Pipe is perhaps one of the oldest and most common products used in water infrastructure construction — potable water, wastewater, and stormwater. The amount of pipe of all types installed and, in some cases, ongoing failures caused by improper application or simply pipe reaching the end of its lifecycle, have spawned a highly competitive market, technology advancements, and a wide choice of materials and suppliers.
CE News presents this special report to help civil engineers begin sorting through all of the pipe choices they face when designing water projects. National associations representing the eight most commonly used types of pipe — concrete, corrugated steel, ductile iron, fiberglass, polyethylene, PVC, steel, and vitrified clay — provided responses to four questions. Their answers are summarized here and posted unabridged in the online version of this report at www.cenews.com In addition, major manufacturers of each type of pipe are listed with web addresses or phone numbers for reference. Contact manufacturers for information about product lines and manufacturing and distribution locations.
|
Concrete pipe
Q: What applications and environments particularly favor the use of concrete pipe?
A: Normal conditions for storm sewers and culverts favor the use of precast concrete pipe. Emerging technologies include liners for sanitary sewers and use of precast concrete pipe for tunneling.
Q: How have the performance and/or application of concrete pipe changed during the last five to 10 years?
A: The biggest advancements in the manufacturing of precast concrete pipe is more automated equipment. This has resulted in a better-made pipe with consistent quality. Additionally, joint gasket technology has improved.
Q: How does concrete pipe contribute to a project’s green building, sustainable design, or LEED certification goals?
A: Precast concrete pipe contributes to a project achieving LEED points through construction waste management, materials reuse, recycled content, and regional materials. Precast concrete pipe has also been used as earth tubes for heating and cooling to attain LEED Innovation and Design credits. Precast concrete pipe uses recycled steel for reinforcement and contains fly ash or slag material.
Q: What specific resources are available to help civil engineers?
A: The American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA) offers a Design Manual, Concrete Pipe Handbook, design data, and software to assist in the design of precast concrete pipe. Also available is the newly revised Concrete Pipe and Box Culvert Installation Manual, as well as several research reports.
| Concrete pipe manufacturers | |
| American Concrete Pipe Company www.americanconcretepipe.com Americast Ameron International Cretex Concrete Products Midwest Geneva Pipe Hanson |
Independent Concrete Pipe Company Johnson Concrete Company Oldcastle Rinker Sherman-Dixie Concrete Industries Vianini Pipe Inc. |
Information contributed by American Concrete Pipe Association (www.concrete-pipe.org).
|
Corrugated steel pipe
Q: What applications and environments particularly favor the use of corrugated steel pipe (CSP)?
A: Applications favoring CSP include culverts, storm sewers, underground detention and retention systems, bridges, erosion prevention, fish passages, and more.
Q: How have the performance and/or application of CSP changed during the last five to 10 years?
A: Field performance has proven that, when specified within the industry-recommended environmental conditions, galvanized-CSP can provide a service life up to 50 years, while polymer-coated and aluminized Type II CSP can provide a service life up to 100 years.
Q: How does corrugated steel pipe contribute to a project’s green building or LEED certification goals?
A: The high recycled content of CSP can be certified to aid in earning LEED points in the “Materials & Resources Credit 4” category. And the pipe meets all AASHTO and ASTM prime pipe standards.
Q: What specific resources are available to help civil engineers?
The National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association’s website offers Corrugated Steel Pipe Design Manual; Installation Manual; Life Cycle Cost Analysis; Underground Detention System Program; brochures; fact sheets; and calculators, charts, and tools.
| Corrugated steel pipe manufacturers | |
|
Atlantic Industries Ltd. Big R Manufacturing, LLC C & K Johnson Industries, Inc. CONTECH Construction Products Inc. Dub Ross Company Edwards Culvert Company Hawaii Concrete Products, Inc. Huron Tank and Culvert Illowa Culvert and Supply J&J Drainage Products Company Jennmar Specialty Products |
Jensen Bridge and Supply Company Johnston Fargo Culvert, Inc. Lane Enterprises, Inc. Metal Culverts, Inc. Pacific Corrugated Pipe Company Roscoe Culvert Southeast Culvert, Inc. St. Regis Culvert Thompson Culvert Company Wyatt Resources, Inc. |
Information contributed by National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association (www.ncspa.org).
|
Ductile iron pipe
Q: What applications and environments particularly favor the use of ductile iron pipe (DIP)?
A: DIP has been used for decades in distribution and transmission service for water; collection, interceptor, and force main applications for domestic sanitary sewage; and plant process piping in water and wastewater treatment plants. An emerging application is the use of ductile iron pipe in trenchless applications such as horizontal directional drilling.
Q: How have the performance and/or application of DIP changed during the last five to 10 years?
