Article last updated 8/12/20
Ductile Iron Pipe is a tested and proven solution to sewer infrastructure needs in America. It’s not a cut and dry solution, though, and you as owners and consulting engineers have several options to choose from.
One thing that has often confused users (whether I’m talking with engineers, distributors or contractors) is the difference between “Thickness Class” and “Pressure Class” pipe. While both refer to a specific metal wall thickness of the pipe barrel, in this article we will discuss the history of the two class standards, and what class of ductile iron pipe you should use in your application.
There are various methods available for restraining Ductile Iron Pipe joints, and a common question our customers ask us is, “Which method of restraint is best – locking gaskets or boltless restrained joints?”
Both methods work very well, but the “best” method of restraint for your project can vary depending on the type of installation, the pressure the line will operate under, and the size (diameter) of the ductile iron pipe that is being used.
In this article, we will compare two common restraint options supplied by McWane Ductile - Sure Stop 350® Gaskets and TR Flex® pipe.
Ductile Iron Pipe is normally shipped in pre-packaged bundles. For special orders we can break a bundle and create exactly what is needed to fill your order. When we load a truck for delivery our goal is 40,000 pounds of pipe.
Our pipe is priced and sold based on full truckload quantities. The price of the freight is included in the price of the pipe if enough pipe is ordered to fill a truck. If a customer has ordered less than a full truckload worth of pipe, then there are three options to get the pipe delivered:
Accountability through traceability. That’s the cornerstone of Quality Assurance in any manufacturing process.
Often referred to by the abbreviation QA, if you don’t have firm control of this, you don’t have a product worth using. Quality products where lifetime warranties and reliability begin.
McWane Ductile is dedicated to continuous improvements in both product quality and personnel safety throughout all aspects of the process, in our foundry as well as the end-users’ systems.
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.
On July 24, 2018 the ½ Day of Water event took place at the state-of-the-art training facility in West Palm Beach Florida. The utility’s sprawling and beautiful center has significant space for hands-on training, large dual-screen high-resolution digital presentations, individual and group computer skills and software training, and so much more. Nearly 40 Palm Beach County utility workers, ranging from field personnel to design engineers, plant operators, and department managers were in attendance.
All ductile iron pipe manufacturers use markings in a similar manner to assist customers in selecting the right material for the project. This includes verifying the material is suitable for the application intended (i.e. water or sewer) as well as adhering to the project requirements as stipulated by the owner/engineer for pipe class, lining, and exterior coating.
Because the colors used by each manufacturer may vary, we will explain how McWane Ductile applies these markings and describe their need and locations.
Many of you may have had the opportunity to attend the AWWA/ACE 18 Conference held in Las Vegas just a few weeks ago. Among the many highlights of that show is the Annual Pipe Tapping Contest.
The participants consist of both US and International teams that are selected through a qualifying process where they would have competed in various regional or sectional events held throughout the preceding year.
Spigot stripes are used as a guide for assembly and a deflection check after assembly. Pipelines are not always designed in a straight line. It is often necessary to deflect pipe from a straight line to follow the curvature of streets and roads both vertically and horizontally. Ductile iron pipe is well suited for joint deflection.
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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