TrenchLess Technology - 08 AUG 2009

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4 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY August 2009 www.trenchlessonline.com

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY (ISSN 1064-4156) is published monthly, with an annual Directory in June Copyright 2009, Benjamin Media, Inc., P.O. Box 190, Peninsula, OH 44264. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means without written permission from the publisher. One-year subscription rates: complimentary in the United States and Canada, and $99.00 in other foreign countries. Single copy rate: $10.00. Subscriptions and classified advertising should be addressed to the Peninsula office. Periodical Postage Paid at Peninsula, Ohio and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY, P.O. Box 190, Peninsula, OH 44264 USA.

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D E PA RT M E N T S8 News

20 NASTT Newsletter65 Calendar

C O LU M N S6 Publisher’s Message

18 Industry Watch64 Technical Forum70 Point of View

M A R K E T P L AC E66 Business Cards68 Index of Advertisers

Coming in September...A Look at WEFTEC 2009

A Focus on Manholes

Promoting Technology in the Utility Construction Industry

VOLUME 17 • NUMBER 8 • AUGUST 2009 • WWW.TRENCHLESSONLINE.COM

CONTENTS

D I R E C T I O N A L D R I L L I N G

52 Right Tooling Aids in Arkansas HDD Project

56 Ground Conditions, Wetlands Offer Challenging River Crossing

60 Electronic Drillmaster: Locate — The Need to Expose & Monitor

O N T H E C OV E RThe American Augers team: (l-r) Dan Sharpe, Dave Hammond, John Hoffman, James Pfeiffer, Brad Dolan, Guy Randall and Sharon Oliver.

C OV E R S TO RY22 American Augers Stays True to Its Roots

American Augers continues to be known for its state-of-the-art auger boring machines but today, a large part of the company’s success focuses on the horizontal directional drilling market. By Sharon M. Bueno

F E AT U R E S26 Sliplining in France

Sliplining was used to rehabilitate culverts in France, using GRP pipe systems.

30 HDPE & Pre-Chlorinated Pipe Bursting Helps to Rehab Michigan Water PipesThe City of Livonia, Mich., found the way to save its water system and also keep costs under control by selecting pipe that is long-lasting, leak-free and makes it possible for a highly desirable method of installation to be used. By Steve Cooper

34 TTC Retrospective Taking a look at the past, present and future of the Trenchless Technology Center. By James W. Rush

38 Resin Selection for Cured-In-Place-Pipe ApplicationsOne of the facilitators for the growth rate in CIPP and ready market acceptance of the technique is the use of unsaturated polyester (UP) and vinylester (VE) resins. These are the workhorses of the thermoset composite industry. By Bill Carroll

42 A “Dream” JobVitrifi ed clay pipe was selected to replace a deteriorated sewer line under a well-known movie studio in California. The pipe was replaced using pilot tube microtunneling. By Mike Van Dine

48 ICUEE 2009 Is Here!A preview of the upcoming construction show is presented. By Leanne Butkovic

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6 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY August 2009

Trenchless Technology AwardTrenchless Technology has become well known over

the years for our Person of the Year and the Project of the Year awards. It’s always special for us to go through this selection process and then present the winners in Trenchless Technology. So it was with special pride that recently we were on the receiving end of a very nice honor.

The American Society for Business Publication Editors presented Trenchless Technology a Gold Award for graphics excellence. The award was titled “Opening Page/Spread-Computer Generated” for the cover story that appeared in our April 2008 issue. The story was titled “The Numbers Game: Are Low Bids Undercutting the HDD Market?” This was a very appropriate cover story

that even now about 18 months later, the topic is extremely critical considering the economic pressures. Named specifically in the award was our managing editor Sharon M. Bueno, and our graphic designer Sarah Hayes, who is also an accomplished artist. To view her work, go to www.sarahhayesart.com. We function on a publication team basis, and Sharon and Sarah are vital members of the Trenchless Technology Team.

Even More Economic News Every day we are bombarded with the state of the recession and opinions of when

we will be emerging from it. Unfortunately, the construction aspect of the economy is in a lot worse shape than anything else. Per NUCA’s Aug. 12 “Washington Report,” the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in the latest month (July) “76,000 construction jobs were lost (marking the 25th consecutive month with significant job loss in the construction industry),” and that “1.68 million construction workers are out of work.” It is reported that the construction industry employment rate remains at 18 percent. NUCA goes on to report that the “water infrastructure (SRF) projects funded with ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) money has until Feb. 17, 2010, to be under contract.” But it is generally understood that the bulk of these water projects are yet to be identified.

But we know otherwise regarding the trenchless market sector. We do know that the smaller HDD work is hurting, as well as new construction trenchless work. But the water rehabilitation area has been strong. Perhaps, a good barometer is the recent reported results of Insituform, which said that its “North American Sewer Rehabilitation contract backlog reached a record level and increased 28.9 percent for the first quarter of 2009.” Furthermore, company officials say their “financial performance in North America Sewer Rehabilitation was the strongest [they] have seen in several years.” And referencing ARRA, they report “[they] also anticipate bidding opportunities to increase in this market as the impact of the stimulus dollars flow into the system.”

The feeling is that the leadership in North America has finally gotten the message that we have to fix our water/wastewater systems. There are too many sinkholes, e coli bacteria in water off our beaches, drought and even drugs ending up in our water systems. The general population seems much more willing to accept rate increases, which in turn is a major funding source for water work. Some people say “the economy can’t get any worse,” but let’s all continue to push and work hard to have trenchless technology to lead in getting out of these horrible economic times.

Best regards,

Bernard P. Krzys President & Publisher

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

PublisherBernard P. Krzys

Associate PublisherRobert D. Krzys

EditorJames W. Rush

Managing EditorSharon M. Bueno

Assistant EditorPam Stask

Contributing Staff EditorsKeith Gribbins • Bradley Kramer

Jason Morgan

Creative DirectorW. M. Conley

Graphic DesignersSarah Hayes • Chris Slogar

Elizabeth C. Stull

Marketing ManagerKelly Dadich

Regional Sales ManagerDan Sisko

Circulation ManagerAlexis R. Tarbet

Web & Interactive ManagerMark Gorman

Editorial Advisory BoardChairman

Dr. Tom Iseley, P.E.Professor/Director at CEMT at IUPUI

Indianapolis, Indiana

Alex BuehlerInsituform Technologies Inc., Chesterfield, Missouri

Dr. Samuel AriaratnamArizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

Dr. David Bennett, P.E.Bennett Trenchless Engineers, Folson, California

Steven R. Kramer, P.E.Arcadis US Inc, Rockville, Maryland.

Joseph Loiacono, ing.Sanexen, Montreal, Quebec

Ronald T. Thompson, P.E.Malcolm Pirnie Inc., Jackson, Mississippi

Irene McSweeney, P.E.Boston Water and Sewer Commission

Boston, Massachusetts

Editorial & Advertising Offices1770 Main St., P.O. Box 190Peninsula, OH 44264 USA

(330) 467-7588 • Fax: (330) 468-2289www.trenchlessonline.com

e-mail: [email protected]

ReprintsWright ReprintsPh: 877-652-5295Fax: 281-419-5712




NEWS

Integrated Pipeline Services Inc. (IPS) recently announced that it has completed the acquisition of Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Co., a leading provider of pipeline construction and maintenance services. Terms of the investment were not disclosed. Sheehan will remain based in Tulsa, Okla.

“This is a terrific opportunity for us,” said David Sheehan, long-time CEO of Sheehan and great grandson of the company’s founder. “The relationship with IPS and IPS’s financial backer, prominent energy investor GFI Energy Ventures, gives us substantial added capital, resources,

and expertise allowing us to expand our service offerings and further serve our customers. With the current energy market trends and the financial and operational backing of IPS and GFI, we see an exciting, growth-oriented future for our company.”

Sheehan will remain CEO of Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Co. and will also join the IPS board of directors. Rob Riess, current president and COO of Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Co., and Kent Schobe, vice president of engineering, will continue in their respective roles with the company as will the rest of the senior management team. Sheehan, Riess and Schobe will hold a significant ownership interest in IPS.

“We are pleased to partner with Sheehan and play a role in supporting the company’s next phase of substantial growth in revenues and profitability,” said John Allcorn, CEO of Integrated Pipeline Services.

GFI Energy Ventures’ partner Ian Schapiro stated that “Sheehan’s reputation for high-quality construction, safety and responsive customer service makes it an excellent platform to capitalize on opportunities in the industry. Growing demand for energy infrastructure and new energy supply sources have created an environment in which we believe Sheehan will prosper. For these and other reasons, GFI is delighted to add Sheehan to the IPS family of companies.”

In addition to the Sheehan transaction, IPS also announced the formation of IPS Engineering LLC (IPS EPC). IPS EPC will offer a full range of engineering, procurement and other professional services to complement IPS’s construction subsidiaries and allow for responsive and high-quality turnkey engineering, procurement and construction service offerings for their clients. IPS EPC will be managed by Curt Simkin, Bryan Moses and Tom Alexander, bringing more than a combined 80 years of experience in the pipeline and energy services sector to IPS. IPS EPC will be headquartered in Tulsa, Okla. and co-located in the Sheehan office building to allow for seamless integration of EPC services.

Integrated Pipeline Services Inc. Completes Acquisition of Sheehan Pipe Line



NEWS

During the last week of June, Mortimer the Rat traveled with Akkerman engineers Terry Fisher and Tim Fay, to Bogota, Columbia, to visit the headquarters of Ocesia. The company is currently finishing up in Fontibon installing local lines in this highly populated neighborhood for the Empresa de Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Bogota. When completed, this project will have installed 18 km of pipe. There were a total of six Akkerman pipejacking and guided boring systems owned by three different companies working concurrently on this project.

Mortimer, Fisher and Fay visited a portion of this job where Ocesia used its Akkerman 4812 and 309 guided boring machine systems. Featured in the photo are Felipe Correa (holding Mortimer) and crew members from Ocesia, accompanied by Jose Escobar of Virtual Engineering (far right).

Mortimer underwent a whirlwind travel experience departing and returning in three quick days. He enjoyed the open-air flea markets in Bogota where he dined on authentic ajiaco (potato soup), cocido (chickpea stew), arepa (unleavened corn bread) and perused racks of traditional clothing. He discovered a fondness for new recording artist Pipe Bueno and purchased his album. He endured some questioning from the staff at the immigration and customs counters in Minneapolis and Bogota airports but continued with no delay.

You never know where Mortimer might show up next! Please check back for a complete accounting of Mortimer’s travels and also in an upcoming edition of Trenchless Technology or www.trenchlessonline.com.

In the spring of 2009, Akkerman purchased the traveling

sewer rat from the 2009 International No-Show’s North American Society for Trenchless Technology’s (NASTT) Education Auction. Mr. Rat originally hailed from the City of Reno, Nev., and first surfaced during the 2007 Third Annual Western Society for Trenchless Technology No-Dig Annual Conference. Glenn Boyce and the folks at Jacobs and Associates won him and he spent 2007 in Seattle. He then traveled to Grapevine, Texas, for No-Dig 2008, was purchased by Pacific Boring and spent the year in Caruthers, Calif.

The Sewer Rat found itself making friends in Bogota, Columbia. Here he is with some new friends.

Tracking the Sewer Rat: Where Is He?

Customers Help Mark Michels Corp. 50th AnniversaryCustomers of Michels traveled to Wisconsin to take a

“swing” at helping to celebrate the company’s 50 years in the construction business.

The two-day celebration began on June 22 at South Hills Golf Course in Fond du Lac, Wis., for a shotgun start to 18 holes of golf. Golfers consisted of company president Pat Michels and many of the company’s vice presidents, along with customers and local dignitaries. They split up into foursomes and, despite the scorching temperatures, all had a great time.

Locally based Holiday Automotive donated a new Chevy Malibu for anyone who could get a hole in one at the 10th hole — a 205-yard drive. Besides Mike Shannon, who donated the car, Dan Schwartz from Michels Pipeline came within feet of driving home in that beautiful car.

After a day on the course, golfers were invited to a cocktail hour followed by a wonderful dinner at the golf course’s clubhouse. Raffle prizes were given away and Pat Michels spoke to the guests, thanking them for years of doing business with Michels Corp.

Enjoying the open house are the Michels family: (l to r) Kevin Michels, Steve Michels, Ruth Michels, Pat Michels and Tim Michels.




NEWS“I heard nothing but compliments. Everyone seemed to

be very happy. I am very glad of how the event turned out,” says Michels.

The next day, Michels hosted an open house so customers could visit their new offices. Trenchless Technology publisher Bernie Krzys also attended the open house. Office and yard tours were given and employees and guests were all invited to a great buffet in Dale’s Diner.

RedZone Robotics Acquires ICOMMM RedZone Robotics Inc., an industry leader in the

field of wastewater inspection technologies, and ICOMMM Inc., an innovative provider of wastewater asset management decision support systems, announced Aug. 4 that the companies have signed a definitive agreement under which RedZone Robotics has acquired privately held ICOMMM, based in San Ramon, Calif.

