Pits, Pillars & Underground Enclosures
Underground Cable Pits & Pillars: sizes and configurations for URD reticulation
Running underground reticulation means matching the pit or pillar to the cable load and to whatever sits above it, whether that's a driveway or a nature strip. This range covers plastic underground cable pits, distribution pillars and concrete pit lids for URD (underground residential distribution) work, in vented and non-vented configurations for cable joints, service connections and communications access points. A Gatic lifting key makes opening these lids easier on site — check our pit sizing guide if you're unsure which unit fits your job.
What's in This Range
- Underground cable pit — mid-size plastic pit for cable joints and service connections along a run.
- Concrete communications pit lid — trafficable-rated concrete lid for NBN and comms access points.
- Distribution pillar base — standard outdoor pillar base for setting up a new distribution point.
- Tall pillar lid and base kit — vented kit with D-bolt fixing for taller service pillar installs.
- Double cable pillar kit — weather-sealed joint kit for terminating two service cables at a pillar.
- Underground pillar assembly — long vented URD pillar for higher-capacity distribution runs.
Who Uses This
Civil crews use underground cable pits and concrete pit lids on subdivisions where cable runs need staged access points. Cablers and NBN installers rely on communications-rated pit lids, while electrical contractors reach for distribution pillars, pillar bases and lid kits on new service connections and switchboard upgrades. Vented pillar options come up on jobs where cable joints need airflow to prevent moisture build-up.
Underground Cable Pits & Pillars — Common Questions
Do distribution pillars need a fuse panel fitted?
Most distribution pillar installs need a fuse panel to protect and terminate the outgoing circuits. A thermoplastic fuse panel assembly fits inside the pillar base once it's set, giving a compact earth/neutral termination point without a separate enclosure.
How do I mark buried cable after the pit is backfilled?
Once a pit or pillar base is backfilled, the cable route isn't visible for future digging or maintenance. A passive ball marker placed along the route lets a locator pick up the cable line later without exposing the pit.
How deep does the cable need to sit before the pit or pillar goes in?
Depth depends on the cable type and whether the run crosses a driveway or trafficable area, so pit and pillar height needs planning against the trench depth rather than picked separately. Our underground cable depth guide covers typical depth ranges for common cable and conduit types.
Why Choose SCHNAP
- Pit and pillar sizes across small joint pits through to large multi-cable pits, so one supplier covers the full reticulation run.
- Vented and non-vented pillar kits from Cabac and Repelec, with D-bolt and button-bolt fixing options depending on site access requirements.
- 30-day returns on stocked pit, pillar and fuse panel lines if a size doesn't suit the install.
Supplying a comms pit? Check our Telstra pit lid guide before ordering. Browse the full range above or get in touch for help matching a pit or pillar to your job.
