Sanitation and Cleanliness for a Healthy Environment 31
How to make a concrete ring beam
A ring beam is a square piece of cast concrete with an open center. It is set into the top of a
toilet pit to support the platform and shelter, and to keep the pit walls from collapsing. The ring
beam described here can be used along with the platform on page 30 for all pit toilets. Adjust
the size of the ring beam to fit the width of the pit.
1. Lay down a plastic sheet or cement bags on level
ground.
2. Make a mold of bricks, wooden boards, or
both. For a platform that is 120 centimeters
by 90 centimeters, the ring beam will be
130 centimeters by 1 meter on the outside,
and 1 meter by 70 centimeters on the inside.
A mold for the ringbeam
3. Make a concrete mix of 1 part cement, 2 parts
gravel, 3 parts sand, and water. Pour the concrete
into the mold until it is half-way to the top.
4. Place 2 pieces of reinforcing wire 3 millimeters
thick on top of the wet concrete on each side of the
ring beam. If you want, you can make handles of
wire 8 to 10 millimeters thick, and set them in the
concrete near the corners.
5. Pour the rest of the concrete, and level it with a
block of wood.
6. Cover the concrete with wet cement sacks,
wet cloth, or a plastic sheet and leave it
overnight. Wet it several times a day to keep it
damp for 7 days.
7. When the ring beam is solid, carry it to the site of the
toilet. Level the ground, place the ring beam, and dig a
pit inside of it. Pack soil around the outside of the ring
beam to set it in place.
8. Place the toilet platform on top, then build a shelter.
Pouring the concrete
Reinforcing wire