Please include logo and element somehow… Pictures/Zunt Italiana/09...Refer to Appendix B for the materials data sheet for the three types of MIJs that Zunt manufactures. Figure 1

N:\Technical Standards\TAG\013 TAG 2019\09 TAG September 2019\09-8 Zunt MIJs Page 1 of 9

Date: 4 September 2019

To: Technical Advisory Group

From: Candice Blackney

RE: Zunt Italiana Monolithic Insulating Joints

1. Introduction

This paper seeks TAG endorsement for Zunt Italiana’s Monolithic Insulating Joints (MIJs) for

mild steel cement lined pipes OD 200 to OD 1100 for use in City West Water’s water supply

(drinking and non-drinking) networks.

2. Company Information

2.1 Manufacturer

Zunt Italiana SRL is a family-owned company, established in 1975 which has been designing,

manufacturing and supplying Insulating Joints for 40 years worldwide.

Zunt Italiana is recommended by well-known Australian corrosion contractor Corrosion

Control Engineering (CCE) as their insulating joint of choice. Zunt Italiana specialises in

manufacturing a complete range of MIJs used for the sectioning of pipelines to ensure

greater efficiency of mitigation techniques used to protect against underground corrosion.

Zunt Italiana is one of the leading suppliers of MIJs worldwide and supply to domestic and

international water, oil and gas companies that operate both offshore and onshore. Zunt

Italiana currently export 80% of its annual production and is a large operation with its plants

including a covered area of 7,900 m² and an open area of 40,000 m².

For more information see http://www.zunt.com/

Zunt Italiana is ISO 9001:2015 quality endorsed company by SAI Global Certificate No.

QEC2004 expire on 13 July 2021. Zunt Italiana has maintained ISO 9001 accreditation since

1993. Refer to Appendix A.

As a commitment to safety Zunt has also recently, in 2018, become OHSAS 18001:2007

certified.

2.2 Supplier

Zunt Italiana supplies the MIJs through Corrosion Control Engineering.

3. Product

MIJs are an alternative to traditional flanges with insulating kits to secure electrical isolation

along the pipelines. Electrical isolation is important for many reasons including:

• To ensure cathodic protection and stray current traction mitigation systems can be

routed to sections of pipe where they will be most effective.

• To enable separation from other authority assets, which we cannot control electrical

conditions on

http://www.zunt.com/


• To provide electrical isolation between old and new sections of mild steel, where a

galvanic/dissimilar metal corrosion cell can be set up between the new and old steel

and the new steel can corrode prematurely, and;

• To isolate any electrical hazards on pipelines that may be present (e.g. from overhead

powerlines) to minimise risk to personnel.

MIJs are a superior alternative to insulating flanges because they provide more stable, robust

isolation. Insulating flanges rely on sleeves, commonly known as ‘top hats’, to provide

electrical isolation between bolts and flanges and a gasket to isolate the faces of the two

flanges. The gasket and top hots are referred to as an insulation kit. Issues arise when the

two sections on pipe, which are connected through the flange, undergo shearing stresses.

The isolation kits can break and fail under these stresses, at which point the two sides of the

flange connection become electrically continuous. In cases where there are more severe

stresses flange joints are susceptible to water leaking out of the joint due to the way the joint

is bolted together.

Since MIJs are a type of welded joint, interlocking they are less likely to fail under any

shearing stresses. Therefore, they are less likely to become electrically continuous or have a

mechanical leak. This is their key advantage over insulating flanges, even though the

ultimately serve the same purpose. Additionally, the actual thickness and nature of the

insulating material, being epoxy and fibre glass, means they withstand dielectric breakdown

more robustly than an insulating flange too. This means if a pipeline suffers a lightning strike

or a surge from an electrical fault an MIJ has more chance of withstanding failure than an

isolation kit.

Zunt Italiana manufactures off the shelf and custom MIJs for mild steel potable water mains

with outside diameters (ODs) of between 200 mm and 1100 mm.

Refer to Appendix B for the materials data sheet for the three types of MIJs that Zunt

manufactures. Figure 1 shows what an MIJ looks like.

Figure 1: Monolithic Insulation Joint

The steel used to manufacture these MIJs is guaranteed API 5L GrB steel. The internal coating which is used in Zunt MIJs is an epoxy resin. Specifically, it is Viking brand epoxy and the product specification is shown in Appendix C.

Each MIJ comes with certification documents to EN 10204 type 3.1, non-metallic material certification EN 10204 type 2.2, shop inspection and testing to EN 10204 3.1.


4. WSAA Product Specification

MIJs are not new to being used in the water industry, however they are not common, so there

is not a WSAA product specification or relevant standard (AS or Industry) to formally specify

MIJs.

Note there is not a WSAA product specification for any insulation joints to ensure electrical

isolation between pipelines.

5. Water Agency Experience

CCE has been supplying Zunt MIJs to Australia since at least 2005.

6. Product Warranty and Life expectancy

The period of warranty is 24 months after successful installation at site, or 30 months from

date of shipment, whichever is earlier.

ZUNT shall be responsible for defective joints during the warranty period. In the event of is

covering defect(s) ascribable to ZUNT’s responsibilities a prompt and proper action(s) shall be

taken to eliminate them.

ZUNT’s liability with regard to this shall be limited to the elimination of defect(s) or (if necessary) to

the resupply of new joint(s) as replacement of defective one(s) within a reasonable time. Unless

otherwise agreed at time of defect(s) discovering the defective joint(s) shall be returned to ZUNT

for repair or replacement.

The Purchaser shall indemnify and hold harmless ZUNT against all other charges including, but

not limited to, charges for any activities at Site (dismantling and re-installation, plant re-testing,

etc.) for the replacement of defective joint(s).

Life expectancy is 100 years.

7. Product Assessment

The product recommended for endorsement has been assessed for conformance with CWW

acceptance criteria.

8. Recommendations

It is recommended that TAG approve Zunt Itaiana’s MIJ’s) for mild steel cement lined pipes

of size range OD 200 to 1100 for use in CWW’s water supply (drinking and non-drinking)

network.

The above product will be posted onto MRWA Products Web Portal.

Candice Blackney Endorsed by Service Performance, I & D

Shalini Trikha Team Leader, Design Services I & D


APPENDIX A – ISO 9001 QUALITY CERTIFICATION


APPENDIX B – MATERIAL DATA SHEET




APPENDIX C – VIKING EPOXY PRODUCT SPECIFICATION


Documents

Please include logo and element somehow… Pictures/Zunt Italiana/09...Refer to Appendix B for the materials data sheet for the three types of MIJs that Zunt manufactures. Figure 1