Manhole vs. Manway: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on February 23, 2024
A manhole is an opening to a utility vault or sewer that allows access for maintenance, while a manway is a passageway or entry point into a vessel or confined space, often found in industrial settings.
Key Differences
Manholes are typically found in urban environments, providing access to underground utilities like sewers, storm drains, and electrical conduits. They are essential for inspection, maintenance, and repair, ensuring the functionality and safety of urban infrastructure. Manholes are often circular to prevent the lid from falling into the hole and to evenly distribute the weight of passing vehicles and pedestrians.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 23, 2024
Manways, in contrast, are designed for entry into tanks, pressure vessels, or other industrial equipment. They serve as access points for inspection, cleaning, or maintenance of the equipment's interior. Manways can vary greatly in design, shape, and size, depending on the specific requirements of the vessel or space they provide access to. They are crucial for ensuring the safety and efficiency of industrial operations, allowing personnel to enter and exit confined spaces safely.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 23, 2024
The primary distinction between the two lies in their application and design considerations. Manholes are integral to municipal infrastructure, designed with public safety and utility access in mind. Manways, however, are more specific to industrial and manufacturing contexts, with designs that cater to the needs of the equipment or spaces they are part of.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 23, 2024
Manholes and Manways are access points, the environments they are used in and the purposes they serve differentiate them significantly. Manholes facilitate underground utility access in public and urban settings, whereas manways are tailored to industrial and confined space access, reflecting the diverse needs of their respective environments.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 23, 2024
Comparison Chart
Definition
An opening to underground utilities for maintenance access.
An entry point into a vessel or confined space for industrial use.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 23, 2024
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Application
Urban infrastructure like sewers and electrical conduits.
Industrial equipment such as tanks and pressure vessels.
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Feb 23, 2024
Design
Often circular to prevent lid from falling in and to distribute weight.
Varies in design based on equipment needs, can be any shape.
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Feb 23, 2024
Purpose
Inspection, maintenance, and repair of public utilities.
Inspection, cleaning, and maintenance of industrial spaces.
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Feb 23, 2024
Environment
Primarily found in urban and public settings.
Found in industrial and manufacturing settings.
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Feb 23, 2024
Manhole and Manway Definitions
Manhole
Circular in design for safety.
Manhole covers are circular to prevent them from falling into the hole.
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Feb 23, 2024
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Manway
Designed for safety and accessibility.
The manway was secured with bolts to ensure safety.
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Feb 23, 2024
Manhole
Essential for urban infrastructure.
Manholes are crucial for maintaining the city's storm drain system.
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Feb 23, 2024
Manway
Varies in shape and size.
The custom-designed manway accommodated the unique dimensions of the vessel.
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Feb 23, 2024
Manhole
Located on streets and sidewalks.
The manhole cover was replaced after the street was repaved.
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Feb 23, 2024
Manway
Integral to equipment maintenance.
Cleaning the interior requires accessing it through the manway.
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Feb 23, 2024
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Manhole
A hole (usually with a flush cover) through which a person can gain access to an underground structure
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Oct 19, 2023
Manway
Entry point into industrial vessels.
The technician entered through the manway to inspect the tank.
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Feb 23, 2024
Manway
Used in confined space operations.
Safety protocols for entering through the manway were strictly followed.
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Feb 23, 2024
Manhole
Facilitates maintenance work.
He descended into the manhole for a routine inspection.
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Feb 23, 2024
Manway
A hole or duct giving access to a utility area for maintenance purposes.
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Oct 19, 2023
Manhole
A hole in the ground used to access the sewers or other underground vaults and installations.
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Oct 19, 2023
Manhole
An access point to underground utilities.
The city workers opened the manhole to repair the sewer line.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 23, 2024
Manhole
A hole, usually with a cover, through which a person may enter a sewer, boiler, drain, or similar structure.
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Oct 19, 2023
Manhole
A hole through which a man may descend or creep into a drain, sewer, steam boiler, parts of machinery, etc., for cleaning or repairing.
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What safety considerations are associated with manways?
Safety considerations for manways include ensuring a secure closure to withstand internal pressures and providing safe entry and exit procedures for personnel.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 23, 2024
What is the main function of a manhole?
To provide access for inspection, maintenance, and repair of underground utilities.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 23, 2024
How does a manway differ from a manhole in design?
A manway's design varies depending on the requirements of the vessel or space it provides access to, unlike the typically circular manhole designed for public infrastructure.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 23, 2024
How are manholes and manways maintained?
Maintenance involves regular inspections, cleaning, and repairs as needed, with specific protocols depending on the setting (urban infrastructure for manholes, industrial equipment for manways).
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Feb 23, 2024
Can the terms manhole and manway be used interchangeably?
While both terms describe access points, they are not interchangeable due to their different applications, designs, and contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 23, 2024
Are there regulations governing the design of manholes and manways?
Yes, there are specific regulations and standards governing the design, installation, and maintenance of manholes and manways to ensure public and worker safety.
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Feb 23, 2024
What materials are used to construct manholes and manways?
Materials vary widely, including metal, concrete, and composite materials, chosen for durability, strength, and suitability for the specific environment.
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Feb 23, 2024
Why are manholes circular?
Manholes are circular to prevent the lid from falling through the opening and to evenly distribute the weight above, enhancing safety and durability.
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Feb 23, 2024
Can manways be found in non-industrial settings?
While primarily used in industrial settings, manways can also be found in any context requiring safe access to confined spaces or vessels, including some non-industrial applications.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 23, 2024
How are new technologies impacting the design and function of manholes and manways?
Innovations in materials and design are enhancing the safety, efficiency, and longevity of manholes and manways, with technologies like remote monitoring and advanced sealing techniques improving their functionality.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 23, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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