CONCRETE PIPING PROVIDES UNMATCHED DURABILITY

Municipalities that rely on concrete piping for their water and sanitation requirements are investing in a product with the capacity to operate for well over a century, says CMA general manager Henry Cockcroft.

He says the merits of concrete pipe are recognised globally. A 2011 study by the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) found that only 0,125% of public sewers in the UK had to be replaced each year between 2000-2008. At that rate, it has been estimated that concrete pipe sewers installed in the UK today will take around 800 years before needing replacement. “Such durability can’t be ignored in a country such as SA, where municipalities have limited budgets for most operational needs,” says Cockcroft.

Precast concrete piping is the strongest piping available and can be designed and tested to meet any loading condition. Unlike flexible pipes, concrete pipes have most of the required strength built into them and the success of new projects becomes much less dependent upon the skills of the installers.

“Concrete piping has a proven track record of performance. They won’t rust, burn, tear, buckle and are immune to most environmental elements. Unlike flexible pipes – for which most of the structure must be painstakingly designed and installed in the field – concrete piping comes with design already virtually built in. It also has an unlimited range of pipe strengths from which to choose and these strengths are available for selection and demonstration prior to installation

“Precast concrete drainage products are renowned for strength and durability. They won’t corrode prematurely, deflect or move of f grade to reduce hydraulic performance, or collapse under loads designed into the pipe structure. Concrete piping is easily integrated into ecosystems and widely used to accommodate the natural channels of streams at road crossings, and for storm sewers and outfalls in valleys and shorelines,” says Cockcroft.

The American Concrete Pipe Association has, for example, found that by specifying concrete pipe, end-users such as municipalities will benefit from advantages that include: • Resilience: Concrete piping is resilient

and dur able – in f ac t , e v en the Merriam-Webster Dictionary says it is “able to exist for a long time without significant deterioration”. With concrete pipe, durability deals with the life expectancy and enduring characteristics of its materials. • Strength: Reinforced precast concrete piping is the strongest drainage piping available – a composite structure specially designed to use the best features of both concrete and reinforcement. The concrete is designed for the compressive force and the r ein f or cement f or the tensile force. • Dependability: Concrete piping’s long-term performance is proven. Innovation has made concrete pipe more reliable and dependable than ever. This innovation includes improvements to concrete mixes, pipe design and manufacturing processes. • Structure and conduit: Concrete pipe is a rigid pipe that provides both str uctur e and c onduit w hen it arrives on site. Unlike flexible alternatives, concrete piping has little dependence on the surrounding soil for its structural performance. • Des ign/construc t ion f lex ib il ity: Whether the project is open-cut, deep or shallow burial, tunnels or complex alignments, concrete piping has the design and construction flexibility to meet the challenge. • Joint performance: The rigid structure of concrete piping joints allows for different designs, from soil-tight to water-tight. Pressure-rated joints are also available. “The key to long-term performance and efficiency lies in a material’s ability to retain its original shape and alignment,” says Cockcro ft. “Precast concrete pipe’s rigidity and mass allow it to greatly outper f orm flexible pipe systems in this critical area. This formidable rigidity and strength help improve hydraulic efficiency by minimising the resistance to water flow that o ften occurs when the shape or integrity of a flexible pipe is compromised.

“Finally, with the current emphasis on sustainability and ‘green’ products, concrete – unlike plastic piping – is less expensive to produce and consumes less energy than competitive fabrications. Concrete pipe is also recyclable and – when local resources are used – it can provide lower fuel cost for delivery.” (Above): Henry Cockcroft, CMA general manager.