reasons why concrete pipeline systemsare the best option now and for the future

Cost and Affordability

• Concrete pipes provide installed cost savings asthey can be laid without using a full granular beddingand surround.

• With concrete products, material prices tend to bestable, unlike drainage products made ofthermoplastics, which can be affected bysurges in oil prices.

• Concrete pipes have a specified and provenservice life of over 100 years, so keepingmaintenance and asset replacement costs toa minimum.

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Rapid production & installation• Concrete pipes do not always require a full granular surround,saving time in bedding and compaction.

• Installation is easy and well understood by contractors and theprocess often uses machinery already available on site.

• Manufacturers are renowned for their excellent designsupport and customer focus.

• Suppliers maintain good stocks of standard products to ensureprompt delivery to site.

Resistance to damage and corrosion• Strong and robust. They are not prone to damage during storage,handling, installation or use.

• No special protection measures are required

• Do not deform or lose shape over their service life

• Do not lose strength or resistance over time.

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Inherent Strength

• Less susceptible than flexible systems to inadequate bedding and poorinstallation.

• Concrete pipes and manholes are designed to high strength Classesand offer the most inherently strong option in the market.

• Concrete pipes are the overwhelmingly preferred optionwhere traffic is expected to run over the pipeline.

• For installations with deeper cover depths where greater stresses areimposed on the pipes, concrete systems are the most suitable choice.

High, consistent standards

• In 2002, concrete drainage components became oneof the first construction products to be manufacturedto a complete and consistent family of European andBritish standards.

• These standards ensure thatproducts are made to meet thehighest requirements. Theyinclude rigorous producttesting on each requirement atevery stage of manufacture.

Resistance to jetting• According to WRc’s Sewer Jetting Code of Practice, concretepipeline systems currently withstand a maximum water jettingpressure of 5,000 psi (345 bar).

• Compare this with 2,600 psi (180 bar) maximum for plasticpipeline systems according to the same code and no morethan 1745 psi (120 bar) for plastic pipes according toEuropean standards.

Resistance to sulphate attack

• Concrete pipes and manholes are resistant to sulphate andchemical attack.

• Concrete pipeline products with higher design chemical classes ofDC3 and DC4 are capable of withstanding attack from the vast majorityof aggressive ground environments in the UK.

Stability

• Concrete drainage products offer betterresistance to uplift or flotation than othermaterials, particularly during floods

• Concrete pipes are designed with flexiblejoints so they can take up movements in theground. The self-weight and superior stabilityof concrete pipeline products offer advantagesduring installation and in service.

• Maintenance and refurbishment activities canbe carried out after years of installationwithout concern over the system's stability.

Sustainability• Concrete pipeline systems are by far the most sustainableoption available.

• Responsibly sourced materials, available locally

• Products themselves can also be recycled at the end of their lifetime

• Reduce off-site disposal and the need for imported bedding materials.

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sustainable drainage

Design Flexibility• Wide choice of standard sizes and cross-sectional shapes and the ability tomanufacture bespoke solutions.

• Concrete pipeline products are used for anumber of purposes, including sewerage,drainage, attenuation and storage.

• Elliptical (ovoid) and egg-shaped pipesections may be used where there arelimitations to pipe gradient, or cover depth

Customisation & adaptability in use• Concrete drainage products can be easilycustomised, for example by cut-outs or theincorporation of other drainage productcomponents.

• Products can be readily adapted in situ toaccommodate a wide range of situations whilstmaintaining structural integrity.

• A variety of pipe bends and junctions can be produced across the fullrange of sizes.

A track record of long service life• Concrete pipeline systems offer an asset service life exceeding 100 years

• There are a number of case studies where concrete pipes laid over 100years ago were salvaged and tested successfully to current standards.

• Products do not deteriorate with age, as concrete gets stronger as itgets older.

• A rigid concrete pipe will not deform at thejoint so the integrity of the seal will not becompromised through loss of shape.

• Tested to pressure levels equivalent to a 5metre head of water.

• Modern concrete pipeline systems areavailable with integrated seals. The sealingring is cast into the socket and is also usedfor connections to manholes.

Water tightness & joint integrity

Inertness• Concrete drainage products are inert, sodo not leach harmful chemicals into theenvironment throughout their long servicelife. This is an essential property for anymaterial used in a substructure that hasdirect contact with groundwater.

• It also means that it is a safe option forhandling drainageand storm wastewater without causingcontamination.

Hydraulic efficiency• The hydraulic efficiency of concrete pipeline products is not affected byage. Unlike flexible pipes, concrete pipes do not deform.

• This hydraulic efficiency can be maintained with high pressurewater jetting without risk of damage.

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hydraulic efficiency

• Concrete pipes are available with integrally cast lifting anchors andspecially designed chains for safe and easy transporting, laying and jointing.

• All CPSA members regularly submit safety statistics to BritishPrecast. The precast concrete sector collectively reduced accidents by65% in the 7 years to 2008.

High Health & Safety standards

Resistance to high temperatures & fire• Concrete pipeline systems have excellent fire and high temperatureresistance.

• Concrete products do not lose their structure or deform when exposed toheat, unlike many thermoplastic pipeline products.

• Wastewater can be transported through concrete pipes and manholes attemperatures reaching well over 80°C when fitted with appropriate sealsystems specifically designed for such high temperatures.

• Concrete products will not burn and will not release harmful emissionsand fumes during fires, unlike many plastic products.

Innovative solutions• The use of modern durable seals ensureswater tightness and the integrity andstrength of joints.

• One example of innovation is a manholesystem that can be installed without theneed for a separate concrete surroundor the construction of an in-situ base.

• Other innovations include the concretePipe Lifter and a range of precast concreteSuDS components. Concrete pipelifter video

• The strength and structure of a concretepipeline comes mainly from the pipe itself and isachieved in a controlled factory environment.

• Quality management systems at all factories arecovered and regularly assessed by the BritishStandards Institute.

• Manufacturing tolerances are set to very tightlevels.

Off-site manufacture

Flood Resilience• As climate patterns change, concrete pipeline systems offer aviable solution to the increased challenge of flooding.

•A wide range of attenuation and water storage solutions is available.

• Concrete drainage products are resistant to uplift or flotation.

• Also resistant to damage from the hard objects carried with flood water.

• In areas with high traffic loading and deep cover depths, the inherentstrength of concrete drainage products can offer important advantagesover other SuDS solutions.

Information brought to you by the CPSA

The CPSA (Concrete pipeline systemsassociation) are dedicated to bringingyou up-to-date information regarding

concrete products.

For more information please visit

www.concretepipes.co.uk