Editing Manhole (section)

{{Short description|Opening to a confined space}}
{{other uses}}
[[File:ManholePMG gobeirne.jpg|thumb|[[Postmaster-General's Department|PMG]] manholes in a city street, [[Perth, Western Australia]]]]
[[File:Working underground.jpg|thumb|[[Sanitary manhole|Manhole]] being used to access sewer]]
[[File:Fiber-Optic Manhole Installation.jpg|thumb|Installation of a fiber-optic manhole in Brooklyn, New York]]
[[File:Uncovered manhole.jpg|thumb|An uncovered manhole in Beirut, Lebanon]]
A '''manhole''' ('''utility hole''', '''maintenance hole''',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nemerow |first1=Nelson L. |last2=Agardy |first2=Franklin J. |last3=Salvato |first3=Joseph A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VO-Unp1sFAMC |title=Environmental Engineering: Environmental Health and Safety for Municipal Infrastructure, Land Use and Planning, and Industry |edition=6, illustrated |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |date=2009 |isbn=978-0470083055 |access-date=2019-07-19 }}</ref> or '''sewer hole''') is an opening to a [[confined space]] such as a [[shaft (civil engineering)|shaft]], [[utility vault]], or large [[container|vessel]]. Manholes, typically protected by a [[manhole cover]], are often used as an access point for an underground [[public utility]], allowing inspection, maintenance, and system upgrades. The majority of underground services have manholes, including [[Water industry|water]], [[sanitary sewer|sewers]], [[telephone]], [[electricity]], [[storm drain]]s, [[district heating]], and [[natural gas|gas]].

Manholes are generally found in urban areas,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Kanwarjot |date=2023-06-30 |title=What is a Manhole- Function, Construction, Materials, and Types of Manhole - Civil Engineering Portal |url=https://www.engineeringcivil.com/what-is-a-manhole-function-construction-materials-and-types-of-manhole.html |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=Civil Engineering Portal - Biggest Civil Engineering Information Sharing Website |language=en}}</ref> in streets and occasionally under [[sidewalk]]s. In [[rural]] and undeveloped areas, services such as telephone and electricity are usually carried on [[utility pole]]s or even [[Electricity pylon|pylons]] rather than underground.

In Australia, ''manhole'' also commonly refers to an [[access hatch]] used to get access from a room or hallway into the ceiling cavity of a building.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://training.gov.au/TrainingComponentFiles/CPC/CPCCPB3027_AssessmentRequirements_R1.pdf |title=Assessment Requirements for CPCCPB3027 Install ceiling insulation products |edition=1st |date=17 January 2019 |author=Attribus Innovation |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |website=Department of Education and Training |access-date=5 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/home-improvement/roofing/how-to-install-a-manhole |title=How to install a manhole |website=Bunnings Warehouse |access-date=5 July 2019}}</ref> These manholes are typically around {{cvt|450|x|450|mm|in}} square.