“People who own or manage wastewater infrastructure have a difficult job and are frequently in reactive modes of operation. They are responsible for an abundance of valuable, buried infrastructure that is difficult to assess. Additionally, their strategic planning is constrained by limited time, people, budget and technologies. By combining the RedZone’s world-class inspection technologies with the industry’s leading decision support system from ICOMMM, we can deliver the most useful information required for true asset management, which should, in turn, allow asset managers to become more proactive in their approach and save a significant amount of money,” said RedZone Robotics president and CEO Eric Close.

ICOMMM president and CEO Steve Line added, “There are substantial long-term strategic customer advantages in combining the products of these two

CORRECTIONThe headline that accompanied the article on pgs.

24-25 in Trenchless Technology’s Lateral Rehabilitation Guide was misleading in that it identified American Water Resources, Inc.’s LineSaver® Program as an insurance program. While American Water Resources’ programs are offered as insurance in California and Virginia, the programs are offered as service contracts in all other states where American Water Resources conducts business. Trenchless Technology apologizes for any confusion related to this error. To view the corrected version of the article, visit www.trenchlessonline.com, and click on the archive link.

America, Europe and Australia. IronPlanet sold more than 8,300 lots in the second quarter — up 85 percent over the same period in 2008. In addition, 53 percent of the items sold in IronPlanet North American auctions had bid participation from buyers outside of the United States through its broad global buyer reach.

“We are continuing to make significant investments in marketing initiatives to broaden our outreach to bring more international buyers to our auctions,” said Owens. “In today’s market, this is increasingly critical as sellers are looking to gain access to global buyers in order to achieve the best price performance possible. Our ability to bring more

www.trenchlessonline.com August 2009 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY 13


companies. RedZone compiles the most accurate and complete inspection data with their robotic solutions and our systems are designed to take that information and facilitate critical asset management processes. These include condition and criticality assessments, order generation, and bid package management all through an integrated geographical information system (GIS). The combination of our two companies addresses a constant technical challenge that municipal infrastructure managers face when integrating critical asset information. Our combined solutions will reduce the costs of managing infrastructure with fewer disruptions. All of the benefits are enabled without the traditionally burdensome compatibility, cost and resource requirements of similar solutions.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

IronPlanet Reports Record Quarter with Gross Auction Sales of $120 million

IronPlanet (www.ironplanet.com), a world-leading online auction company for used construction and agricultural equipment, posted record sales in the second quarter of 2009, with gross auction sales of $120 million — an increase of 31 percent over the second quarter of 2008.

This year’s second quarter represents a 31 percent growth over the first quarter of 2009. The company’s year-to-date performance of $211 million is a 25 percent increase over the same period in 2008.

“Our continued record-breaking performance is a reflection of our strong execution in the market and the compelling value we continue to bring to our customers,” said Gregory J. Owens, IronPlanet chairman and CEO. “As companies continue to navigate these unprecedented times, we are seeing more used equipment sellers choose IronPlanet as their best choice to reach a global buyer base, as well as leverage our weekly auction frequency as a better way to manage their inventory.

In the second quarter, IronPlanet conducted 20 auctions across North


than 15,000 visitors to our online marketplace is unparalleled in the auction industry and delivers the price performance demanded by our sellers.”

Maynard Akkerman Inducted into The Moles

Akkerman Inc. president and CEO Maynard Akkerman was officially welcomed on May 6, as a member of The Moles, a prominent heavy construction fraternal organization.

Established in 1938, membership into The Moles is lim-ited to 550 individuals who are engaged in specific sectors

of the construction industry and have obtained a heightened level of accomplishment within their industry. Each year, the group holds four annual events in the New York metropolitan area and bestows two awards to recognize individuals for outstanding achievement.

On his induction into The Moles, Maynard stated, “It’s an honor to be nominated to this esteemed group. At this stage in my career, it’s important to me to further the good work of the

trenchless industry. Association with The Moles will help me in this endeavor.”

Since 1973, Akkerman Inc. manufactures distinctive microtunneling, pipe jacking, tunneling, guided boring and earth pressure balance equipment. Akkerman equip-ment is widely distributed in the national and interna-tional markets.

Woolpert Receives ACEC National Finalist Excellence Award Recognition

Woolpert, a nationally ranked geospatial, design and engi-neering firm, recently achieved Nationalist Finalist status in the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) 2009 Engineering Excellence Awards competition.

Woolpert was selected as a national finalist for the firm’s involvement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop airport survey/GIS standards. The new CADD and GIS standards for airport data will provide the FAA with the ability to use the existing data to support other projects or programs rather than re-collecting or re-creating the data. The program will leverage these geospa-tial datasets to improve and enhance airport safety and security through improved situational awareness in the airspace and within airside operations, thereby supporting the FAA’s NextGen Air Traffic program.

“Woolpert is very proud to be recognized by such a presti-

For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info

NEWS

Akkerman

Midwest Mole Honored in Indiana

Midwest Mole Inc. recently announced that it has been ranked as one of the “Best Places to Work in Indiana” for the Small to Medium-size Companies (25 to 249 employees).

Companies setting the standard

with their workplace practices were honored May 5, before a record-crowd at the Indiana Roof Ballroom as the Indiana Chamber unveiled rankings for the 70 companies from through-out the state that made the 2009 Best Places to Work in Indiana list.

The 2009 Best Places honors the top companies in the state, as deter-

gious professional organization as ACEC,” said Tom Mochty, Woolpert senior vice president. “This recognition exemplifies our commitment to working with the FAA as well as other organizations to pro-vide a high level of excellence and exper-tise in the geospatial sciences sector.”

ACEC’s council membership is com-prised of more than 5,500 council mem-ber firms. These firms employ hundreds of thousands of engineers, architects, land surveyors, scientists and other specialists, responsible for more than $200 billion of private and public works annually.

Woolpert, ranked by Engineering News-Record as a top national design firm, pro-vides professional engineering, architec-ture, planning, enterprise information management, water management, survey-ing and photogrammetry and remote sensing services to clients in the public and private sectors.

GM Halts Production of Medium-Duty Trucks

It’s been a long, hard road for General Motors (GM). GM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early June and has now announced that it will be winding down its medium-duty trucks. Production of the Chevy Kodiak and GMC Topkick medium duty trucks was to cease by July 31, 2009.

For the past four years, GM has been attempting to locate a buyer for its medium duty truck business. Although it had several interested parties, GM was not be able to come up with a viable arrangement that would be in the best interests of both companies. Unfortunately, that has lead GM to get out of the medium-duty truck business.

“We will be honoring all warranties on our medium-duty truck products and, of course, will maintain an adequate supply of spare parts for the foreseeable future,” said Jim Hopson, manager of Pontiac Communications. “We are cur-rently working out all of the details regarding servicing the vehicles after the end of 2010, but customer’s first point of contact should still be their dealer.”

Few details were provided by GM, as the company prepares liquidates the medium-duty assets over the next 18 months.





mined through employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys. Winners were selected from two cat-egories: small to medium-size compa-nies that are between 25 and 249 employees, and large-size companies consisting of 250 or more employees. All companies that participated in the

2009 Best Places to Work program receive an in-depth evaluation identi-fying strengths and weaknesses, according to their employees. In turn, this report can be used in developing or enhancing employee retention and recruitment programs.

Midwest Mole Inc. is a specialist in

trenchless technology doing business since 1982. For more information on Midwest Mole Inc., please visit the Web site at www.midwestmole.com.

CWC Report Stresses the Importance of Infrastructure Investment

A recent report by the Clean Water Council (CWC) steps up to illuminate facts that our elected officials need to know, in a time when Congress is con-sidering a massive economic stimulus package. They need to know what we already do — investment in clean water infrastructure can create signifi-cant economic benefits right away.

Titled “Sudden Impact: Assessment of Short-Term Economic Impacts of Water and Wastewater Projects in the United States,” the report shows that a $1 billion-investment in water and wastewater infrastructure results in total national output (i.e., demand for products and services in all indus-tries) of between $2.87 and $3.46 billion, creates up to 26,669 new jobs (with average annual earnings for the construction portion of the jobs at an impressive $50,396) and generates personal (household) income of between $1.01 and $1.06 billion. In addition, each $1 billion invested gen-erates approximately $82.4 million in state and local tax revenue.

The report also shows that the tar-geted water and wastewater invest-ment programs contained in pending economic stimulus legislation could, in short order, generate more than 300,000 skilled positions paying living wages.

The results are based on actual data collected from 116 water and waste-water construction projects in five demographically diverse states, includ-ing 73 different counties. The projects were completed in 2006 and 2007, and encompass a comprehensive array of geographic regions, project types, size, materials, construction methods and labor markets. The output, jobs and income (direct, indirect and induced) tied to these projects were determined at the county, state and national levels using two respected input-output models and multipliers (IMPLAN and RIMS II).

NEWS




A report released by the Water Design-Build Council, a not-for-profit organization representing the leading design-builders of municipal water and wastewater

systems, highlights the growth of the design-build method of project delivery for the nation’s water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

The report, a four-year analysis of the Water Design-Build Council’s member firms, found that the sales value for the market grew nearly 80 percent in 2008 to reach $2.2 billion, representing 89 new projects. Geographically, projects in Florida, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico represented 73 percent of all sales in 2008.

“Increasingly, municipalities are working with design-build firms to address the need to repair, improve and expand their water and wastewater treatment facilities,” said Peter W. Tunnicliffe, president of the Water Design-Build Council and a senior vice president with CDM. “The growth of design-build project delivery in the municipal sector follows the significant use of design-build delivery in the federal sector. The Council made recommendations to the Obama Administration and Congress that given the stimulus bill’s

priority to create jobs, the design-build approach allows states and municipalities to begin to complete their much needed water and wastewater projects more quickly than the traditional design-bid-build method.”

From 2005 to 2008, Water Design-Build Council members reported design-build revenue of $6.4 billion and a total of nearly 349 projects across the United States. On average, 82 percent of member projects were design-build, while 15 percent were construction management at risk and 3 percent were design-build-operate.

Other Key Findings from the Report Include:• The average design-build contract duration from 2005 to 2008 was 1.8 years;

• The median value of new projects was $3.3 million;• Projects in Arizona, California, Florida and Texas accounted

for 65 percent of the design-build market sales since 2005; and

• The number of water and wastewater projects was nearly equal, at 47 percent and 42 percent, respectively.

INDUSTRY WATCH

Design-Build Market Thriving for Water/Wastewater By Jim Rush



FMI Weighs In on Stimulus’ Impact on Utility Construction

Griff Morris, managing director of utilities business development with FMI, recently discussed the economic stimulus and its impact on utility construction at the CMAA Leadership Forum in Scottsdale, Ariz. Morris noted there is $16.8 billion available for utility construction through the Department of Energy, $3.2 billion of which has been allocated to state energy programs. Given this current situation in which regulatory commissions will be seeking help from constituents to compete for the stimulus funds, Morris predicts the following:

• Stimulus funding will be delayed as new regulations are developed and implemented

• Delays will take place during the next six to nine months and will be followed by a robust upturn in utility construc-tion spending for traditional projects coupled with a serious upswing in new technologies spending and

• Opportunities abound for utilities and major constructors, as well as residential and commercial builders to form new strategic alliances to take advantage of the changing landscape.

Specific opportunities exist for:

Utilities:• Assist regulators in understanding new

rules and designing new regulations to help state public utility commissions compete for federal funds

• Be positioned to shape regulations to improve their business

Large EPC firms and Contractors:• Robust near-term business outlook,

especially for those who can embrace advanced technologies and forge alliances with utilities to become a “builder of choice” for solar and wind generation facilities

Residential/Commercial Builders:• Much to be gained in aligning with

utilities to partner in conservation initiatives like weatherization, smaller-scale solar power and home energy audits and efficiency improvements

Report Show Impact of Infrastructure Investment

A recent report by the Clean Water Council (CWC) highlights how investment in clean water infrastructure can create significant near-term economic benefits. Titled “Sudden Impact: Assessment of Short-Term Economic Impacts of Water and Wastewater Projects in the United

States,” the report shows that a $1 billion-investment in water and wastewater infrastructure results in total national output of between $2.87 and $3.46 billion while creating up to 26,669 new jobs.

“The CWC took inventory of actual projects in order to fuel the models with real-world data that accurately reflect current activity. The report is short and sharp, and the economic findings are rock solid,” added Bill Hillman, CEO of the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), a CWC member.

2009 Northwest Trenchless Project of the Year: Call for Applications

The Northwest Chapter (NASTT-NW) is now accepting applications for the 2009 Northwest Trenchless Project of the Year. Projects submitted for consid-eration as project of the year must: be located within Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba; utilize at least one form of trenchless technology; and be in some form of activity in 2009 (i.e. com-menced, in progress or completed this year). The application deadline is Aug. 31, 2009.

If you have an interesting project that meets these criteria and would like to submit an application for the project of the year award, please complete the online application available at www.nastt-nw.com. The successful applicant will be notified of the award in mid-September and will be required to provide a 20-min-ute slideshow presentation describing the project at the Northwest Trenchless Conference. The award will be officially presented at the conference on Nov. 25, 2009.

Ragula Honored with John B. McGowan Sr. Research Award

George Ragula was selected by the American Gas Association (AGA) to receive

the 2009 John B. McGowan Sr. Research Award in recognition of his valuable research to devise a gas safety valve ret-rofit in existing gas service lines without an exca-vation. Ragula was presented with this presti-gious award at the 2009 AGA O p e r a t i o n s

Conference and Biennial Exhibition, May 19-21, in Pittsburgh.

