INFRASTRUCTURE - JM Eagle

Pipe PrimerPE PipeGoes with theFlowHarsh conditions, trenchless installationand nuclear power plants are just threeof the many applications andenvironments where PE pipe shines.Thanks to performance advancementsand a wealth of advantages overother pipe materials—includingcorrosion resistance, flexibility andcost savings—polyethylene pipe continues to seeexpanded usage in all types of systems.In the past 10 years, new high-performing PEresins have allowed these pipe systems to operateat a higher design stress without giving up safetyor service life. With manufacturing capabilities nowpermitting PE pipe diameters as large as 63 inches,a world of opportunity has opened up in pressuresystems where only traditional materials such as steelhave previously been used.These larger diameters and the continueddevelopment of profile designs, for example, haveboosted the applicability of PE pipes in stormwatersystems employing gravity flow systems. Withburial depths of more than 100 feet possible, designengineers have more options for incorporatingcorrugated PE pipe’s physical properties to offerlonger-lasting and sustainable undergroundinfrastructure solutions. Corrugated PE pipe alsocomes with a factory-installed rubber gasket thatprovides an exceptional soil-tight joint; the bells andgaskets can easily be modified to deliver watertightperformance to the same level as that required forsanitary sewer systems. The 20-foot PE pipe lengthsresult in just about one-third the number of jointscompared with concrete pipe systems.Here’s a look at some of the many other waysin which PE pipe is getting the job done better andmore cost-effectively than other piping materials.Harsh conditionsHighly acidic or alkaline soils and flows don’t attackPE pipe, so it is routinely specified in these types ofharsh conditions and services. With its leak-free andwatertight joints, PE pipe is an economical choice forsystems where exfiltration of flow (water, sanitarysewer and gas) or infiltration of leachate or soils(water, stormwater) is not permitted.www.jmeagle.com Summer 2010 • Water Infrastructure 17