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  • What Are Common Installation Methods for Ball & Socket River Crossing Pipe and How is it Assembled?

    What Are Common Installation Methods for Ball & Socket River Crossing Pipe and How is it Assembled?

    By Jeff Houser   05/14/2021  In Installation Products

    As the name suggests, Ball & Socket River Crossing Pipe manufactured by McWane Ductile is a severe application Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) product manufactured to meet the demanding requirements associated with crossing rivers, streams, and lakes. In this blog, we will discuss the various installation methods associated with Ball & Socket pipe and basic assembly instructions.

  • Ask the Ditch Doctor - Does the Direction of Ductile Iron Pipe Matter?

    Ask the Ditch Doctor - Does the Direction of Ductile Iron Pipe Matter?

    By Jerry Regula, ENV SP, AMPP CT   04/01/2021  In Installation Products

    Help Me Ditch Doctor,  

    The inspector on this pipeline project came out here and just told us we are laying pipe in the wrong direction. He said the bells have to face the other direction like the plans show. He wants us to dig up the 1,000 feet of pipe we've already installed and reverse each pipe. Is he for real? Does it really matter?

  • What Types of Ductile Iron Pipe Restraints Should Be Used When Installed Through Casing Pipe?

    What Types of Ductile Iron Pipe Restraints Should Be Used When Installed Through Casing Pipe?

    By Gary Kurtz   03/12/2021  In Installation Products Technical

    As a companion piece to the Iron Strong Blog entry, What Type of Ductile Iron Pipe Joint Is Right for You? by Scott Rhorick, this article takes a deeper dive into the specifics of installing restrained joint Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) through a steel casing pipe. While many options are available industry-wide, this article concentrates on using TR Flex® or Sure Stop Gaskets in cased installations.

  • What Type of Ductile Iron Pipe Joint Is Right for You?

    What Type of Ductile Iron Pipe Joint Is Right for You?

    By Scott Rhorick   03/08/2021  In Installation Products Technical

    There are a variety of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) joints on the market. These different types of joint designs can now allow for additional benefits for various applications. Joining pipe together is just as important as the pipe itself. It sounds like a simple procedure, but the environment in which the pipe is assembled is critical.

  • How to CAD Weld on Ductile Iron Pipe

    How to CAD Weld on Ductile Iron Pipe

    By Jerry Regula, ENV SP, AMPP CT   02/18/2021  In Installation Technical

    Thermite welding, often referred to as CAD welding, on Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) and products is a common practice in our industry today. This welding technique of using heat from an exothermic reaction to produce coalescence between two metals is most often used to bond the Ductile iron joints for cathodic protection or for the opportunity to add a cathodic protection system at a later date. In this Iron Strong Blog, we will discuss when, why, and how to properly CAD weld on DI pipe.

  • Ask the Ditch Doctor - What About Residual Water in Cold Temps?

    Ask the Ditch Doctor - What About Residual Water in Cold Temps?

    By Ken Rickvalsky, ENV SP, AMPP CT   02/12/2021  In Installation Technical

    Dear Ditch Doctor

    We recently installed a 15,000-ft 12-inch diameter Ductile iron pipeline with several 6-inch branches off two hydrants. The average depth of cover is 4 feet. The city engineer has expressed a concern that residual groundwater might have entered the pipeline during our installation activities.

  • Can Ductile Iron Pipe Be Ordered in Shorter Bell and Spigot Lengths?

    Can Ductile Iron Pipe Be Ordered in Shorter Bell and Spigot Lengths?

    By Carolyn Lopez   01/29/2021  In Installation Products Technical

    Have you ever wondered or asked if it is possible to order shorter lengths of bell and spigot Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) for your waterworks project or sections within it? The answer is YES; we can help you with those shorter lengths of DI pipe for your project.

  • How Does Proper Bedding Allow a Pipe to “Sleep Well?"

    How Does Proper Bedding Allow a Pipe to “Sleep Well?"