A: Polyethylene encasement in accordance with the ANSI/AWWA C105/A21.5 standard allows DIP to serve for a minimum of 100 years. Special linings have also been developed to protect the pipe against exposure to septic sewage.
Q: How does DIP contribute to a project’s green building or LEED certification goals?
A: Depending on the size of the pipe and the nature of the lining being applied, the recycled content for ductile iron pipe can exceed 90 percent. Also, DIP’s smooth cement-mortar lined interior surface requires less energy consumption for pumping. DIP can be recovered and used as a raw material for future pipe.
Q: What specific resources are available to help civil engineers?
The Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA) maintains a library of technical brochures available as PDF downloads on its website. Also available are computer programs for pipe selection and design.
| Ductile iron pipe manufacturers | |
|
American Cast Iron Pipe Company, American Ductile Iron Pipe Division Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Company CLOW Water Systems Co. Griffin Pipe Products Co. |
McWane Cast Iron Pipe Company Pacific States Cast Iron Pipe Company United States Pipe and Foundry Company |
Information contributed by Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (www.dipra.org).
|
Fiberglass pipe
Q: What applications and environments particularly favor the use of fiberglass pipe?
A: Fiberglass pipe has universal applications with leak-free joints, inherent corrosion resistance, superior low-friction hydraulic characteristics, and long life service. Cost savings accrue from using smaller-diameter, high-flow-rate pipe and from reduced transportation and onsite handling costs and reduced labor and installation time. Emerging applications include the capability to design and manufacture elliptical and other non-round fiberglass pipe.
Q: How have the performance and/or application of fiberglass pipe changed during the last five to 10 years?
A: Fiberglass piping exhibits long life in septic sewers; long-term high-flow rate hydraulics due to its non-porous interior wall; high-strength, leak-free joints; and oversized diameters, all of which contribute to the lowest long-term cost.
Q: How does fiberglass pipe contribute to a project’s green building or LEED certification goals?
A: Fiberglass pipe manufacturers and tank designers have developed large-capacity community septic systems in remote locations and underground rainwater harvesting/storage and stormwater runoff retention systems.
Q: What specific resources are available to help civil engineers?
A: AWWA M45 - Fiberglass Pipe Design addresses design of municipal fiberglass pipe. Design and Installation of Buried Pipe provides installation contractors with proper fiberglass pipe installation and burial methods.
An interactive Life Cycle Model that includes default settings based on an international literature search is available at www2.egr.uh.edu/~civeb1/CIGMAT/research.htm#ClayPipe.
| Fiberglass pipe manufacturers | |
|
Ameron Fiberglass-Composite Pipe Group/USA Ameron Municipal Fiberglass Pipe Future Pipe Industries, Inc. |
Hobas Pipe USA U.S. Composite Pipe Co. |
Information contributed by Fiberglass Tank & Pipe Institute (www.fiberglasstankandpipe.com).
|
Polyethylene pipe
Q: What applications and environments particularly favor the use of polyethylene (PE) pipe?
A: Highly acidic or alkaline soils and flows do not attack PE pipe and leak-free and water-tight joints eliminate exfiltration of flow or infiltration of leachate. Flexible and monolithic pipe strings of fused PE pipe make it a natural choice for trenchless installation.
Q: How have the performance and/or application of PE pipe changed during the last five to 10 years?
A: Introduction of high-performing PE resins has allowed pipe systems to operate at a higher design stress. Improvements in manufacturing capabilities allow diameters as large as 63 inches and new opportunities have been opened in pressure systems. Development of profile designs and larger diameters have further increased use of PE pipes in stormwater systems.
Q: How does PE pipe contribute to a project’s green building or LEED certification goals?
A: Leak-free joints for pressure systems and watertight joints in gravity flow systems make PE pipe a green choice for water, sewer, and stormwater applications. Manufacturing, transportation, and installation require less energy.
Q: What specific resources are available to help civil engineers?
A: The Plastics Pipe Institute’s website offers model specifications and design guidance. The PPI Handbook of Polyethylene Pipe and the Corrugated Polyethylene Pipe Design Manual are also available on the website.
| Polyethylene pipe manufacturers | |
|
Advanced Drainage Systems. Inc. Armtec Ltd. Baughman Tile Company, Inc. Lamson Pipe Charter Plastics, Inc. Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Performance Pipe CONTECH Construction Products Inc. Crumpler Plastic Pipe Endot Industries Inc. Flying W Plastics, Inc. Fratco/Francesville Drain Tile Corp. Hancor, Inc. High Country Fusion Independent Pipe Products Inc. |
Industrial Pipe Fittings, LLC IPEX Inc. JM Eagle Lane Enterprises Inc. National Pipe & Plastics, Inc. Plastic Tubing Industries PolyPipe, Inc. Prinsco, Inc. Quality Culvert Southeast Culvert Springfield Plastics, Inc. TIMEWELL WL Plastics |
Information contributed by Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (www.plasticpipe.org).
|
PVC pipe
Q: What applications and environments particularly favor the use of PVC pipe?
