A question that comes up occasionally is, "Can I paint over the seal coat on Ductile iron pipe? Perhaps the more pertinent question is, "Should I paint over the outside shop coat? But before we answer either of those questions, we should ask for what purpose the user wants to paint over the seal coat in the first place. Is it for cosmetic purposes? Would it be intended as an identifying mark on the pipe? Or do they have some other purpose for changing or adding to the otherwise standard black asphaltic coating that the manufacturer typically provides?
Those involved in the construction of water and wastewater pipelines are probably aware of the installation methodology of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD). HDD is a trenchless technique that provides an installation alternative offering several benefits over traditional open-cut. HDD can be implemented with minimal disruption to surface activities, requires less working space, and can be performed more quickly than open-cut methods. HDD can be used to install new pipelines or replace existing ones. Also, it can simplify or eliminate certain permitting processes. Although there are currently no national standards regarding HDD installations of municipal underground infrastructure systems, HDD has seen a dramatic increase in recent years and is becoming more common for any pipe material. HDD may be the fastest-growing trenchless construction method today.
Ever wonder why zinc (Zn) is used for corrosion protection on Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe)? Or how thick the zinc coating is and how it is applied? Today we will answer those questions and cover when a zinc coating might be recommended.
Good Question! Today's Iron Strong Blog answers it. At first glance, you might think longer lengths mean fewer joints, and that has got to be better. So why don't all manufacturers make longer pipe? This perceived advantage is really a myth and we will look at that in a minute. In fact, there are more Ductile iron pipe plants in North America that manufacture 18-foot length pipe either entirely or as a significant portion of their product mix.
At McWane Ductile, we are proud to manufacture the strongest, most durable, and most flexible piping material available to the waterworks industry. Even with these great attributes, we still take great care when handling Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe). In this Iron Strong Blog, we’ll cover some key tips to safely handling your DI pipe once it arrives at your job site and throughout the construction or your pipeline project.
With Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe), typical service taps can be installed directly into the wall of the pipe, which is called “direct tapping.” The ability to use direct tapping eliminates the need for tapping saddles. And the ease at which DI pipe can be "hot tapped" helps avoid the issue of unhappy consumers because their service and pressure are not impacted by the addition of a new tap. The waterworks community frequently asks us, “How big of a tap will DI pipe allow?” The simple, most conservative response, not having interrogated the user as to their DI pipeline particulars, would be as follows:
There are occasions during field installation of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) when a Chamfered edge or a beveled edge may be required. There is typically a sharp edge on any metal pipe after field cutting. This edge is a safety hazard that requires removal. The sharp edge may also damage a gasket during installation, which is an additional reason to remove the sharp edge. Read on to see the differences and why it is essential to have the proper edge on a field-cut DI pipe.
Occasionally, Installers in the water industry may experience difficulties when attempting to assemble cut lengths of large diameter pipe. This is sometimes due to ovality issues with the pipe material, especially when installing large-diameter, thin wall pipe. Inexperience with handling the occasional oval pipe can lead to a rather frustrating day. Utilization of proper materials and installation practices can resolve the issues more easily and help to ensure the pipeline will function as intended well beyond the designed expectations.
When discussing Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) in corrosion-resistant applications, glass-lined DI pipe often comes to mind. Glass lining has often been the specified lining for DI pipe in sewer and chemical resistant applications. Common uses for glass-lined pipe are for situations such as a sludge line in a wastewater treatment plant or when harmful chemicals are present in the pipeline. There may be occasions in the field when patching of the glass lining may be necessary.
In the field, a contractor can become frustrated when attempting to locate the source of a water leak in a buried pipeline. Having a reasoned plan of resolve will save a lot of time, money, and headaches, along with demonstrating a true level of professionalism to outside observers. In this Iron Strong blog, we will examine the patterns of thought, questions to be answered, and the different assessments used when locating a leak.
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