Ragula is the Vice Chairman of NASTT and serves on its Board of Directors. He is the Distribution Technology Manager for Public Service Electric & Gas Co.

Last weekend, I attended our very first planning meeting for NASTT’s annual No-Dig Show, scheduled for May 2-7, 2010, in Chicago. Forty-plus members of the Program Committee reviewed a record-number of abstracts for consideration in the technical paper program. We have 140 papers in the lineup, packed with timely topics and relevant and useful information.

My personal thanks to the NASTT staff, the entire Program Committee and to 2010 Program Chair Mark Hallett for volunteering their time to review and choose such interesting topics and papers for the next year’s No-Dig. Because of their tireless work and many hours, our papers will again be some of the very best ones in the industry at No-Dig 2010 in Chicago, where we will also be celebrating NASTT’s 20th anniversary!

I am really pleased to see all of our volunteers hard at work. The future of our

industry involves each of us doing our part to educate people about the benefits and capabilities of the trenchless technology industry. How can you get involved with NASTT and the trenchless industry? There is no better example of volunteerism than involvement with your NASTT regional chapter at the local level.

The folks at the Western Chapter are planning its fifth annual Western Regional No-Dig Conference for Sept. 10-11, in Honolulu. During the two-day event, attendees can expect a quality educational program and exhibits, plus all the networking opportunities available to meet face-to-face with industry leaders. NASTT is sponsoring two of its good practices courses – pipe bursting and HDD – on Sept. 11. To get involved, contact Jennifer Glynn, Sam Ariaratnam or Kate Wallin, or visit the conference Web site at www.nastt.org/westt.

Do Your Part for NASTT By Chris Brahler, 2009 NASTT Chairman

20

Volume 24 No. 4August 2009

Actively Advancing theScience and Practice of

Trenchless Technology for theBenefit of the Public andPrivate Sectors, Industry

and Government

An Affiliate of theInternational Society forTrenchless Technology

NASTT1655 N. Fort Myer Dr.

Suite 700Arlington, VA 22209

Phone: (703) 351-5252Fax: (703) 739-6672

E-mail: [email protected] site: www.nastt.org

OFFICERSChairman

Chris BrahlerTT Technologies

Vice ChairmanGeorge Ragula

Public Service Electric & Gas

SecretaryKeith Hanks

City of Los Angeles

TreasurerKaleel Rahaim

Interplastic Corp.

2010 No-Dig Program ChairmanMark Hallet

SAERTEX multiCom LP

Executive DirectorMichael Willmets

Assistant Executive DirectorAngela Ghosh

George Ragula

21

NASTT to Celebrate 20-Year History at No-Dig 2010

Chicago has been chosen as the destination location for the 2010 No-Dig Show, May 2-7. 2010 is a very special year for NASTT, as it will be cele-brating its 20th anniversary.

In 1990, five key people began to brainstorm on the possibility of establishing a new association just for trenchless technology. That organization became

known as NASTT and those five people became its founding members. Twenty years later, NASTT is a vibrant, growing organization of more than 1,200 mem-bers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

It is very appropriate that we return to the birthplace where NASTT began — in Chicago — to celebrate this significant milestone. To showcase the 20-year history of NASTT, the society has planned a multi-media exhibit including interviews of past chairs, photo-graphs and video, among other special events and awards. Send us your old NASTT, No-Dig and trenchless photos. E-mail with photo captions to: [email protected].

The Northwest Chapter is presenting its 13th annual Northwest Trenchless Conference in Calgary, Canada, on Nov. 25. This conference includes technical presentations and a trade show with a pre-conference course on NASTT New Installation Methods Good Practices, Nov. 24. To participate, contact Duane Strayer or go to www.nastt-nw.com.

I have attended both of the Western and Northwestern Chapter events in past years, and I can attest to the high level of quality presentations and excellent networking opportunities available. I really encourage you all to participate! Whether it is speaking, sponsoring or exhibiting at NASTT events, you can demonstrate your commitment to the future of this growing industry. Do your part – volunteer for NASTT!

By Chris Brahler

No-Dig Program Committee Members at the fi rst planning meeting for the 2010 No-Dig Show.

Mark Your Calendars Upcoming NASTT Training, Conferences & Chapter Events

Aug. 11-12Trenchless Technology, SSES & Buried Asset Management Seminar – Davenport, Iowa www.mstt.org

Sept. 10-11Western Regional No-Dig Conference & Exhibition – Honolulu, Hawaiiwww.nastt.org/westt

Sept. 11HDD Good Practices Guidelines Course – Honolulu, Hawaiiwww.nastt.org/westt

Nov. 24NASTT New Installation Methods Good Practices – Calgary, Albertawww.nastt-nw.com

Nov. 252009 NASTT Northwest Trenchless Conference – Calgary, Albertawww.nastt-nw.com

May 2-7, 2010NASTT’s No-Dig Show – Chicago (Schaumburg), Illinoiswww.nodigshow.com

American Augers’ auger boring roots trace back to 1963 with the construction of one auger boring machine that was built in a small garage in a rural Ohio community.

Today, the company is a worldwide leader in auger boring and maxi-size horizontal directional drilling (HDD) equipment with international product dealers representing all corners of the globe. With a milestone anniversary just a few months away, American Augers has grown exponentially from its modest garage beginnings, as has its reputation and position in the trenchless marketplace.

American Augers American Augers Sta StaWest Salem, Ohio, Company Remains a Key Player in the Auger Boring & HDD Markets

By Sharon M. Bueno

Al Richmond may have started this manufacturing ven-ture by building one auger boring machine, but in 2009, American Augers is a multi-million dollar manufacturing company with eight different auger boring machine mod-els and six different maxi-size horizontal directional drill-ing rigs leading its product fleet. American Augers also produces HDD mud systems, auger sections and cutting heads and in recent years has added vertical drilling rigs for the oil and gas market, tapping into that growing market.

The American Augers campus — once comprised of just Richmond’s garage — now spans 240,000 sq ft (including a recent 100,000-sq ft addition) and has grown from a handful of employees in its inception to 150 today, making the company one of the largest employers in the West Salem, Ohio, area.

“I never had the opportunity to meet Mr. Richmond but I’m sure he would be amazed if he walked through here today to see the products we build, the quality of our engineering department and the worldwide support,” says American Augers president James Pfeiffer. “I’m sure he had a vision for where auger boring could go but I’m sure he never had a vision for how far it has come.”

While today’s technology has made equipment faster, bigger and more powerful, not much has changed since Al Richmond built that first auger boring machine when it comes to quality, customer service and ingenuity — they are ingrained in the American Augers’ philosophy.

The Early DaysAs its name suggests, American Augers made its reputa-

tion on its auger boring machines. But before it was known as American Augers, it was first Richmond Mfg. and it was run by Al Richmond right out of his garage in rural West Salem and for a time, he was the company’s only employee. In a bit of auger boring symmetry, the American Augers manufacturing site today is the former Richmond Mfg. facility, albeit a little larger in building size and product scope.

“Al [Richmond] was approached about building auger machines by two gentlemen for the oil and gas industry,” Pfeiffer says. “He did such a good job that they decided they wanted more and he started building them in his garage. It grew from there. He acquired the property next to his house and he built the building that is now our warehouse. Our warehouse is actually his true manufac-turing facility.”

American Augers was spun off in 1970 by four Richmond Mfg. employees in Wooster, Ohio, to produce auger bor-ing machines and the company later expanded to include equipment for pipe jacking, tunneling equipment and directional drills. In 1989, Augers Unlimited purchased Richmond Mfg. American Augers purchased Augers Unlimited in 1995, relocating the company back to its original home in West Salem.

“We really came full circle as a company,” Pfeiffer says. In 1999, American Augers was purchased by Chattanooga,

ays True to Its Rootsays True to Its Roots

American Augers vice president of marketing and sales Dan Sharpe (left) with company

president James Pfeiffer.


Tenn.-based Astec Industries, a manufacturer of continuous and batch process hot mix asphalt plants and asphalt recy-cling equipment, as well as a holder of companies that pro-duce rock crushing machinery, road paving equipment and other soil remediation products. Once acquired, American Augers became part of Astec’s underground division.

Over the years, as American Augers continued to grow, it expanded its walls at its West Salem facility, with the first coming in 1996 when 30,000 sq ft of factory space was added to the existing building, as well as a state-of-the-art paint booth. A second expansion began in 1999 to increase office, manufacturing and storage capabilities. The most recent addition just finished up this summer, after a 100,000-sq ft building was constructed to meet the needs of its verti-cal drilling manufacturing operations.

Trenchless MarketsWith “auger” right in the company name, it’s no surprise

that auger boring remains at the core of the company prod-uct base. “We were the first to focus on auger boring from the beginning,” Pfeiffer says. “American Augers is well identi-fied with the auger boring growth of the trenchless market — from our name to our branding position. We are known for our auger boring machines. It is still a core part of our business to this day. Our name is synonymous with auger boring machines.”

Today, eight models of auger boring machines are available from 24 to 96 in. in diameter, where in the early days, 12-in.

machines were the norm. While those are still made, American Augers has evolved with the changing market. “We have seen the work become more involved with larger diam-eter projects and we’ve been able to develop larger diameter machines with more horsepower to meet the needs of our customers,” Pfeiffer says.

Auger boring will always be a key product — it’s what the company was founded on — but the HDD market has grown to be its largest asset and perhaps most critical to the contin-ued success and survival of American Augers. Its first HDD rig was produced in 1988 and in 1991, American Augers became the first HDD rig maker to eliminate chain drives on the rigs and instead use a rack-and-pinion carriage design, which is now an industry standard. In 2002, its maxi-size rig line was introduced.

With the overwhelming growth of the HDD market over the last 20 years, this facet of the company offers a higher dollar benefit to its bottom line. Six different maxi rigs are manufactured (all in excess of 100,000 lbs of pullback with some reaching beyond 1 million lbs of pullback).

Today with a push toward large pipeline projects for natural gas, maxi rigs, such as those produced by American Augers, are tied to that market. But the growth of the oil and gas market drew the company into another aspect of it: vertical drilling.

In 2006, a customer approached American Augers about taking one of its HDD rigs and modifying it for use as an oil and gas rig. That first rig was a slanted one, not a true vertical rig but its success gave company officials the impetus to dive into the vertical drilling market in 2007. The current model — called the VR500 — was released in 2008.

Pfeiffer came to American Augers in 2005, taking the helm of a company that held a high standing in the auger boring market. And he arrived with a name of his own known to the trenchless market, having spent some 18 years with the Charles Machine Works/Ditch Witch.

“This is truly a very small niche industry. [The trenchless marketplace] isn’t like Coca-Cola where you have millions of customers. We have a few hundred,” Pfeiffer notes. “Many customers who I knew years ago, I know today.”

And with that experience, Pfeiffer has lived through the HDD industry’s ups and downs, viewing the market as cycli-cal. Companies need to prepare for the down times to ride them out. “We go through a rollercoaster ride like a lot of companies,” he says. “We had great growth in the 1990s and early 2000s. With the downturn of the fiber-optic business, that had a real impact on our industry. Now we are going through one of those swells again where the [HDD] market has slowed.”

One aspect of American Augers that has proven to be an integral part of its success is its international base, which represents 45 to 50 percent of its business and is at a point that Pfeiffer is comfortable with. While it does some interna-tional auger boring work, it’s the HDD side of things that makes up its overseas sales. In 2008, American Augers export-ed drills to 19 different countries, including China, Australia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, India and Turkey, to name a few.

“One of the keys internationally is that you have to have distributors or agents in the countries you are working in,” Pfeiffer says. “In North America, we sell direct to the cus-tomer and that’s one of our strengths — direct contact with the customers. Internationally, with the culture and language differences, we have found it easier to have a dealer orstrong agent to help with sales.”

American Augers president James Pfeiffer (left) with Charlie

Thornburg talking maxi rigs.

www.trenchlessonline.com August 2009 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY 25For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info

Key IssuesAmerican Augers is not unlike many of the U.S.-based

manufacturing companies that have taken a punch to the gut with the downturn of the economy. Like its competitors, American Augers has been forced to downsize its workforce in the last year as the manufacturing sector slowed.

“The economy has had a huge impact on the trenchless market,” Pfeiffer says. “If you look at the sheer numbers from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ [AEM] reports, the number of unit shipments is down drastically. The econo-my is having a huge impact on all of our businesses. People are so nervous about what is going on in the economy that they are just not willing to make the investment in new equipment, more so than any other time that I’ve been professionally involved… These are unchartered, extremely difficult times.”

While the economy remains the manufacturing industry’s No. 1 concern, there are other challenges facing companies like American Augers. Pfeiffer sees the new EPA emission regulations — called Tier standards — for off-highway diesel engines, particularly those with more than 175 hp, as having an effect on manufacturers. For the construction industry, off-highway diesel engine Tiers are coming to a head. The final and most stringent set of regulations (Tier 4) are already here. The Tier 4 standards for all horsepower ranges are fast approaching in 2011 through 2015.

