MOORE & TABER                     

 

 

A Division of Layne Christensen Company    

 

         

Manometer ("Water Level")

Manometers are used in the geotechnical and forensic engineering industry to determine relative elevations of floors, structures, foundations, and other hardscape elements.  The type of manometer typically used for this purpose consists of a stationary reservoir and portable probe, connected by a length of small-diameter tubing.  The governing principle behind the manometer is that water will seek its own level.  That is, the water level in the stationary reservoir will be at an equal level as the top of the water column at the portable probe, provided both the probe tubing and stationary reservoir are open to the surrounding atmosphere.  This configuration allows the operator to obtain relative elevation readings throughout a building, without the need for line-of-sight surveying techniques.

The principle of the manometer has been used for centuries in ship building, and even earlier by the Romans in the construction of their aqueducts.  Moore & Taber has been manufacturing manometers for engineering data collection and construction applications since the early 1970's.  The design has become a well-known local industry standard, due in part to its simplicity and ease of use.  A photo of a Moore & Taber manometer is included at the left of this page.

The manometer's portable probe is graduated in inches, and tenth's-of-inches; and readings can generally be interpolated to 0.05-inch.  When performing a relative floor elevation survey, relative elevation readings are plotted on a copy of a structure's floor plan, and then contoured to reveal structural trends or patterns.  Moore & Taber personnel use manometers to monitor structures for uplift during ground improvement operations, and to compare post-treatment improvement with pre-treatment conditions.