INDUSTRY NEWS
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
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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
CONCRETE PIPING PROVIDES UNMATCHED DURABILITY
them and the success of new projects
a n d d u r a b l e – i n f a c t, e v e n t h e
Whether the project is open-cut, deep
becomes much less dependent upon the
Merriam-Webster Dictionary says it
or shallow burial, tunnels or complex
skills of the installers.
is “able to exist for a long time without
alignments, concrete piping has the
“Concrete piping has a proven track
significant deterioration”. With con-
design and construction flexibility to
record of performance. They won’t rust,
crete pipe, durability deals with the
meet the challenge.
burn, tear, buckle and are immune to
life expectancy and enduring charac-
• Joint performance: The rigid struc-
most environmental elements. Unlike
teristics of its materials.
ture of concrete piping joints allows
flexible pipes – for which most of the
• Strength: Reinforced precast con-
for different designs, from soil-tight
structure must be painstakingly designed
crete piping is the strongest drainage
to water-tight. Pressure-rated joints
and installed in the field – concrete pip-
piping available – a composite struc-
are also available.
ing comes with design already virtually
ture specially designed to use the best
“The key to long-term performance
built in. It also has an unlimited range
features of both concrete and rein-
and efficiency lies in a material’s ability to
of pipe strengths from which to choose
forcement. The concrete is designed
retain its original shape and alignment,”
and these strengths are available for
for the compressive force and the
says Cockcrof t. “Precast concrete
selection and demonstration prior to
r ein f or cemen t f or the
pipe’s rigidity and mass allow
installation
tensile force.
it to gr eatl y ou tper f orm
“Precast concrete drainage products
• Dependability: Concrete
flexible pipe systems in this
are renowned for strength and durabil-
piping’s long-term perfor-
critical area. This formidable
ity. They won’t corrode prematurely,
mance is proven. Innova-
rigidity and strength help
deflect or move off grade to reduce
tion has made concrete
improve hydraulic efficiency
hydraulic performance, or collapse under
pipe mor e r eliable and
by minimising the resistance
loads designed into the pipe structure.
dependable than ever. This
to water flow that of ten
Concrete piping is easily integrated into
innovation includes im-
occurs when the shape or
ecosystems and widely used to accom-
provements to concrete
modate the natural channels of streams
mixes, pipe design and
at road crossings, and for storm sewers
manufacturing processes.
and outfalls in valleys and shorelines,”
• Structure and conduit: Concrete
emphasis on sustainability and ‘green’
says Cockcroft.
integrity of a flexible pipe is (Above): Henry Cockcroft, CMA general manager.
compromised. “Finally, with the current
pipe is a rigid pipe that provides both
products, concrete – unlike plastic
structure and conduit when it
piping – is less expensive to produce and
sociation has, for example, found that
arrives on site. Unlike flexible al-
consumes less energy than competitive
by specifying concrete pipe, end-users
ternatives, concrete piping has little
f abrications. Concrete pipe is also
such as municipalities will benefit from
dependence on the surrounding soil
recyclable and – when local resources
advantages that include:
for its structural performance.
are used – it can provide lower fuel cost
• Resilience: Concrete piping is resilient
• Design /construc tion flexibilit y:
The American Concrete Pipe As-
for delivery.”
PRECAST | ISSUE ONE | 2020