“The Tier 4 engines will create many challenges for manu-facturers,” Pfeiffer says, noting the problem today is that — in his view — the “engine manufacturers are not as far along as we hoped they would be.”

Another challenge Pfeiffer sees is the ability for companies to keep up with the ever-changing technology but not going overboard with it. “There’s a challenge within all of our organizations to keep up technically and continue to add more sophistication in machines and at the same time keeping them simple enough and basic enough that the average user can work and maintain them,” he says. “This industry is really starting to face the challenge of ‘Are we getting more sophisticated than we need to be?’”

With all the turmoil in today’s market, Pfeiffer does see American Augers coming out of this period stronger and better equipped to handle whatever comes its way.

“We’re still optimistic about our products and the mar-ket. We’ve got a lot of support from our parent company and we’ve made a big investment [with the new addition],” Pfeiffer says. “We still believe there’s an opportunity for a lot of growth in the vertical, HDD and auger boring mar-kets. We recognize that this is a down market but we know that there’s a lot of water and sewer infrastructure that needs replaced. I personally believe natural gas will be the clean fuel of the future for the next 50 years and a lot of natural gas pipelines are going through. We’re still optimis-tic that we’ll come through this period stronger than when we went into it and better prepared to grow and support our customers.”

Sharon M. Bueno is managing editor of Trenchless Technology.


The French highway network spans almost 12,000 route km, 60 percent of which are administered in a concession system by private companies such as APRR (Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhône).

Thousands of metal culverts have been installed along the roads to channel water and more than 50 percent of these are steel circulars or arches. After being in service for 30 to 40 years, these culverts have reached their maximum lifetime and are at risk to collapse any time, causing road ruptures as far back as 20 years ago: Road embankment, paving and culverts needed to be repaired immediately, which required an expensive construction of temporary diversions for both water and traffic.

As a consequence, the highway companies conducted an extensive inventory. First surveys provided a better overview: A significant number of the steel constructions (corrugated galvanized iron culverts) and a number of concrete culverts showed serious defects. Consequently, all six highway companies introduced a compulsory reha-bilitation program, in accordance with the technical specifications by the French Water Act of 1992.

On this account, HOBAS GRP Pipe Systems have con-tributed to the security upgrade of the construction and highways. Thanks to its environment-friendly characteris-tics and its exceptionally long-lifetime properties, HOBAS GRP is a material that fulfills all requirements. It should

Pipe Selection Helps Rehabilitate Highway CulvertsPipe Selection Helps Rehabilitate Highway Culverts

Sliplining in FranceSliplining in France


also be noted that the HOBAS solutions for this project are based on trenchless technologies, which permit work without traffic disruptions.

The project was located on Highway A31, which con-nects the town Beaune and Luxembourg and is part of the APRR network. APRR is a subsidiary of the Eiffage Group, the seventh largest building and concession com-pany in Europe, and is in charge of the second-most important French highway network with 1,800 km. This project is noteworthy for its dual purpose:

• T o rehabilitate damaged metal pipes that were severe-ly corroded for some parts,

• To extend the road by one lane in each direction.

Moreover, rehabilitation involves a group of 11 large-scale hydraulic constructions, nine of which were origi-nally elliptical, one was circular but strongly buckled and one was in the shape of an arch. The total length of installed pipe adds up to 685 m.

APRR first invited tenders that HOBAS France approached. An overall solution was developed consid-ering the geometry of each channel and grouping the constructions by size. This led to the proposal of four different and individual NC-Line profiles, plus one circu-lar CC-GRP Pipe OD 1720 for the rehabilitation of nine elliptical constructions. Standard CC-GRP HOBAS pipes were suggested for the remaining circular constructions and for the arch a NC-Line ID 2880x1800. Apart from this, an alternative solution was proposed sliplining NC-Line arches and HOBAS CC-GRP pipes using both


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Custom-size NC-Line Profile is inserted in the strongly corroded metal culvert.



flush couplings and standard FWC couplings.APRR opted for the latter proposal. The mixed

technologies confirm the adaptability and flexi-bility of HOBAS products. Thus, 635 m of pipes, ranging from DN 1,200 to 2,400, were installed between May 2007 and the end of November 2007. Slightly more than 50 m of HOBAS NC-Line profiles completed the lot.

“Works were accomplished more easily, thanks to the simple handling and jointing of HOBAS pipes,” explained Norbert Cheminot, civil engineer and head of the special constructions office of Eiffage Traveaux Publics Reseaux, contractor in charge of pipes installation and specialist for trenchless technologies. “Working on highways without disrupting the traffic is always a challenge. The HOBAS solution required less heavy equipment and turned the usually complex storage and handling into easy installation.”

HOBAS Pipe Systems provided a clever and made-to-measure technical solution combining standard CC-GRP pipes with arch-shaped NC-Line panels and offers a long lifetime under constant mechanical loading. The highway companies appreciate the products’ hydraulic properties despite a small reduction in dimension and a low roughness coefficient thanks to the smooth liner surface, maximizing the flow rate and minimizing maintenance. “It was very important for us to find a rehabilitation solution that meets

the terms of the French Water Act, something that would not affect the hydraulic condition of the existing pipeline and offer a long life-time,” said Mr. Caisey a technical member of APRR’s area staff.

This article was submitted by HOBAS and edited by Trenchless Technology.

Year of Construction 2007Duration of Construction 8 months

Length of Pipes Laid 635 mPressure Class PN 1Diameter DN 1,200, DN 1,400, DN 1,500, DN 1,800, DN 2,000, DN 2,100, DN 2,400Stiffness Class SN 5,000 and SN 10,000Length of NC-Line: 50 mNC-Line: ID 2880 x 1800Application Rehabilitation (Relining) and Open Installation (Extension Sides)Client APRR (Autoroutes Paris Rhin Rhône)Contractor Roger Martin, Eiffage Traveaux Publics ReseauxAdvantages Hydraulic Properties, Long Lifetime, Light Weight



The City of Livonia, Mich., found the way to save its water system and also keep

costs under control by selecting pipe that is long-lasting, leak-free and makes it possible for a highly desirable method of installation to be used.

Just a 30-minute drive from Detroit and with a population of almost 100,000, the City provides more than 16 million gals of water daily (mgd) to more than 38,000 residential, commercial and indus-trial customers through some 400 miles of water main pipe that var-ies in size from 3 to 36 in. Like many other communities today, it was faced with potentially expen-sive decisions concerning sections of the water system nearing the end of its useful life. Much of the system grid is well beyond its original 40-year expectation, with some pipes older than 60 years.

For many years, the iron pipes were cracking and coming apart at the joints. System failures due to water main breaks were a growing problem. The ductile iron pipe, from large trunk lines to smaller distribution branches, was also prone to constricted flow due to tuberculation that was caused by the buildup of rust and sedimentary deposits of various salts, such as iron and magnesium precipitates.

The regulating authority for water in Michigan is the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). Current guide-lines indicate that if a municipal water supply is to provide service to customers and for fire protec-tion, the minimum pipe size is 6 in., while maintaining a residual minimum pressure of 20 psi at all points in the system.

Not only was the City of Livonia facing the inability to maintain

Pipe bursting with HDPE pipe was used to rehab some of the City of Livonia, Mich.’s aging pipes.

HDPE & Pre-Chlorinated Pipe Bursting Helps to Rehab Michigan Water PipesHelps to Rehab Michigan Water PipesBy Steve Cooper



pressure and flow, there was also the loss of treated water due to the leaks, plus the possibility and risk of con-tamination due to infiltration of groundwater and other outside mate-rials.

“During the past 20 years, we experi-enced an increasing number of incident reports of broken water mains that required digging up the streets to do the repairs,” stated Livonia Mayor Jack Kirksey. “At first it was manageable. But during the past five years, the failing sections were reaching a catastrophic stage. Not only were we losing water — a valuable resource — but the cost to our taxpayers was significant. We had to find a way that would solve this prob-lem and also be financially prudent. In other words, find the best system that would last the longest and have the most realistic cost.”

City of Livonia water managers worked with local consulting engineer-ing firm Hubbell, Roth and Clark Inc., Pontiac, Mich., to pinpoint the best way to save the water system. They also turned to the Plastics Pipe Institute A before picture of what the pipe in the City of Livonia, Mich., looked

like prior to being rehabilitated.

(PPI), an educational trade association representing all segments of the plastic piping industry, for information, recom-mendations and guidance to remedy the problem.

An analysis of the system found that nearly 23,000 ft of deteriorated water main was in need of replacement. The aging pipes were generally 6 to 8 in. in diameter and it was obvious that replacement was warranted to main-tain the integrity of the system.

The consulting engineering firm assembled contract documents that were publicly advertised for potential construction contractors to bid. The documents allowed replacing the pipe with a similar iron product or with pipe made from high-density polyeth-ylene (HDPE).

“Both HDPE and iron pipe are indus-try standards for water main supply and are acceptable to the City of Livonia,” explained Daniel W. Mitchell, P.E., of Hubbell, Roth and Clark. “Although Livonia specifies the use of poly-wrapped, cement-lined, ductile iron, (called DI), pipe for water main use, HDPE pipe has also been allowed in recent years. The reason for this is that

the HDPE pipe enables the trenchless method of installation to be used.”

Typically, water main replacement involves excavating equipment to dig up roads and residential lawns. The pipe is then laid out, sections joined together, connections made and the trench backfilled. This method is expen-sive because of the labor required and also puts residents on the defensive because of the disruption, safety con-cerns and traffic detours.

The City’s water managers recom-mended using HDPE pipe because it provided the single solution to the multi-faceted problem of doing the repair. PPI-member company Charter Plastics, Titusville, Pa., HDPE pipe was selected for the replacement and upgrade.

Various methods of construction were considered. A relatively new tech-nology known as “pre-chlorinated pipe bursting” that utilizes HDPE was identi-fied as the most cost-effective through the bidding process. The method of installation made possible by the use of HDPE pipe involves using the old pipe as a pathway and bursting it as the new HDPE pipe is pulled through the failing ductile iron pipe. Only small entrance

and exit pits are needed to accomplish the replacement and upgrade, not the exten-sive trench digging normally required.

Charter Plastics’ PE 3408 Ductile Iron Pipe Size HDPE pipe was used. Its solid wall design and physical characteristics allows pipelines to be relined by using trenchless pipe bursting technology. It meets AWWA requirements for polyethyl-ene pressure pipe and also meets ASTM F714 requirements.

The HDPE pipe was joined by heat fusing the sections together in the field using a McElroy 412 self-contained fusion machine. This method was faster and more efficient to do than welding or clamping iron pipe and it created a single, monolithic pipeline, free of potential leaks even though it was blocks long in some areas. McElroy Mfg., Tulsa, Okla., is also a PPI member company.

“We were putting in a total of more than 27,000 ft, which means a savings of more than $200,000 just for the pipe, not includ-ing cost associated with the labor and time that would be needed to handle and install the much heavier iron pipe. The end-result is that we were able to do this without rais-ing the rate for water,” Kirksey said.

Once the process began, it went very quickly. Most homes were reconnected to the system within three to four hours. The project started in April 2008 and finished that October.

Hubbell, Roth & Clark’s Dan Mitchell summarized the initial steps. “The City knew it had a problem, and [Major Kirksey] along with the City Council and others established a budget they felt they could afford to address the problem. The staff was asked to prioritize the worst areas for a capital improvement program that would be within the budget. Once a scope of the project had been identified, the City solicit-ed for engineering services in order to design, prepare bid documents and admin-ister the construction of approximately 27,000 ft of new main — 23,000 ft as replacement main and 4,000 ft of new main for looping purposes.”

After making the decision to replace the failing water system, the City’s concern turned to the destruction of both public and private property usually required when an underground system — water, gas, sewer and conduit — is installed. The City didn’t want residents to face a hardship from ripped up streets and sidewalks.

Because HDPE pipe is somewhat flexible, strong and durable, it provides the ability to horizontally directional drill the pipe in close spaces — just a small hole about 3 ft wide to start each run. From that starting point, the crew was able to snake the pipe through the old ductile iron pipe. This



reduced the cost and eliminated the need to open-cut. Plus the pipe has fusion-welded joints for zero leakage, it’s corrosion-resistant for a long life and it meets AWWA standards for potable water applications.

If the traditional open-trench method was used to install the new pipeline, it would have been necessary to set up road barriers or detours, making navigat-ing the streets difficult and dangerous while further upsetting drivers and pedestrians.

According to the PPI executive direc-tor Tony Radoszewski, “The popularity of using polyethylene (PE) pipe in municipal water systems has continued to grow. Officials on the state, town, city, county and federal levels find it to be an economical and environmentally-sound solution with proven longevity and reli-ability to replace aging pipe systems.”

“What Mayor Kirksey and his team did for Livonia is no different than any other leader can do,” Radoszewski observed. “By investigating alternative technolo-gies, a major problem was solved, plus the community and construction work-ers were protected from unnecessary turmoil and dangers.

“Too often we hear or read about a construction project that was the site of a disaster after a backhoe hits a gas pipe-line while digging a trench. Or a trench caves in, burying workers. From 2000 through 2006, there were 271 deaths related to trench work, according to the latest United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Mayors, city managers, public works directors and consulting engineers real-ize that digging trenches that upend and endanger lives is unnecessary now,” he stated. “The technology and products now exist that permit a more safe, practi-cal and economical way to install a water system.

