"In this #IronStrong Blog, we will discuss the characteristics of Ceramawrap and how its application to Ductile iron pipe can extend the life and durability of your pipeline system.
When choosing an appropriate utility piping material for your water or wastewater project, there is so much more to consider than just the purchase price alone. This comparison between two popular piping materials – HDPE and Ductile iron pipe – demonstrates the need for more than just a cursory review or habitual choice. At McWane Ductile, we are always available to run through the matrix with you. Some installations or conditions do favor alternate materials, yet it’s hardly ever a cut-and-dried deal. Let’s take a closer look to find out why.
Over the course of my 30+ year career with McWane Ductile, I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of some remarkably interesting and detailed water pipeline projects. Several of these projects have required a partnership between the community, awarding authority, contractor, water works distributor, and material manufacturer to ensure the projects were installed efficiently and correctly. However, few have matched the scale, complexity, and collaborative effort of the Saugus River crossing—part of the massive Belden Bly Bridge Replacement Project in Massachusetts. This project stands out not only for its technical challenges but also for the preparation, planning, and collaboration of key partners that brought it to a successful conclusion. In this #IronStrong Blog, you’ll hear the when, why, who, and how of this complex and intricate Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) waterway crossing.
Sustainability and Resiliency are today's buzzwords, especially concerning water and wastewater systems, but what does this really mean to you, the designer, manager and/or operator? Utility people today are bombarded with the answer to this question, and we believe that there is no one answer because every system is unique and experiences different priorities and different challenges.
Gaskets Are Great
Rubber gaskets are the reliable workhorse of any Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) joint. They provide long-lasting flexibility and a watertight seal against internal pressures upwards of 1,000 psi.
What they don’t do, however, is bind the joint longitudinally against such forces. In fact, without assistance from other variables, a push-on or mechanical joint of any diameter would calmly separate lengthwise against pressures as low as 50 psi.
Have you ever heard the saying, “To the man who only has a hammer in the tool kit, every problem looks like a nail? (Abraham Maslow)” In the water utility industry, some folks may feel this way when faced with a pipeline installation that must circumvent natural or human-made obstacles, especially water crossings. So, if going around or above is not an option, then what? How about below?
In today’s modern world, there are more tools available to install water pipelines, such as open trench/cut, above-grade pier systems, and Horizontal Directional Drilling or HDD. In this blog, we’ll discuss the benefits of using Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) for HDD and provide some considerations and tips for your pipeline installation
Cement-mortar lining for iron pipe has been used for nearly 100 years. The first installation of gray iron pipe with a cement lining was recorded in Savannah, GA in 1922. Todays modern Ductile iron pipe still utilizes cement lining for a safe and reliable means of providing clean drinking water to millions of people every day.
On occasion, however, the cement lining may have incurred some damage in the field. The lining, although very durable, does not have the same resistance to bending stress or impact as the pipe itself. Certainly, the pipe or fitting should be checked for further structural damage, but once determined the affected area is only the cement lining, repairs can be made under the applicable provisions within the ANSI/AWWA C104/A21.4 standard CEMENT-MORTAR LINING FOR DUCTILE IRON PIPE AND FITTINGS.
Can McWane Ductile provide bonded coatings? A good question recently posed and more frequently asked due to a greater recognition of potential corrosive environments. To correctly address this question, some other questions need to be answered first.
Although McWane Ductile loves highlighting major waterworks projects, sometimes it is seeing water professionals work together to solve a utility's problem that deserves recognition. Our valued partners at Northwest Arkansas Winwater called us on Monday, April 27, 2020, with a customer in need — Benton Washington Regional Public Water Authority (BWRPWA).
In the realm of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) joints, standard SBR (Styrene Butadiene) gaskets are the traditional watertight sealing solution. However, did you know these gaskets are not intended for all applications? When dealing with unique jobs, selecting the proper gasket material catering to specific operational demands is essential. There are specialized gaskets, distinct in composition and functionality, that transcend the conventional capabilities of SBR gaskets. Each gasket described below is made for specific purposes based on factors like soil conditions, fluid temperature, or powerful industrial forces. These gaskets utilize modern elastomers to withstand the demands of any given project. In this #IronStrong Blog, we will closely examine each gasket available for your pipeline project.
Today’s modern push-on gaskets are comprised of different types of rubber compounds, and the development of the push-on gasket has proven to be instrumental to the success of the leak-free water and sewer joint. Let's take a closer look at each specialty gasket available on the market today.
In a continuous effort to make your job easier, we have developed an online submittal builder to quickly and neatly package your personalized presentation.
BUILD MY SUBMITTAL
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.
GIVE ME ANSWERS
Stop struggling with those hard-to-figure field calculations and put ease and efficiency right at your fingertips with our Pocket Engineer for mobile and desktop devices.
CALCULATE NOW
McWane Ductile is proud to be a part of the McWane companies.
