Over the years, manufacturing companies have not made as much progress with diversity and inclusion – specifically in recruiting women – like other sectors, but by working together and sharing best practices, we can become more effective in this initiative.
Have you ever been so taken aback by the structure of a question that your first thought is, “say what? Did they really just ask me that?” In the vernacular-sensitive world of utility pipelines, it happens more often than you might think.
It’s National Engineers Week (EWeek). Founded by the National Society of Professional Engineers in 1951, (EWeek) is dedicated to promoting careers in engineering and technology to develop a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce. This #IronStrong Blog spotlights the importance of engineers and how they impact the waterworks industry.
Locking gaskets are the industry standard for dependable, reliable, and easy installation of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) in 3-inch through 24-inch diameters. Locking gaskets for DI pipe have been around for more than 30 years and have been used in over one million push joint installations. However, as good as locking gaskets are in 3-inch through 24-inch, there were challenges involved when attempting to install in 30-inch and 36-inch diameter pipe. In this Iron Strong Blog, we will look at the various reason we do not make large-diameter locking gaskets for DI pipe.
Have you ever been on a Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) installation with restrained joint gaskets and needed to uninstall a previously assembled joint? This is normally prompted by the need to replace a displaced or a “pinched” gasket. Proper gasket placement and attention during assembly is the best way to avoid such conditions, as detailed in a previous blog by McWane Ductile. Unfortunately, the problem often does not arise until the pipeline is hydrostatically tested. In today’s Iron Strong Blog, we will examine the “Dos & Don'ts" of uninstalling with DI pipe restrained joint gaskets.
Have you ever been asked what size trench is needed when installing Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe)? How safe are the working conditions within a trench? Knowing the proper trench to utilize during the installation of the material will help save time, effort, and money on any job site. But most importantly, this knowledge will help keep everyone safe within and around the trench. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has gone to great lengths to define and identify any threats in the trenching and excavation safety when installing DI pipe. This Iron Strong Blog will share and explain the different trenches available while outlining the safety considerations required when excavating earthen material.
So, you have an existing water distribution system feeding a small hospital and a military post. Now you need to branch off the pipeline to feed another 30 new houses under construction nearby. How do you do it without interrupting service to the critical facilities already being served? In this Iron Strong Blog, we’ll discuss three common pipe tapping methods used in the water and wastewater industry and the variables to consider when choosing the best method for your waterworks project.
In today’s marketplace, everything is in constant flux. Projects have specific completion times, and material lead times are continually increasing. For a variety of reasons, materials that typically were in stock for immediate shipment now take weeks to months before they are available to ship. You may be considering changing the piping material to be used in your water line project to another type of material. A significant consideration is how each type of piping material requires different lengths of restraint to control the change of direction in the line.
Utility pipelines provide for some of the most basic needs within our society. Essential services, such as supplying potable drinking water to our homes and businesses or sending wastewater away, are possible because of a network of buried pipelines. Whatever pipeline materials are used, they are expected to meet minimum service qualities such as withstanding leakage. This resiliency to leakage eliminates waste of our precious drinking water and prevents polluted soils from wastewater in the pipeline's proximity.
When I first started my engineering career, I was placed in charge of coordinating the relocation of water transmission and distribution pipelines to accommodate the construction of an interstate highway through a city of approximately 180,000 residents. Many times, these projects required pre-poured thrust block restraints due to the amended connections between new and old waterlines in a short timeframe so as not to leave customers inordinately out of water for long periods of time.
In a continuous effort to make your job easier, we have developed an online submittal builder to quickly and neatly package your personalized presentation.
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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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