“We are facing serious challenges when it comes to crumbling under-ground infrastructure — namely water and sewer pipes — and billions of dol-lars have been specified for water and sewer infrastructure projects,” he contin-ued. “Decisions about materials used and how repairs or expansions are done are vital to us all. The choices about to be made will have an impact on us now and for generations to come.”

On Feb. 20, a large contingent of may-ors met with President Obama, mem-

bers of his Cabinet and Vice President Biden to discuss cities’ role in imple-menting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and how to get billions of dollars allocated by the stimulus plan flowing to cities.

“Pipe systems made from high-density polyethylene do not rust and are leak-free — the two biggest problems facing water utilities today. Our city’s gas utili-ties almost exclusively use HDPE pipe for these very reasons,” Radoszewski said. “Furthermore, HDPE pipe systems are ‘green’ in every sense of the word. They are sustainable, use less energy to manufacture and ship, many times they are less expensive than traditional mate-rials like concrete and metal and with superior joints, they are better at pro-tecting natural resources. “

Kirksey had some advice for other mayors: “The use of HDPE pipe is a pro-gressive step that all other cities should consider to reduce costs and disruption of daily life during the project and to improve their water infrastructure with a long-life product.”

Steve Cooper is a freelance writer who frequently reports on the water industry.

www.trenchlessonline.com August 2009 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY 33For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info


The year is 1989, you have just returned from your lunch break during which you caught up on news reports on the latest developments in Eastern Europe (was the

Berlin Wall really going to be opened?). You return to your desk and, while glancing over the curled faxes awaiting you (isn’t this new technology great!?), you see a slick-haired stranger approaching, briefcase in hand.

Your sewer department had been faced with a host of issues — backups, overflows, broken pipes, sinkholes — and this salesman says he has the answer to your problems (so this resin-saturated felt can seal my pipes while not digging up the streets?). It seems almost too good to be true. You need more information. But where can you find it?

It was in this environment in which the Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) was founded at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La. At the time, technologies like directional drilling, microtunneling and cured-in-place pipe were making inroads, but little was known about these methods. That’s where TTC came in. And while TTC served as a clearinghouse of informa-

tion for utilities, it also served as a seedbed for new product development and a medium by which industry and academia could share knowledge. Today, the Trenchless Technology Center carries on this tradition and remains one of the premier research centers focused on underground utilities worldwide.

As TTC begins its third decade, it will do so under new lead-ership. Upon the retirement of its director, Dr. Ray Sterling, the reins have passed to Dr. Rob McKim, who will serve as admin-istrative director, and Dr. Erez Allouche, who will serve as research director. Both men have long histories in the trench-less technology industry, as well as with TTC. Allouche is an associate professor of civil engineering at Louisiana Tech and has been with TTC since 2003. McKim returns to Ruston fol-lowing stints in industry and academia. McKim worked at TTC for three years from 1998-2001.

As the trenchless market has matured since the founding of the Trenchless Technology Center (which was originally called the Trenchless Excavation Center), the role of the center has evolved to keep pace. “The pioneers of trenchless technology

IAB meeting attendees, faculty and students pose in front of the new TTC research facility, which was dedicated Nov. 7, 2007.

TTC RetrospectiveTTC RetrospectiveTrenchless Technology Center – 20 Years of Groundbreaking Research & Counting By Jim Rush

brought a vision, ingenuity and tremen-dous talents in the fields of mechanical and hydraulic systems, and TTC’s role was to spread the gospel and assist in the accep-tance and incorporation of these technolo-gies into the marketplace,” Allouche said. “As the market has grown, TTC’s role has shifted to assist in the development of new technologies, materials and concepts that will assist companies and utilities in improving the services they provide in terms of enhanced quality, lower costs and reduced impacts.”

Sowing the SeedsOne of the hallmarks of the Trenchless

Technology Center has been a collabora-tive environment between industry and academia — an environment that still exists today. That collaborative spirit is not surprising considering the Center’s found-er, Dr. Tom Iseley. Iseley grew up in the pipe laying business and worked as a contractor before pursuing higher education and a teaching career.

While completing his doctoral studies in the field of trenchless technology, Iseley recognized a void in research. “We really lacked in some areas of trenchless tech-nologies, particularly in microtunneling and rehabilitation techniques,” said Iseley. “I felt what the industry needed was a mecha-nism to help facilitate R&D.”

One project in the early days made a profound impact on the emerging field of trenchless — the Construction Productivity Advancement Research (CPAR) program — conducted jointly by TTC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Miss. CPAR was one of the largest trenchless research projects ever conducted and included full-scale field research experiments on seven pipeline rehabilitation systems from five manufacturers; three microtunneling sys-tems under controlled ground conditions with extensive instrumentation and moni-toring; and small directional drilling sys-tems. The findings of the research led to the development of the “The Guidelines for Trenchless Technology: CIPP and FFP Rehabilitation Systems, Mini-HDD, and Microtunneling.”

“The CPAR studies were very important in establishing some engineering informa-tion to go along with the use of direc-tional drilling, microtunneling and liner design in North America,” said Sterling, who took over as director in 1995.

When TTC was established, it did so with an Industry Advisory Board (IAB), which provided guidance and financial support. In some cases, TTC provided the ideal research



(From left) TTC’s Erez Allouche, research director, Ray Sterling, former director, and Rob McKim, administrative director, at the No-Dig Show in Toronto.

and development medium for these growing companies. “At that time, some of the smaller companies that were involved in the industry didn’t have the wherewithal to perform the research themselves, so TTC filled that role,” Sterling added.

The research and students who have been associated with TTC have had last-ing impacts on the trenchless market-place. Many Tech grads have entered the market as consulting engineers and con-

tractors, or entered academia to intro-duce trenchless to the next generation of engineers. Additionally, TTC served as the model for the Centre for the Advancement of Trenchless Technologies at the University of Waterloo in Canada, founded by McKim.

TTC Today and TomorrowThe research conducted at TTC has

evolved along with the market. A quick look at some of the projects may make

one wonder whether they have anything to do with trenchless — ultra-wideband radar, geopolymers, nuclear magnetic resonance.

“The mix of research that has evolved since Erez Allouche has joined the center has shown the capabilities and the desirability of having a center like this,” Sterling said. “We are doing advanced research in a number of areas that are not strictly trenchless, but they are being applied to the installation, inspec-tion and rehabilitation of utilities.”

Allouche concurred. “We have had more of a focus on fundamental scientific work and the development of new technologies,” he said. “We have also expanded the tradi-tional soil-structure interaction and linear research areas to include software develop-ment, development of electromagnetic and acoustic sensor technologies and material sciences including polyurea, polyurethane and geopolymer.”

Many of these areas of research are in line with the projected needs of the indus-try, which include improved inspection and assessment technologies and asset management.

“The location and characterization of buried utilities is going to remain an impor-tant area that is nowhere near developed yet,” Sterling said. “We need more than just a visual look at the pipe. We need to figure out what the material properties are and where the voids are outside the pipe. By getting this type of information we can bet-ter predict how long a certain type of pipe or rehabilitation can be expected to last.”

McKim envisions TTC continuing to play a role beyond research. “New technologies have been slow to catch on in North America, but by researching and testing new products before they are introduced in the field you can reduce the risk,” he said. “In the past, TTC has done testing and pilot projects and refined products before they entered the market, and that helped to facilitate their success and growth. In my mind that’s one of TTC’s key accomplishments”

Additionally, TTC’s dialogue with indus-try has been important in disseminating information, as well as keeping a finger on the pulse of needs of the market. One way that TTC maintains the dialogue is through the Municipal Forum series, which consists of regional meetings that bring together city leaders and industry for a day of discus-sion on all relevant topics.

With the increased acceptance of trench-less technologies and the needs associated with building and repairing underground infrastructure, the Trenchless Technology Center will no doubt play a major role forthe next 20 years and beyond.

Jim Rush is editor of Trenchless Technology.



November 19–20, 2009Doubletree Hotel Houston Intercontinental Airport

Many factors determine the success of an HDD project, the majority of which do not involve the actual breaking of soil. Executive decisions and planning are critical during all phases of a given project – some unique, some universal. The HDD Executive Forum addresses many of these factors on a peer-to-peer basis, sharing experiences, guidelines and market condition assessments. This is a conference for company executives presented by company executives, aimed at the common goal of improving the bottom line.

The HDD Executive Forum topics include:

• Pricing – what factors you need to consider when putting in a bid

• HDD Good Practices Guidelines – updates and what you need to know

• Existing Utilities – your responsibilities as a driller; what you need to know to avoid them; the ramifi cations of a utility strike

• Equipment Purchasing – changes regarding tax laws/incentives; purchase vs. lease vs. rent

• Legal/Environmental Permitting

• Trends in Trenchless Technology – telco/fi ber, sewer/water, oil/gas

• Workforce Issues – training staff, staff retention, drug testing, OSHA requirements

• High-tech HDD – the cutting edge technologies that are being used

• Rock Drilling – how rock bores are different from soil bores – what you need to know in putting together bids and planning for the job

• Economic Outlook – economist speaking about the market and the outlook for 2010

• Roundtable – a panel of industry experts discussing the issues that are impacting them, how they are addressing them and how they are adapting to market conditions

Review the session schedule and register online atwww.trenchlessonline.com/HDD

or call 330.467.7588



The cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) industry has experienced phenomenal growth since its inception nearly 40 years ago. It has become the

method of choice for rehabilitation of deteriorated underground sewers and pipelines due to its low installation cost, ease and speed of installation and minimization of ancillary requirements such as traffic rerouting, security, etc.

One of the facilitators for this fast growth rate and ready market acceptance of the technique is the use of unsaturated polyester (UP) and vinylester (VE) resins. These workhorses of the thermoset composite industry have a long track record in corrosion-resistance applications. With an extensive database developed over decades of service, UP and VE resins and composites were well suited for adoption by the CIPP industry.

In addition, the physical characteristics of these resins are quite amenable to the CIPP process. Low viscosities allow them to easily flow through and wet out the felt and fiberglass tubing used to reline existing pipeline systems. The resins’ ability to cure quickly and under a variety of conditions made for easy implementation. Their ability to cure thermally, through initiation by organic peroxides, as well as by exposure to ultraviolet light widened the opportunities to design systems to fit a great diversity of field applications.

The heart of the CIPP system is the resin matrix. It causes a limp, f lexible felt tube to become a rigid, structural member, allowing the free f low of liquids

and eff luents through it. Its main function, though, is to provide resistance to the wide variety of chemicals often encountered in municipal sewer systems. From the moderately benign soapy water, waste products and cleaning solutions from personal residences to the harsh chemicals discharged from industrial manufacturing plants, the resin itself must not degrade over the design lifetime of the CIPP system. In addition, it must display sufficient integrity to maintain long-term structural effectiveness.

In choosing a resin for a CIPP system, it is first necessary to identify the types and concentrations of the chemicals to which it is expected to be exposed. Thermal resistance is not usually an issue in underground applications but must be taken into consideration if installed near facilities that discharge liquids at above-ambient temperatures, such as discharges from pulp and paper mills. A secondary consideration is the potential for chemicals to come in contact with each other in the CIPP system. Often, municipalities have a history of material within an existing environment or they have performed analyses of their current eff luents to identify types and concentrations processed within their system.

The workhorse of UP corrosion-resistance applications are isophthalic resins. The term “isophthalic” resins cover a broad range of resin types and applications in the composites industry. Corrosion-resistant resins, however, are a fairly narrow slice of polymer compositions. While it

By Bill Carroll

Resin Selection Resin Selection for Cured-In-Place-Pipe Applications

On the left is a typical CIPP felt tube before impregnation and on the right is a tube being impregnated with resin.

is the crosslinking through the carbon-carbon double bonds of UP resins that turns them into a 3-D, thermoset matrix, a very high crosslink density results in a brittle matrix with limited structural properties and toughness. Substitution of isophthalic acid for part of the maleic anhydride in the polymer reduces its crosslink density with little loss of resin modulus and allows an effective balance between rigidity and toughness.

The aromatic character of isophthalic acid is highly resistant to a wide range of chemicals, as well as providing good temperature resistance. The co-reactants with the acids that result in a polyester polymer are glycols or diols. These also affect the chemical resistance of a CIPP resin. Branched diols are preferred as the side groups on these molecules, which inhibit small molecule ingress into the main polymer chain and help prevent chemical attack. Ether glycols, such as diethylene glycol, are usually avoided as they exhibit somewhat of an open structure and the oxygen of the ether group can readily attract polar molecules such as water.

Corrosion-resistant isophthalic resins are usually high in molecular weight. Chain scission of the polymer backbone degrades the material and its corrosion-resistance properties, so starting with a high molecular weight means it can sustain more attacks on the backbone before it loses structural integrity. Swelling of the polymer also results in a loss of structural properties. Again, a higher molecular weight results in fewer end groups to attract attacking chemicals and also contributes to less free volume in the matrix and less ability for molecules to penetrate the network. A higher reactivity resin, meaning a higher crosslink density, also inhibits the transport of molecules through the matrix and results in a higher degree of chemical resistance. High molecular weight equates to high viscosities so CIPP resins are usually high in styrene content to lower their viscosity into the range needed for fast and efficient tube wet out of multi-layer felt tubes.

