CONCRETE PIPE. HERE TO STAY.

For long-term structural integrity

and value, rigid concrete pipe

sets the standard

DISCOVER THE CONCRETE PIPE ADVANTAGE

SPECIFY THE RIGHT PIPE FOR YOUR PROJECTAll pipe systems are not the same. Therearesignificant

differences, including pipe material, installation procedures and

durability,tonameonlyafew.Everypipematerial—precast

concrete, corrugated steel, high-density polyethylene, ductile

ironandPVC—performsdifferentlyonthejob—andeach

hasuniquepropertiesthatitpaystounderstand.Choosethe

wrongpipeandyoucouldjeopardizetheentireproject.

AMERICAN CONCRETE PRESSURE PIPE ASSOCIATION | AMERICAN CONCRETE PIPE ASSOCIATION

www.acppa.org | www.concrete-pipe.org

Rigid Concrete Pipe Outperforms All OthersNewpipematerialsmaycomeandgo…butnotconcrete.Precastconcretepipeand concrete pressure pipe have a long history — nearly 100 years — of proven performance.Nootherpipematerialcomescloseintermsofreliabilityanddurability,sodon’tbemisledbyclaimsaboutsupposedlysuperioralternatives.

Understand the Difference between Flexible and Rigid PipeOnebasicdifferencebetweenflexibleandrigidpipeisthelengthandweightofavailablepipesegments.However,themoreimportantdifferenceishoweachmaterialgainsitsstrengthandstability.Flexiblepipeisheavilydependentuponbeddingmaterialandconstructionprocedures,whichrequirestrictadherencetoinstallationspecifications.What’smore,overtime,moderatechangesinthesoilenvelopewillcompromisethestructuralintegrityofthepipe.

Incontrast,thestrengthandstabilityofrigidconcretepipeareengineeredandmanufactureddirectlyintotheproduct.Itsshort-andlong-termperformancedependsfarlessonbeddingmaterialandconstructionprocedures,makingitmuchmorecontractor-friendly.Moderatechangesinthesoilenvelopehavelittle to no effect on the structural integrity of the pipe; and since concrete pipe isheavierthanflexiblepipe,itisalsolesssusceptibletoflotation.

Concretepipeisstrong,durableandeasytoinstall—butthat’sonlythebeginningofitsadvantages.Justasimportantly,overthetotallife-cycleofaproject,itisbyfarthemostaffordablealternative.Flexiblepipemayseemcheaperatfirst,butwhenyouconsiderthecostofinstallationandadditionalmaintenanceitwilllikelyrequire,concretealmostalwaysemergesasthe most cost-effective choice.

Choose Concrete: Reliable, Durable, Cost-Effective Themoreyouknowaboutprecastconcretepipeandconcretepressure pipe,themoreyourealizetheyaretheobviouschoiceformostsanitary sewers,stormdrains,culvertsandwaterdistributionsystems.Foryour nextproject,specifytheperformancechampion:reliable,durableand cost-effective concrete pipe.

3900 University Drive

Suite 110

Fairfax, VA 22030-2513

T 703.273.7227

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www.acppa.org

FAILURE T YPE MOST COMMON CAUSES IMPACTS & RESULTS

DEFLECTION — Vertical/horizontal change in pipe diameter

• Impropercompactionofbeddingmaterial• Unexpectedloadonpipe• Trenchwidthtoonarrow

• Unexpectedstressesinpipewall• Lossofhydraulicefficiency• Unevensettlementatsoilsurface/pooling• Reductioninflowcapacity

JOINT SEPARATION — Detachment or misalignment of pipe sections

• Shiftingoflightweightpipeduringbackfilling• Shiftingsoils• Differentialsettlement• Thermalcontraction&expansionofHDPEpipe

• Unexpectedstressesinpipewall• Migrationofbeddingmaterial• Lossofpipesupport• Unevensettlementatsoilsurface/pooling

CORRUGATION GROWTH—Longitudinalelongationofinternalpipewall

• Soilpressureonpipecorrugations• Thinpipewall

• Lossofhydraulicefficiency• Reductioninflowcapacity

CRACKS, RIPS & TEARS—Fissuresinpipewall • Poormanufacturing• Poorresinquality• Improperinstallation

• Weakenedpipe• Lossofhydraulicefficiency• Reductioninflowcapacity

INFILTRATION & EXFILTRATION—Movementof fluid or solids into/out of pipe system

• Improperlysealedjoint,serviceconnectionorcrackedpipe

• Differentialdeflectionofpipeatjoint

• Migrationofbeddingmaterial• Lossofpipesupport

BUCKLING & CRACKING—Bends,warpsorbulgesinpipewall

• Inabilityofpipetocarrydesignload• Impropercompactionofbeddingmaterial• Poorresinquality• Excessiveloadonpipe

• UnexpectedstressesinHDPEpipewall• Lossofhydraulicefficiency• Migrationofbeddingmaterial• Reductioninflowcapacity• Lossofpipesupport

CORROSION—Lossofpipematerialdue to oxidation

• Prolongedexposureofsteelpipeto water&oxygen

• Reductioninpipewallthicknessinwaterwayareas

• Lossofpipestrength

DELAMINATION — Separation of interior liner fromexternalcorrugatedpipewall

• Poormanufacturing• Poorresinquality• Excessiveloadonpipe• Inabilityofpipetocarrydesignload

• Unexpectedstressesinpipewall• Lossofhydraulicefficiency• Reductioninflowcapacity• Increasedcorrosionformetallicpipe

Why Flexible Pipe Systems Fail … And What Happens When They Do

Flexiblepipesystemshaveatendencytofailinavarietyofways,eachwithitsowncharacteristiccausesandresults.Ineverycase,theseproblemscouldbeavoidedbyselectingrigidconcretepipesystemsinstead.

Tolearnmoreabouttheadvantagesofprecastconcretepipeandconcretepressurepipe,contactthestaffatACPPAorACPA.Youcanalsovisit www.acppa.org and www.concrete-pipe.orgtodownloaddesignsoftware,reference manuals and other technical information.

DISCOVER THE CONCRETE PIPE ADVANTAGE

AmericanConcretePipeAssociation

1303W.WalnutHillLane,Suite305

Irving,TX75038-2965

T 972.506.7216

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www.concrete-pipe.org