
OVERVIEW:
Netafim is the world leader in low volume irrigation. Since the early 1960’s Netafim has
pioneered the science of sub-surface and point source irrigation manufacturing.
Serving more than 100 countries worldwide, Netafim products are sold into the
Landscape & Turf market, as well as Agriculture, Green-House, Nursery, Waste Water
re-use, Mining and Forestry markets.
The Techline family of dripperline products has been used successfully in Landscape
since 1987. The recent addition of Techline AS™ has guaranteed that it will continue to
perform reliably and successfully in this market.
Landscape Architects, Contractors, Nurserymen, Designers and Consultants recognize
the benefits of using low volume drip irrigation for new plantings because of its
accelerated plant growth compared to overhead spray or rotor irrigation. Coupling rapid
growth with dramatic water savings and low volume irrigation becomes an important
part of any Landscape project.
With the flexibility and quality of Netafim products, Architects, Designers and
Contractors have highly sophisticated solutions to client and installation issues by
bringing drip and sub-surface components together to grow plants, trees, shrubs,
groundcover, ornamental grasses and turf.

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WHAT IS TECHLINE AS™?
Techline ASTM is an integrated dripperline (brown poly pipe with drippers moulded in to it at set
spacing’s from the factory) manufactured in Australia by Netafim Australia. Conventional
dripperlines usually feature either a Non Pressure Compensating (Non PC) dripper (used on flat
ground) or Pressure Compensating (PC) drippers (used on both flat and sloping ground).
Techline ASTM features the special Netafim DripNet ASTM dripper which is a Pressure
Compensated (PC) self regulating dripper that also has a unique Anti-siphon mechanism that
prevents “suck-back”.
What is Suck-Back?
Suck-back occurs when a dripperline stops watering and water drains out of dripperline and
creates a vacuum inside the tube. The vacuum inside the dripperline can draw contaminated
water, dirt or debris back into the dripper and cause possible drip blockage or damage.
The Anti-siphon mechanism closes off when a vacuum forms inside the dripperline preventing
any suck back into the dripper or dripperline. Anti-siphon mechanism offers unsurpassed
protection for all drip systems in under mulch and sub-surface installations.
TECHLINE AS™ FEATURES:
Anti-siphon mechanism – prevents contaminants from being drawn inside the dripper
when a vacuum forms inside the dripperline at shut off.
Self-compensating & self flushing dripper mechanism – ensures that the dripper
discharges at a uniform rate and remains clean.
Unique TurboNet™ regulating water passage – increases turbulent flow through the
dripper ensuring that suspended solids in the water remain suspended.
Large centrally mounted drip inlet filter – prevents sediment entering the drip inlet
Mechanical root barrier – coupled with a Netafim Techfilter offers the best protection
against root intrusion in sub-surface drip systems.
UV resistant dripperline – designed for trouble free operation.
7 year warranty – pro rata (Conditions apply)
Compatible with standard 13mm fittings.

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APPLICATIONS:
Sub-surface installations (below turf).
On surface installations (under mulch).
Areas prone to vandalism – dripperline is covered by mulch or turf.
Areas subject to slopes or changing topography.
Ideal in windy areas – no mist or over-spray.
Ideal for both regular and odd shaped areas.
Discrete in high profile landscapes.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Low and high flow rates: 1.6L/H & 3.0L/H.
Pressure compensating range: 40kPa to 250kPa.
Anti-siphon Mechanism: prevents “suck-back”.
Maximum Operating Pressure: 250kPa.
Recommended Filtration: 120 mesh (130 micron)
Dripperline inside diameter (I.D.): 12.9mm
Dripperline outside diameter (O.D.): 15.3mm
TECHNICAL DATA:

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DESIGN CRITERIA:
Designing with Techline AS™ follows the same basic rules as designing with sprays
and rotors.
A point of connection (water connection point) must be established and its static and
operating pressure, flow rate and water quality recorded.
Identifying the type of plants that are to be irrigated and grouping plants with similar
water requirements (Hydro-zoning) will ensure that maximum watering efficiency can be
maintained.
Identifying the sites soil type, topography and micro climatic influences.
SITE SURVEY:
Obtain or draw a scaled plan of the site to be irrigated. Identify all slopes on the plan.
Identify the type of soil (light, medium or heavy).
Determine the type of plants that are to be irrigated, turf, groundcover, shrubs, plants
and trees etc.
Mark any other points of interest that have a bearing in the systems design like areas
subjected to prolonged periods of shade, unusually high wear and tear, areas prone to
high wind, or areas that may be subjected to mechanical damage.
POINT OF CONNECTION:
Type of water, potable (mains/scheme) or non potable (bore, grey or treated waste
water etc)
Pressure & volume available – static and operating tests
Record the water quality (dirty water will require a higher level of filtration)
Water availability – is the water supply constantly available or does the supply vary.
Ensure that the appropriate back-flow prevention device is used.
Site Survey