Isophthalic type resins offer a moderate degree of chemical

resistance. They can readily meet the resistance requirements of ASTM F-1216 for CIPP applications. Isophthalic resins are resistant to acids, salts, dilute chemicals and offer some degree of solvent resistance so they are suitable for use in most domestic and residential piping systems. They are not recommended for alkaline and oxidizing environments and are not resistant to aromatic and chlorinated solvents.

Vinylester resins provide the next step up in chemical resistance. These resins, typically based on Bisphenol-A epoxides, contain a highly aromatic backbone, making them more resistant to chemical attack and provide greater resistance to temperature vs. isophthalics. They also contain fewer ester groups than isophthalics so they are more resistant to hydrolytic attack and have somewhat better resistance to bleaches, alkalis and solvents.

While isophthalics can handle

most domestic eff luents, when industrial chemicals are involved in the environment they often are more aggressive both chemically and thermally. This is where VE resins should be considered. They offer a 20 C to 50 C (68 F to 122 F)



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The heart of the CIPP system is the resin matrix. It causes a limp, flexible felt tube to become a rigid, structural member, allowing the free flow of liquids and efflu-ents through it.



higher use temperature than isophthalic resins and are resistant to a wider range of chemicals. However, they are also not resistant or aromatic and halogenated solvents. When specifying resins for an industrial type environment, the materials the CIPP could potentially be exposed to should be reviewed thoroughly. Resins can often handle small quantities of chemicals that they normally would not resist in concentrated or long-term exposures. Also to be considered is when varied chemicals are present, there are interactions and reactions that can occur between materials that could compromise CIPP life.

The highest degree of chemical resistance in a commodity resin type is found with Bisphenol fumarate resins. As with VE resins, these contain Bisphenol-A in their backbone but these resins have a higher crosslink density so they are more resistant to some chemicals than VE and offer resistance at higher temperatures. Bisphenol fumarates find high utility in oxidizing and caustic environments. In corrosion applications, they have been used for many years in chlorine dioxide and sodium hypochlorite containments. Again, these resins are not highly resistant to aromatic and chlorinated solvents.

While the previously cited resins are used in the majority of CIPP applications, certain specialty resins occasionally find utility in specific environments. Terephthalic resins generally perform on par with

isophthalics. Epoxy resins are used but their chemical resistance can vary widely, depending on the curing agents used. They often do not develop optimum properties without a post cure. Epoxy novolac vinylesters can provide better chemical and thermal resistance than Bis-A based vinylesters as they achieve a higher crosslink density. Urethane-modified vinylesters can be more resistant to some media than standard VE resins. Filled resins are becoming more popular as they can provide a more cost-effective CIPP solution but the chemical resistance of the filler must also be taken into account in any application. While many are fairly inert, materials such as calcium carbonate are readily decomposed by acids and are not a good choice in a CIPP resin system.

The CIPP industry has capitalized on the extensive history of unsaturated polyester and vinylester resins in corrosion environments to establish itself as the premier method for pipe and sewer rehabilitation. As with any corrosion application, the expected CIPP environment should be well understood before choosing the resin system. With their broad range of capabilities, unsaturated polyester and vinylester resins are well situated to participate in the continued growth rate of the CIPP industry.

Bill Carroll is a chemist associate with Reichhold Inc., headquartered in Hudson, Ohio.



T ight timelines, a spaghetti mesh of existing utilities in the area, a cooling tower, electrical power vaults, buildings on the very edge of the easement

that left no room for equipment or staging, parallel con-struction of an adjacent four-story story building and fiber optics that fed one of the most highly recruited and high profile companies in the country — DreamWorks. This job had it all.

As a part of ongoing sewer system upgrades, the City of Glendale, Calif., planned to abandon the existing sewer line in the DreamWorks studio campus in favor of a new, larger, relocated line, approximately 40 ft to the west. In this congested urban campus, the options for routing the new line weren’t good, but after two years of negotiating the new easement, there was no going back. The Victory Truck Boulevard Wastewater Capacity

Improvement project called for both open-cut and trenchless installations (both pilot tube and jack-and-bore methods), with a final depth of 20 ft, but one section of the project created some exceptional demands.

The plan called for the new line to follow the contour of the Los Angeles River (LA River) between the river and the DreamWorks Studios. The timeline had no room for delays because a new DreamWorks Studio Animation Building was slated to be built as soon as possible after the old line was abandoned (the new building was intended to be placed on top of the old sewer line). Construction of the animation building and the sewer line were to run concurrently. The addition of the building construction eliminated over half the available working space and further restricted access to the site.

Vitrifi ed Clay Pipe Selected to Install Sewer Line Under Movie Studio

By Mike Van Dine

A “Dream” JobA “Dream” Job

Tight quarters at the back of the DreamWorks campus




Pipe SelectionThe tight timelines, lack of room for

equipment and concerns about existing utilities all pointed to using pilot tube microtunneling (PTMT). This method provides a very accurate (within ¼-in. up to 300 lf) installation with very little sur-face disruption. Because of the sensitive nature of some of the DreamWorks equip-ment and the exacting nature of their work, even excessive sub-surface vibra-tion would have created unacceptable productivity loss.

Jasmina Zigic, P.E., project manager for the City of Glendale, said, “We considered other materials, but the people at the National Clay Pipe Institute provided all of the information and documentation we needed to evaluate and specify clay pipe for both the open-cut and the trenchless parts of the installation.”

“Some people still aren’t aware that clay pipe can be used in this kind of installation,” according to Joe Parker, vice president of technical services for the National Clay Pipe Institute (NCPI). “But we were able to work with the city to demonstrate the efficacy of VCP in this setting.”

This photo shows the drill bit coming out of the receiving pit.




Both the installation method and the ability to eliminate the external casing pipe were advantages for vitrified clay pipe (VCP). Because of its high-compressive strength (18,000 psi on average), leak-free joints and affordability, VCP is the predominant pipe material used in PTMT.

The soil borings showed fill soils, 2 to 18 ft. The fill soils consisted of silty sand and were uniformly well compact-ed. The underlying natural soils consist of stiff to very stiff silt medium dense silty sand and medium dense to very dense poorly graded sand and well graded sand.

“This job was another reminder that you should always be prepared for the unexpected,” said Parker. “In the midst of the job, we unexpectedly came across a boulder at a location that could not be potholed for retrieval. The boul-der damaged the powered cutter head (PCH), causing a leak in the hydraulic fluid line. Luckily, this occurred at the last trenchless installation. To complete the installa-tion, the contractor switched to biodegradable oil to be able to continue boring without contaminating the groundwater.”

The jacking and receiving shafts were just 8 ft in diam-eter. During the installation process, spoil was displaced by the slant-faced steering head. The pilot tube was direct-ed on line and on grade by rotation during advancement. The operator’s skill was critical in identifying unexpected or out of place utilities. DreamWorks became an impor-tant part of the team in identifying the active utilities and helping to keep the project on schedule.

In PTMT installations, the hollow stem of the pilot tube creates the optical path for the camera to view the LED target in the steering head displaying the head position and steering orientation. The pilot tube line establishes the centerline for the new sewer.

The bore is then increased by the installation of a ream-ing head followed by augers in casings, which transport the spoil to the jacking shaft for removal.

The final step to increase the bore used a PCH, advanced by the product pipe, which transports the spoils into the receiving shaft.

“The challenges on this site made this an exceptional installation,” according to Zigic, “but it all worked quite well. We won’t have any hesitation about using this meth-od and VCP again.”

“The team effort on this job was impressive,” accord-ing to Parker. “At every step of the way, the City of Glendale, their contractors and sub-contractors and DreamWorks staff all seemed to understand that the nature of this job demanded a first-rate team. And they all came through.”

Mike Van Dine is president of the National Clay Pipe Institute, a non-profit technical resource for design, instal-lation and operation of vitrified clay pipe (VCP) gravity sewer systems. Established in 1944, NCPI is the authorita-tive resource for civil engineers and contractors designing, specifying and installing VCP sanitary sewer systems.



The International Construction and Utility Equip-ment Exposition (ICUEE), organized by the As-sociation of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), re-

turns for the 2009 year. “The Demo Expo,” as it has been nicknamed, will be

hosted on Tuesday, Oct. 6 through Thursday, Oct. 8, in Lou-isville, Ky., at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center — a tradition since 1987. The biennial show began as a small field demonstration in 1964 and blossomed into a formal expo by 1966. ICUEE has been growing ever since, with 2009 projected to be the biggest yet — breaking records set during the previous show in 2007.

ICUEE prides itself in being the top exposition for demonstrations of construction and utility equipment. With its hands-on nature, attendees can operate equip-ment for themselves and learn about the newest prod-ucts and innovations in the industry. More than 115 ed-ucation sessions, including field trips and an Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Workshop, supplement the wide spectrum of machinery available to test. Accord-ing to show director Melissa Magestro, 100 percent more education has been added to this year’s show.

More than 1 million net sq ft have been reserved for the 950-plus exhibitors and 25,000-plus attendees to achieve the best possible experience. To make this even more attainable, ICUEE has provided a “MyShow” section on its Web site, where attendees can sign in and design their own schedule by searching for a certain product, exhibitor or session they want to see or attend

and compile each event into a custom list. Everyone can also see online all of the new products being pre-sented with a description, picture, and company and booth number so that those of interest can easily be located.

New to ICUEE this year is the co-location of the Na-tional Rural Water Association’s (NRWA) H20 X-PO. Like already existing co-locations, IUV Tech 09 and the IP Safety Conference & Expo, it is held in conjunction with ICUEE. This show focuses on presenting the latest water and wastewater utility equipment and products to the industry’s professionals. With around 150 exhib-itors for H20 X-PO alone, the dual shows promote a broader networking and learning experience.

To learn more about ICUEE, visit www.icuee.com, call toll-free at (800) 867-6060, or e-mail [email protected].

Some of the trenchless products that can be seen at ICUEE 2009 are featured below.

Leanne Butkovic is an editorial assistant for Trenchless Technology.

By Leanne Butkovic

ICUEE 2009 Is Here!

Exhibit HoursOct. 6 .............................................................8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Oct. 7 .............................................................8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Oct. 8 .............................................................8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More than 950 Exhibitors and 25,000 Attendees Are Expected at Biennial Show


Akkerman Inc.Since 1973, Akkerman Inc. has manu-

factured distinctive microtunneling, pipe jacking, tunneling, guided boring and earth pressure balance equipment. We attribute Akkerman Inc.’s reputa-tion for superior reliability and respon-sive service to our team of ex-perienced engi-neers, field tech-nicians and our extensive parts department. We’re bringing it all to you at ICUEE 2009. Please visit our outdoor display #K103, featuring 6,500 sq ft of live demonstrations and real life dis-plays of all our equipment lines.

Allied Construction ProductsAllied’s all-new generation of Hole-

Hog piercing tools provide the least expensive method for underground pipe or service replacement in con-struction and installation work. The Hole-Hog, which makes a clean, com-pacted tunnel, travels underneath ob-structions, such as roads, driveways, parking lots, runways and founda-tions without disturbing existing sur-faces and landscaping. When impas-sible conditions are encountered, the Hole-Hog is easily reversed with the patent-ed quarter-turn reverse mecha-nism (except the 4000). De-pending on the model selected, the Hole-Hog makes holes from 1 7/8 in. to 6 in. in diameter.l. Visit Allied Construction Products at Booth K175.

American Augers American Augers — an industry

leader in auger boring manufacturing — introduces the 84/96-1800 NG, the biggest and most powerful auger bor-ing machine available on the market today. The 84/96-1800 NG allows for an increased ability to pull auger, steer-

ing rods and push p r o d u c t and im-p r o v e s the visibil-ity to the m a s t e r pusher. It

has a low centerline and wide stance for machine stability, hydraulically as-sisted clutch with a power assisted ac-tuator that is easy and comfortable to operate, ergonomic operating controls that allow for feathering of the rota-tion and slow turn of the shaft for easy auger installation. The 84/96-1800 NG includes an updated gauge system that includes engine tachometer, engine warning light and hydraulic thrust pressure reading. Visit American Au-gers at Booth K125.

Blue DemonBlue Demon’s new Extreme Taper

Conical is good in hard soils, soft rock and some medium rock formations. It is designed for better penetration. Bolt Patterns are available for Vermeer, Ditch Witch and other major manufac-turer s . Call us at (800) 2 8 2 -6769 or see us on the Web at w w w .bluedemon.com.

CETCO Drilling ProductsPROSHOT is an easy mixing, water

soluble, high-strength polymer for horizontal drilling applications. PRO-SHOT may be used in a wide variety of soil conditions. It can be a stand-alone drilling fluid additive or used in com-bination with HYDRAUL-EZ or SUPER GEL-X. PROSHOT eliminates clay and shale swelling, bit balling and stick-ing problems. This super high-quality polymer drilling fluid additive creates

e x t r e m e l u b r i c -ity, greatly r e d u c e s torque and i n c re a s e s p e n e t r a -tion rates. Call your CETCO re-

gional sales manager or your CETCO Drilling Products distributor for oth-er innovative ideas and drilling fluid products at (800) 527-9948. See us in Booth 1534.

