Valve Manifold
A valve manifold groups multiple zone valves into a single assembly. Place it as one point component on the plan and configure the zone count in the Inspector — cleaner than placing each valve individually when they share a common housing.
Valve ManifoldA valve manifold is a cluster of zone valves sharing a single physical valve box — a common installation pattern when multiple irrigation zones originate from the same supply point. The Manifold object represents the whole assembly as one symbol. Place it from the Water tab, then record the number of valves it holds and the box type in the Inspector. Use it when you want a single combined symbol rather than placing individual valves.
Configure the number of zones
With the manifold selected, open the Inspector and set the zone count to match the number of solenoid valves in the assembly (e.g., 4, 6, 8 zones). Each zone in the manifold corresponds to one irrigation zone on the plan. The symbol updates to reflect the specified zone count.
Connect supply and lateral pipes
Use the Draw Pipe tool to draw a supply pipe from the water source (via backflow preventer and filter) to the manifold inlet. Then draw a separate lateral pipe from the manifold for each zone — routing each lateral pipe to the sprinkler heads in that zone. Label each lateral with the corresponding zone number using the Annotate tool.
Set the valve count and box type
Select the placed manifold to open its inspector. In the Valve Manifold section, set Valves to the number of zone valves the box holds, and choose a Box Type: Standard, Jumbo, Round, or Custom.
Name the manifold
In the General section, give the manifold a descriptive Name such as 'Manifold — Zones 1–4' so it reads clearly on the plan and in cost reports.
Connect the supply pipe
Place a Pipe from the Distribution section and run the supply pipe from the water source into the manifold. Add a Backflow preventer (Sources & Supply) upstream of the manifold if the design requires backflow protection.
Run lateral pipes to each zone
Draw a lateral Pipe from the manifold toward the sprinklers or driplines in each zone. Each lateral represents one irrigation zone leaving the manifold.
The Water tab is a schematic communication tool. It does not simulate real-world water pressure or flow rates. Consult a qualified irrigation designer to verify pipe sizing, pressure requirements, and zone capacity for your site.
Deleting a manifold removes it from the canvas but does not automatically remove pipes connected to it. After deleting, check for and remove any leftover pipe segments with the Select tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a dedicated manifold object?
Yes. The Manifold object lives in the Water tab under Control. It represents the whole valve box as one symbol, with Inspector fields for valve count and box type.
When should I use a manifold instead of individual valves?
Use a manifold when several zone valves are clustered in one physical box near the supply, and you want to represent the assembly as a single object. Use individual Valve objects when zones branch at separate locations across the plan.
What box types are available?
Standard, Jumbo, Round, and Custom. Choose the one that matches the valve box you intend to specify.
Should I add a backflow preventer to the manifold?
If the design requires one, place a Backflow object (Sources & Supply section) on the supply pipe upstream of the manifold, between the water source and the manifold.
How do I move the manifold and its pipes together?
Switch to the Select tool, draw a selection box around the manifold and its connected pipes, then drag the selection to the new location.