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WHICH TECHLINE AS™ PRODUCT SHOULD YOU USE?
From Table 1 (below), answer two questions:
1. Are you irrigating Garden or Turf?
2. Is the soil type Light, Medium or Heavy?
Follow the relevant column listed under Garden or Turf to identify the proper Techline
AS™. Example – if you choose “Garden”, with “Medium” soil, 1.6L/H 0.4m Techline
AS™ is recommended. (Each dripper will deliver 1.6L/H and the drippers, mounted
inside the dripperline are spaced 0.4m apart.)
What other information is in the General Guidelines Chart?
1. How far to spread out the dripperline lateral is listed on the “Lateral (Row) Spacing”
line. (For example, rows should be evenly spaced from 0.4m to 0.5m apart)
2. The corresponding application rates and time to apply are listed under the “Lateral
Spacing” line. (With rows of 1.6L/H Techline AS™ every 0.4m apart, the application
rate is 10mm per hour and so it will take 60 minutes to apply 10mm of water. If the
rows are 0.5m apart, the application rate is 8.0mm per hour and will take 75
minutes to apply 10mm of water. Refer to Table 1 for other spacing configurations).
TECHLINE ASTM D.I.Y. CALCULATOR:
A Netafim Techline ASTM D.I.Y. Calculator can be downloaded from the Landscape section (
http://www.netafim.com.au/index.php?sectionid=3 )of the Netafim Australia website.
The calculator allows you to select relevant data from a range of pop up windows to simply and
quickly determine correct dripper flow & spacing, total flow & number of zones required, total
amount of dripperline required etc.

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TYPES OF LAYOUTS:
There are two common layout methods that we recommend – “GRID” and “LITE”. Both
accomplish the same goal, but one method will be preferred method on what you are irrigating.
“GRID” Layout:
This is the preferred method for installing Techline AS™ sub-surface.
This method uses supply and collecting manifolds with rows of Techline AS™
connected at each end.
The Supply Manifold delivers water to each row of Techline AS™.
The Exhaust Manifold forms a continuous loop, or return leg, so all rows of Techline
AS™ are being supplied from both ends.
This interconnection of the piping network comprises the term “GRID layout”. This
evens out the flow, helps ensure water is being delivered downstream of any breaks in
the laterals and allows for much easier repairs of any line breaks. It will also allow for a
flushing point to be installed on the Collecting manifold.
“LITE” Layout:
The “LITE” layout is used exclusively on-surface (under mulch installations).
It is the fastest and possibly the easiest method because no supply and collecting
manifolds are used.
The dripperline simply weaves back and forth throughout the zone at evenly spaced
rows.
WHAT DO THESE LAYOUTS HAVE IN COMMON?
Both methods assume even row spacing will be maintained.
Both methods are designed to flow water in a loop manner.

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STANDARD “GRID” LAYOUT:
Manifolds should be set in 50mm – 100mm from hard scapes and planting areas.
Manifolds may be PVC, LDPE Poly Pipe (refer table below).
Manifolds must be sized to accommodate the flow of the zone without exceeding 1.6
metres per second velocity. (Zone Water Requirement calculations are on page 10).
Start rows of Techline AS™ 50mm – 100mm away from the edge of hard scapes, and
move across the area with equal row spacing that does not exceed the
recommendations of Table 1. (The 50mm setback will help provide enough moisture to
prevent heat damage to plant material generated by hard scapes such as concrete or
asphalt).
Start rows about 100mm away from planting beds.
STANDARD “LITE” LAYOUT:
Water being supplied to the zone is split with a “T-piece” into two directions.
Weave Techline AS™ back and forth throughout the planting area with evenly spaced
rows.
Indent the tubing 50mm – 100mm from hardscapes and planting areas.
Water is being split into two separate paths that meet in the middle; the maximum
length of the lateral can be twice the stated limit in Table 2.
To determine the maximum amount of Techline AS™ you can use in the zone, simply
double the maximum length stated in Table 2.