Digital Control Inc.Digital Control Inc.’s (DCI) DigiTrak

F2 locating system is the ultimate ball-

in-the-box locator, advancing the HDD industry with a more intuitive and eas-ier-to-use system than anything else on the market. The F2 system consists of a handheld receiver, remote display, bat-tery char-ger and re-chargeable lithium-ion bat ter ies . With a sin-gle-button user inter-face and graphically driven menu, the F2’s active display enables DCI’s exclusive look-ahead capability in a view similar to the Digi-Trak Eclipse locating system. The F2 includes the advanced features of Off-Trak locating and Target Steering to easily and accurately navigate the drill even when obstacles prevent tracking over the drill head. For more informa-tion, go to www.digitrak.com. Visit DCI at Booth #613.

ISCO IndustriesISCO Industries is the nation’s larg-

est distributor of HDPE pipe and qual-ity McElroy Mfg. fusion equipment, both for sale or rental. ISCO stocks McElroy’s full line of equipment from manual models to the largest wheeled and tracked units (up to 65 in.) to fu-

sion accessories and special tooling. Check out all of the McElroy produc-tivity equipment in ISCO’s booth, #L102. Besides selling and renting equipment, ISCO is also a McElroy Au-thorized Service Center. ISCO offers the industry’s most complete Fusion Manual with step-by-step instruc-tions, and tips for successful fusion. For complete fusion product informa-tion call (800) 345-ISCO or go online at www.isco-pipe.com.

Lewis Mfg.New Kevlar Bundling & Pulling Grips

are the latest addition to Lewis Mfg’s grip lines. These grips are made of


plastic-coated Kevlar fi-bers that are lightweight, yet much stronger than steel wires. Kevlar grips are traditionally used in overhead or under-ground operations when pulling or suspending electric or fiber-optic cable. These Ouchless Lewis Grips do not have the metallic fraying as traditional grips do, thereby eliminating the chance of being injured from metallic strands that have been abraded. The Kevlar strand can be used in essentially all

grip configurations. Kevlar grips can also be used when a metallic grip is unsuitable, such as when pulling into an energized environment. For more information, call (888) 398-4719 or visit www.lewismfg.com. Lewis Mfg.’s booth is #440.

McElroy The new DynaMc Hand Pump (HP)

machines provide the power and pres-sure required to butt fuse pipes size 2-in. IPS to 12-in. DIPS (63-mm to 340-mm) with a hand-powered pump. The double-action hand-pump paired with high-velocity cylinders create faster carriage speeds for critical opens and closes during the fusion process. The DynaMc 28, 250 and 412 HPs — each available in two- and four-jaw con-figurations — comes with an easy-lift cradle that can be removed to make the machine smaller for tight working

environments. For more information on McElroy and the new DynaMc HP Series, visit www.mcelroy.com or visit McElroy at Booth N1015.

McLaughlinMcLaughlin has introduced the

V500 low-profile vacuum excavator designed to provide easier access to confined spaces. The unit features a

shorter wheelbase and a height of only 84 in., allowing contractors to access areas normally not reachable for larger units. With a 575-cfm blower, 3,000 psi of water flow and a 3-in. diameter suction hose, the V500 low profile pro-vides efficient spoil removal. The unit also includes the industry-exclusive three-stage filtration system that allows for both wet and dry vacuum excava-tion and a quiet pack power system for reduced engine noise levels. Visit McLaughlin at Booth K120.

Melfred BorzallHard, rocky soil is no match for Mel-

fred Borzall’s new addition to their line of Eagle Claw bits. The all new 4-1/4-in. Eagle Claw is ready to rip through the toughest jobs — sandstone, shale and cobbles. The 4-1/4-in. Eagle Claw features carbide buttons to minimize wear, quick-change carbide cutter teeth and a balanced cutting design

to improve stability and decrease vi-bration. Aggressive tri-tooth carbide cutting action gets through the hard-est conditions, and the conical shaped steering face allows for quick reactions to directional pushes. Melfred Borzall’s Directional Depot has more than 60 years of horizontal drilling experience behind this innovative tool design. Visit Melfred Borzall at Booth #619.

Nesco Sales and RentalsNesco Sales and Rentals is proud to ex-

hibit Brindle reel trailers at ICUEE 2009.

Come and see a wide selection of trailers from single reel, self loading BRT90s to multi-reel RL4RTs. Also see our reel load-ers and scrapper at the OK Champion booth. Finally, check out our Hogg985, a powered reel dolly, at the Hogg and Da-vis booth. For more information or an in-vitation, please call us at (800) 252-0043. See us in Booth N1049.

Railhead Underground ProductsGo “green” with the Direct Bore I

from Railhead, now available in 9- and 13-in. sizes. Designed for the big drills — 140,000 to 1 million lbs and larger — this new rock bit is made for the bores that do not require a mud motor. The large steering shoe allows the user to correct faster than what was available until now. Made from heat-treat-ed steel alloys, the bits feature replace-able teeth, as well as replaceable carbide in the water ports. The pin back allows for fast make-up of the tooling. The Di-rect Bore I is available exclusively from authorized Railhead dealers. Call (817) 594-6663 for the dealer nearest you.

The Robbins Co.The Robbins Motorized Small Bor-

ing Unit (SBU-M) is ideal for long crossings, gravity sewers and wher-ever lines and grades are critical. The SBU-M, available in diameters from 48 to 78 in., allows for installations of up

to 500 ft or more. The manned-entry machine utilizes an ABM or pipe jack-ing unit and generates torque with an internal drive motor. A cutterhead-mounted with disc cutters excavates rock from 4,000 to more than 25,000 psi UCS. Continuous steering is achieved using hydraulic articulation cylinders. The SBU-M has been proven


on projects around the world. Stop by the Robbins Booth # L425 at ICUEEor isit www.TheRobbinsCompany.com or call (440) 248-3303.

Roose Mfg. Co.Roose Mfg. Co. of Pella, Iowa, an-

nounces its newest single reel carrier — the Model RR-114. It has a load ca-pacity of 14,000 lbs by 120 in. in diam-eter and reel width of 62 in. It encased 12-volt hydraulic power allows for effortless lifting. Six models are now

available to carry single reels. Two- and three-reel capacity models are also available. Roose Mfg. Co. is in its 39th year of manufacturing quality prod-ucts. For more information, call (800) 552-3276 or visit www.roosemfg.com or at its booth at the show at #1542.

Slabach EnterprisesTwo new standard colors add to the

choice Slabach Enterprises’ Wheeler Reeler reel trailers customers can choose from. The “I” series will handle up to a 10-ft diameter spool of Inner-

duct, as well as cable, wire and many other reel types. The I-60 will handle 6,000 lbs and the I-85 will handle 8,500 lbs for a diversity of needs. A variety of smaller sizes, payload capacities and accessories are available to choose from. Visit Slabach at Booth K109.

Super ProductsSuper Products’ Mud Dog hydro ex-

cavators feature the safety, reliability and versatility essential to meet de-manding excavation applications and harsh environments. The Mud Dog is the only hydro excavator on the mar-ket with an ejector plate unloading sys-tem to scrape the body clean, making it the fastest and easiest unit to unload. Super Products designs and manufac-

tures equipment that is easy to oper-ate, easy to clean and easy to maintain. In addition to its Mud Dog hydro ex-cavators, the company offers its Super-Sucker industrial vacuum loaders and Camel sewer and catch basin cleaners. For more information on Super Prod-ucts’ line of Mud Dog Hydro Excava-tors, call visit www.muddogeasy.com or call (800) 837-9711.

TT TechnologiesThe Grundomat pneumatic piercing

tool from TT Technologies is one of the most economical, versatile and environ-mentally friendly tools in the industry.

It uses less air than other pneumatic piercing tools to provide a powerful, ac-curate bore. High-air efficiency means smaller, more fuel-efficient air compres-sors can be used to power the tool. Also, the trenchless nature of the tool is less disruptive and costly than open-cut methods. The tool has minimal im-pact on the environment as it utilizes natural biodegradable lubricants. The Grundomat serves as a complement and, often, an economical alternative to larger, more expensive directional drill-ing equipment. The Grundomat is ideal for water, sewer, landscape and irriga-tion, gas, electrical and plumbing con-tractors and FTTH installations. Visit TT Technologies at Booth K110.

Underground Tools Inc.Underground Tools Inc. (UTI) offers

one of the industry’s most compre-hensive selections of premium qual-

ity di-rectional dr i l l ing pipe for n e a r l y e v e r y m a k e

and model of drill rig on the market. It is readily available and fits drill rig sizes from mini to maxi. UTI drill pipe is made from top quality materials with careful consideration given to precise threaded connections. In ad-dition, HIWS drill stems Versions I and II are available through manufacturer-direct distribution at UTI. Visit us at Booth #224.

VacuworxThe only thing “mini” about this lift-

ing powerhouse is its compact size. With a 6,600-lb lifting capacity, the MC3 Mini Lifter handles your material handling needs with ease. The MC3 is

a ground-b r e a k i n g lifter, de-signed with the under-g r o u n d utility con-tractor in mind. Since the lifter is s e l f - c o n -

tained, your options for the host ma-chine are endless. The lifter attaches to normal size host machines, as well as mini excavators, skid steer load-ers and others, thanks to its light dry weight of 900 lbs. For more informa-tion on our new MC3 lifter or to lo-cate a Vacuworx authorized dealer, call us at (866) 664-3450 or visit our Web site at www.vacuworx.com or at its ICUEE booth at #1601.

Vermeer Corp.The AXIS guided boring system

from Ver-m e e r Corp. fea-tures a la-ser guid-ed system that pro-v i d e s pinpoint accuracy in the trenchless installation of 10- to 14-in. pipe for on-grade water and sewer projects. This pit-launched system has the ability to install up to 350 ft of steel, clay, and HDPE or PVC pipe in one bore. Spoil is removed from the cutter head via a vacuum excavation system, keeping the pit clean. The AXIS system can either push or pull the product pipe into place allowing flexibility in the type of product installed. Visit Vermeer at Booths K225 and K332.


T he soil conditions in Idaho create challenges that can leave the most experienced horizontal directional drilling (HDD) contractors scratching their heads in

disbelief. That was the case for Earth Energy when it was faced with the task of installing a 24-in. HDPE water line under the Boise River in downtown Boise, Idaho.

Soil conditions in this part of the state can range from cobble to sand to rock formations all within a 500-ft bore. So it takes a great deal of planning, patience and experience to complete underground installations in this part of the country, and that’s where Earth Energy comes in.

Earth Energy was formed in 1989 by Erv and Darrin Hoge. They began by placing drops for the phone company, which included plowing, trenching, splicing and a variety of underground operations. In 1993, the company expanded into larger utility installation projects and today the company specializes in providing HDD services for the installation of fiber optics, phone, power, gas and water and sewer lines. Earth Energy also provides HDD services to the petroleum and gas industries, along with remediation of hazardous waste sites.

River Project with Multiple ChallengesEarth Energy was contracted by United Water, the local

potable water utility in the Boise area, to install a new 24-in. HDPE water main across the Boise River. The water main was being installed to provide a more reliable water source and line pressure to existing and new customers in the rural part of northeast Boise.

“Earth Energy has a long-term relationship with United Water and their prime contractors to provide directional drilling services on new large-diameter water mains and the smaller service lines to commercial and residential customers,” says Erv Hoge.

Prior to providing a bid for the project, Earth Energy conducted a series of site visits to determine the general layout of the area and met with the local utility companies to determine the location of existing underground facilities that may be within the proposed bore path. One of the primary utilities was an existing gravity sewer main crossing the river near the vicinity of the proposed bore.

Another critical issue was the location of the utility easement along existing residential homes, which limited the amount of room between the sewer line and private

Earth Energy piggybacked the reamers for hole stability.

DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

Ground Ground ConditionsConditions

Wetlands Offer Challenging Wetlands Offer Challenging River CrossingRiver Crossing By Greg EhmBy Greg Ehm


property. Once these boundaries were determined, Earth Energy could proceed in developing a running line and profile for the new water main.

The 640-ft bore would pass under the Boise River and a parallel stream, designated as a sensitive trout fishery, as well as a wetland area. Earth Energy was asked to maintain a minimum depth of 15 ft below the bottom of the stream and minimum setbacks were required away from the stream and river banks to prevent encroachment or damage to the wetlands and the sensitive flood plain area.

“Overall the terrain across the bore path is relatively flat except for a drop in elevation of approximately 6 ft within the stream banks and river,” says Hoge. “The entire area within a quarter mile of the bore was also within the floodplain of the river.”

Some of the challenges in completing this bore included maintaining the proper alignment within a limited utility corridor across the stream and river. In addition, the ground conditions varied between a loose gravel and cobble material to sand lenses and back to cemented cobble.

The bore began on the creek side with a setback of 150 ft to get to the desired depth of 27 ft below the river bottom and ended up on the river side 100 ft from the bank.

Earth Energy used its Vermeer D100x120 Navigator horizontal directional drill for this project — the newest addition to its fleet of six Vermeer drill rigs. The unit produces

100,000 lbs of pullback force and was fitted with a 6.5-in. single-roller type cone drill head for the pilot bore.