    By Ken Rickvalsky, ENV SP, AMPP CT   01/22/2021  In Installation Technical

    Did you know the mattress industry is one of the oldest continuous industries in the world? The first mattresses were believed to have been manufactured in 37 BC in Persia. Today, more than 35 million mattresses are shipped world-wide to replace those that have been in service for an average of seven years. So, what does this have to do with Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe), you ask? This article will discuss how setting improper bedding in a pipe trench can cause sleepless nights for the water company and its crews due to pipe failures, seemingly always at night — as it is my experience that most large main breaks typically occur after dark!

  • V-Bio® Vs. Regular Black Polyethylene Encasement – What’s The Difference?

    V-Bio® Vs. Regular Black Polyethylene Encasement – What’s The Difference?

    By Bob Hartzel   12/30/2020  In Installation Technical

    Polyethylene Encasement (Polywrap) was first used in 1958 and has successfully protected millions of feet of both cast and Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe). It has been the most popular method of corrosion control for DI pipe throughout the years. Today, it is the most widely used method of protecting DI pipe in corrosive environments.

  • What Is No Bell Pipe and What Is It Used For?

    What Is No Bell Pipe and What Is It Used For?

    By Gary Kurtz   12/10/2020  In Installation Products Technical

    Why do you make Ductile iron pipe with no bell? Who would use such pipe? What is it used for? All good questions from most people in our industry, unless you are a pipe fabricator.

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Latest Posts

  • UPDATED - Ductile Iron Pipe Versus HDPE - A Comparative Narrative
    UPDATED - Ductile Iron Pipe Versus HDPE - A Comparative Narrative By Ken Rickvalsky, ENV SP, AMPP CT 05/29/2025  In Comparisons Products Technical
  • How is Ductile Iron Resilient to Disruptive Events? Part II – DI Pipe & Wildfires
    How is Ductile Iron Resilient to Disruptive Events? Part II – DI Pipe & Wildfires By Jacob Lovin, ENV SP 04/22/2025  In Products Resiliency Technical
  • Crossing the Saugus River with Ductile Iron Pipe -  When, Why, Who, and How
    Crossing the Saugus River with Ductile Iron Pipe - When, Why, Who, and How By Jeff Houser 04/15/2025  In Installation Products Technical
  • Why Would High Temperatures Affect Piping Material Selection?
    Why Would High Temperatures Affect Piping Material Selection? By Scott Rhorick 03/25/2025  In Products Technical
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    Looking for answers to your DI pipe questions? Find decades of Ductile iron expertise with installation guides, videos, tip sheets, training resources, and more in our Learning Center.

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Products
  • Products
  • Ductile Iron Pipe
    • Tyton® Joint Pipe
    • TR Flex® Restrained Joint Pipe
    • Mechanical Joint Pipe
    • Mechanical Joint Lock Joint Pipe
    • Fabricated Flange and Wall Pipe
    • Ball and Socket Joint Pipe
    • Long-Span Pipe
    • Permaloy™ Pipe
    • Seismic Flex Coupling™
  • Gaskets
    • Tyton® Gaskets
    • Mechanical Joint Gaskets
    • Flange Gaskets
    • Sure Stop 350® Gasket
    • Specialty Gaskets Service & Usage
  • Fabrication
    • Fabricated Flange and Wall Pipe
    • Grooved Pipe
    • Welded Outlet Pipe
    • Thread-o-Lets
    • Weld-On Boss
  • Fittings and Accessories
    • Bronze Wedge
    • Cable Bond
    • Pipe Joint Lubricant
    • Mechanical Joint Accessories
    • Seismic Flex Coupling™
    • TR Flex® Accessories
    • TR Flex® Fittings
    • V-Bio® Encasement
  • Linings
    • Cement-Mortar Lining
    • Glass Lining
    • Protecto 401™ Lining
    • Ceramapure™ PL90 Lining
  • Coatings
    • Asphaltic Coating
    • Zinc-Coating
    • Ceramawrap Coating
    • V-Bio® Enhanced Polyethylene Encasement
  • Technical Bulletins
  • Specifications
  • Certifications
  • Submittal Builder
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Learning Center
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