A: PVC pipes hold majority shares of both the new sanitary sewer and new water distribution pipe markets in North America and are also often used for sewer force mains, irrigation piping, stormwater, and a variety of industrial piping applications. Emerging applications include reclaimed/recycled water systems, and pipeline rehabilitation.
Q: How have the performance and/or application of PVC pipe changed during the last five to 10 years?
A: Technology improvements enable manufacturers to produce a consistent product of higher quality. Demand for larger-diameter PVC pipes and fittings (as large as 48 inches for pressure pipe and 60 inches for gravity pipelines) has grown most rapidly. New and restrained joining technologies have enabled PVC pipe to become an often preferred option for trenchless installation projects.
Q: How does PVC pipe contribute to a project’s green building or LEED certification goals?
A: PVC pipe has lower embodied energy than other piping material. Only 43 percent of PVC, produced by combining ethylene (from either natural gas or petroleum) and chloride from salt, comes from a non-renewable resource in the form of fossil fuels. PVC pipes can also be recycled and only require a small fraction of the energy necessary to recycle pipes comprised of metal or concrete.
Q: What specific resources are available to help civil engineers?
A: The Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association’s website provides access to available technical information, software, and its comprehensive Handbook of PVC Pipe – Design and Construction.
| PVC pipe manufacturers | |
|
CertainTeed Corporation CONTECH Construction Products Inc. Diamond Plastics Corporation IPEX Inc. JM Eagle |
National Pipe & Plastics, Inc. North American Pipe Corporation Northern Pipe Product Inc. Pipelife Jet Stream, Inc. |
Information contributed by Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association (www.uni-bell.org).
|
Steel pipe
Q: What applications and environments particularly favor the use of steel pipe?
A: Welded steel is a particularly favored material for potable water pipe systems of 30 inches diameter and larger. It is adaptable for high internal pressure applications. With application of any number of high-quality coatings, it is adaptable through all types of soil environments as well as exposed piping systems.
Q: How have the performance and/or application of steel/welded steel pipe changed during the last five to 10 years?
A: Coatings such as polyurethane, epoxy, fusion bonded, extruded polyolefin, polyamide, fused polyethylene, heat-shrinkable sleeves, and cement mortar expands the corrosion protection options available to steel water pipe systems. Greater control of steel chemistry ensures high strength, ductility, and excellent weldability. Steel pipe is spirally welded in exact long lengths to optimize shipping and installation costs.
Q: How does steel/welded steel pipe contribute to a project’s green building or LEED certification goals?
A: Steel is North America’s most recycled material. Scrap has become the steel industry’s single largest source of raw material because it is economically advantageous.
Q: What specific resources are available to help civil engineers?
A: Civil engineers can use the following resources:
- Buried Flexible Steel Pipe, ASCE Manual and Report on Engineering Practice No. 119.
- Steel Pipe – A Guide for Design and Installation, AWWA Manual of Water Supply Practices M11.
- Welded Steel Pipe Design Manual
| Steel pipe manufacturers | |
| American SpiralWeld Pipe Company, LLC www.acipco.com/aswp Ameron International |
Naylor Pipe Northwest Pipe Company |
Information contributed by Steel Tank Institute/Steel Plate Fabricators Association (www.steeltank.com).
Vitrified Clay pipe
Q: What applications and environments particularly favor the use of vitrified clay pipe?
A: Clay pipe is used in gravity sewer and stormwater applications. Installation can be accomplished using traditional open-cut and a variety of trenchless methods.
Q: How have the performance and/or application of vitrified clay pipe changed during the last five to 10 years?
A: The clay pipe industry has been doing research on new bedding systems and joint designs to meet the needs of engineers as sewer systems have to go into more difficult soils and deeper placements.
Q: How does clay pipe contribute to a project’s green building or LEED certification goals?
A: Clay is the most environmentally friendly material available for pipe, flue lining, wall copings, and architectural terracotta. Clay is a natural mineral material and has no additives.
Q: What specific resources are available to help civil engineers?
A: The National Clay Pipe Institute has an online searchable library with hundreds of research reports and design data for engineers. It also publishes an Engineering Manual and a suite of four programs designed to assist engineers with selection and design.
| Clay pipe manufacturers | |
| Building Products Company www.buildingproductscompany.com Can Clay Corporation www.gladdingmcbean.com |
Logan Clay Products Company Superior Clay Corporation |
Information contributed by National Clay Pipe Institute (www.ncpi.org).