“The pilot was pretty difficult,” says Burke Williams, operations manager for Earth Energy. “Due to the cobble, it was a struggle just to keep our pitches within reason for the diameter pipe we were installing. Once we got into the more solid formation, the bore went smoothly until we exited and again we had trouble keeping our pitch in the loose material.”

To make matters worse, the pilot bore had to be completed with an arc to avoid pilings from a future bridge that was to be installed parallel to the bore path.

Once the pilot bore was completed, Earth Energy utilized a series of roller cone-rock reamers to pre-ream the borehole to a 36-in. diameter before installing the 24-in. HDPE pipe.

“We piggybacked the reamers,” says Hoge. “Once we completed a backream, we would use that same reamer to lead a larger-diameter reamer through the borehole. The piggyback procedure provided us with some stability inside the borehole considering the ground conditions.”

With each 6-in. increase in borehole size, additional challenges were created in maintaining the proper mud mixture to remove the drill cuttings and prevent the borehole from collapsing. Earth Energy constantly adjusted the bentonite mud mixture to maintain the borehole. The loose unconsolidated cobble material near the surface was


the most difficult to maintain. The 24-in. HDPE waterline was staged on the exit side of

the bore and United Pipe of Boise, Idaho, used a fusion machine to fuse the 50-ft segments. Earth Energy used a 32-in. cobble reamer to pull the 640 ft of pipe into place.

“The pullback was a piece of cake,” says Williams. “During the pullback, our pressure never exceeded 60,000 psi, considering we were pulling more than 53,000 lbs of pipe into place. The total project from pre-planning to completion took 42 working days.”

Planning Tools Invaluable One of the advantages of using Vermeer equipment is the

availability of Vermeer Bore Pilot and Atlas Bore Planner software to design the directional bore.

According to Hoge, the initial step in utilizing the bore software was to determine which directional drill would be used on the bore. Once the drill size is determined, a topographic surface is built with the software and the desired depths along the proposed route are input into the software program.

“The software designs the bore profile based on the allowable bend radius of the drill stem being used,” says Williams. “The computer will warn the user if the desired depths along the bore change too quickly for the drill stem in use.”

Once the bore was completed, the actual as-built depths were input into the software and a comparison showing design vs. the actual was graphically shown.

This project was one of Earth Energy’s more difficult due to the size of the pipe, the sensitive nature of the waterways and the variable conditions of the material to be bored. “We knew with proper planning and the right equipment we could complete the job and there really weren’t any surprises along the way,” say Hoge.

Greg Ehm is a technical writer in Des Moines, Iowa.


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January:Manhole Rehabilitationarchived on www.trenchlessonline.com

Sponsored by:

February:Pipe Burstingarchived on www.trenchlessonline.com

Sponsored by:

April:Trenchless Rehabilitation Cost Saving StrategiesSponsored by:

May:Lateral RehabilitationSponsored by:

June:Innovations in Trenchless RehabilitationSponsored by:

July:Root Control Sponsored by:

August:THE Most Cost-Effective Trenchless Rehab: Chemical GroutingSponsored by:

September:The Latest Innovation in Pipe & Culvert Repair using Carbon FRPSponsored by:

October:Green Technology for Corrosion ProtectionSponsored by:

November:Hard Rock and Mixed Ground Utility TunnelingSponsored by:

December:Trenchless Case Studies – New and RehabSponsored by:

2009 Educational Webinar Series Watch these educational webinars from the comfort of your own offi ce. Go to www.trenchlessonline.com/index/webinars to enroll for any or all of these webinars. It’s simple to use and it’s FREE!

Earn .1 CEU for each Webinar

Go to www.trenchlessonline.com/index/webinarsto register.

Please contact Kelly Dadich at [email protected] or330-467-7588 if you have any questions regarding the webinar series.

Past sessions were recorded and are available for playback at your convenience.

A Vermeer D100x120 drill was used on the project.



Underground utilities and the HDD industry have mixed liked oil and water since the industry’s incep-tion. Accusations and complaints — both real and

imagined — have been hurled back and forth between the utility industry and the drilling contractors. All parties real-ize that the way to prevent damages is to expose the utili-ties in the drill path or adjacent to it before drilling. How do you do this in a way that is cost-effective and minimizes destruction to roads, improved lawns and grounds?

Utility Locators How do these 40-plus-ft deep bores get located? Most

utility locators only locate to depths of 20 ft or so. All states in the United States now have a call-before-you-dig law. Basically, this law gives the utility company two to three days to locate and mark its utility.

Pipe and cable locators broadcast a radio signal on a util-ity and the receiver reads the signal. Some locators can simultaneously broadcast two or more signals, and the receiver will tell the person locating which signal is flow-ing better on the utility. Ninety-nine percent of the locating manufacturing companies agree the best way to locate a utility is to direct-connect to the line.

Coil clamps are another option for broadcasting a signal to a utility line. Indirect or induction broadcasting is by far the most inaccurate method to locate. This method can broadcast a signal to all the utilities in the area and confuse the locate personnel. Some HDD locators on the market today will also locate underground utilities.

Many HDD contractors double-check the utility marks in the bore path. Even though there is a red line painted on the ground signifying a buried electric line, the contractor still needs to expose this line by non-destructive means. How many times has a contractor hand dug to a depth of 5 ft with no electric line visible? Contractors need to perform their own locates by someone well versed in utility locat-ing. This person is usually the HDD locator because of the vast experience this person has locating the HDD head. The

price of a high-end utility locator is quite low compared to two to three crewmembers digging for two hours a day, five days a week and 52 weeks out of the year.

It is also a good idea to take note of the surrounding area of the bore path. Is there a gas grill in the backyard? Is elec-tric or gas heat in the garage or a shed in the backyard? Can you see a trench line where there are no utilities marked? Most utility companies are not required to locate these lines on private property.

Non-destructive Means Once the utility has been located, there are three meth-

ods that can be used to accomplish its exposure: mechani-cal exposure and pneumatic- and hydro-excavation.

Mechanical exposure can be accomplished by either hand-digging or through other mechanized means such as a backhoe. Hand-digging requires a tremendous amount of time in order to dig a pothole to the required depth of the buried service. Another consideration, other than time and manpower, is the possibility of injury to workers using the shovel method. Using a backhoe for exposure increases the amount of restoration required to return the area to its natural condition and further increases the possibility of damage to the underground utility.

Pneumatic- and hydro-excavation practices are by far the best methods to use when attempting non-destructive exposure of buried utilities. Pneumatic-excavation retrieves the spoil in a dry condition, which can later be used as backfill, while special hydro reduction digging tools make this a one-person operation. Both methods can dig a 6-in. diameter hole to a depth of 5 ft in less than 20 minutes.

Furthermore, the vacuum excavator can perform double-duty by vacuuming drilling fluid from the sump in front of the machine and removing frac-outs along the bore path.

Finally, to bore either above or below a given utility with-out exposing that service and monitoring the progress of the drilling head and reamer is not recommended. It is senseless to put your crew and yourself in harm’s way to install a service. In our industry, we need to exhibit profes-sionalism when working with buried plant by locating, exposing and monitoring the installation.

John Archambeault is regional sales manager for locators at Mclaughlin Mfg., as well as a member of the Electronic Drillmaster Advisory Board. All Electronic Drillmaster Reports are reviewed by the Electronic Drillmaster Advisory Board: Archambeault; John Bieberdorf, The Charles Machine Works Inc.; Siggi Finnsson, Digital Control Inc.; and Ed Savage, Vermeer Corp.

ELECTRONIC DRILLMASTER

Locate — The Need to Expose & MonitorBy John Archambeault

Once the utility has been located, there are three methods that can be used to

accomplish its exposure: mechanical and pneumatic- and hydro-excavation.



A West Point, Iowa-sanitary force main project for a new subdivision called for 2,570 ft of 4-in. C900, as well as ability to work around less-than-perfect conditions.

Heavy rains leading up to and including the project’s first day made for wet and muddy soils.

For the underground-utility contractor, KM King Construction of Burlington, Iowa, this was a typical installation. KM King Construction, which has been performing horizontal directional drilling (HDD) for about seven years in response to a high volume of cast-iron-pipe-replacing reconstruction work in the area, is accustomed to a high water table and otherwise tricky situations. But company president Kim King was also ready to try something new.

Specifications from project manager and engineer Jack Pope, Gardener & Associates, Oskaloosa, Iowa, called for a C900 product with external joint restraint in the form of couplings with O-rings. The product required the installer to align the pipe and couplings and then insert a nylon spline. KM King Construction requested a material substitution for a C900 product that included internal joint restraint instead.

“I had used it several times and had good success with it,” says Pope of the external restraint product. “This was the first time I’d seen Eagle Loc 900. Based on the specs I was provided,

it appeared it would meet the requirements of the project.”Eagle Loc 900 is a C900 PVC pipe from JM Eagle whose

bell is fitted with BullDog internal joint restraint manufactured by S&B Technologies. The BullDog system includes a Rieber gasket, iron grip ring and casing. When the installer pushes the spigot end of the pipe into the bell, the pieces lock together. Restraint is internal; there is no need for tools or external rods, clamps or bolts, which are susceptible to moisture and, consequently, corrosion.

The internal restraint also eliminates the need for frequently used concrete thrust blocks. These can interfere with other infrastructure elements, make for a labor-intensive project, increase material costs, require too much space, stray from the engineer’s specs and make later excavations difficult or impossible.

“We thought that it would be an easier installation and save time,” says King of the request for the substitution. “The other product required more time to fasten the joint. This seemed to be the perfect product for what we needed to do.”

One of the things they needed to do was avoid disturbing adjacent sports fields, where soccer and baseball tournaments were going on. The specs called for HDD on about half of the project and left the rest of the installation to the contractor’s

DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

PVC Pipe PVC Pipe Successfully Installed Successfully Installed in Iowa HDD Projectin Iowa HDD ProjectBy Sarah Humphreys



discretion. KM King Construction, whose projects are about 50 percent open-trench and 50 percent HDD, chose the latter installation for the entire job.

“We didn’t have to directional bore but it was our choice to do that,” King says. “The city was in favor of it and it made for a happier relationship with the customer. We didn’t have to disrupt anyone. We could stay out of everybody’s way.”

King’s team installed the pipe 5 ft deep in 400-ft sections, boring with a 4-in. bit, then pulling an 8-in. reamer attached directly to the pulling head and pipe. No service connections were installed on the pipeline. They chose not to pre-ream the hole due to the silty, sandy conditions with no visible rocks.

King reported that the whole project went as smoothly as the pipe sliding into the ground. It reduced the labor needed because the crew assembled the pipe in one string before pulling it in, allowing them to complete other tasks on the project. This project had the length of a field on which it could link the pipe, however, in tight areas, Eagle Loc 900 pipe can also be snapped together one piece at a time close to the point of entry.

“With the specified product, you have to make two connections at every joint, you have to place the locking spline at every joint, and there’s two of those at every joint,” he says, estimating that takes 15 minutes per joint, at a joint every 20 ft. “That’s quite a bit of time. With Eagle Loc 900, it’s like slipjoint pipe. You slip it together and it’s done.”

King says pulling the pipe through the ground is also easier without the previously specified product’s shoulder on the connectors. The new pipe reduced the restriction, he says, and installing the pipe was complete in six days, with the subcontractor completely off the job by seven days.

Although this was KM King Construction’s first time using internal joint restraint in a project and Eagle Loc 900 was introduced in March 2009, the BullDog technology has been tried in the field since 2006. It is also used in direct-bury construction, restrained road bores and aerial crossings.

The Eagle Loc 900 product is available in DR18 in diameters ranging from 4- to 12-in. PVC pipe for use in distribution, pipelines of potable water, municipal water systems, force main sewers and water reclamation projects. Having passed the Million Cycle Test per UNI-B-13, the system is designed to conform with industry standards — including AWWA C900, ASTM D1784 and UNI-B-13 — so there is no need to modify existing s pecifications.

King says his company will use internal joint restraint for more projects, including those that require horizontal directional drilling.

“We thought it would save us time,” he says. “And it did.”

Sarah Humphreys is with JM Eagle, a Los Angeles-based pipe manufacturer.

The Most Cost-Effective Trenchless Rehab: Chemical Grouting

Find out why more cities, contractors and engineers are using the original trenchless technology to rehab mainlines, laterals and manholes faster and for less money.

For a list of upcoming webinar sessions and to view other archived sessions, go to:www.trenchlessonline.com/index/webinars.

View this archived webinar at:www.trenchlessonline.com/index/webinars.



L ateral reinstatement, one of the most time-consuming aspects of pipe relining, is

typically performed by pneumatic cutters that are winched into place and monitored by an adjacent CCTV crawler. This arrangement worked fine for contractors when relining was a niche industry, but tightening regulations and crumbling infrastructure have commoditized relining services, so staying profitable means stripping inefficiencies from the process. Moreover, relining materials have grown more durable, requiring cutting power that exceeds what existing technology offers.

Solutions often come from re-gions of the world that have borne higher regulatory burdens for lon-ger periods of time. In Western Eu-rope, for instance, hydro-powered cutters have emerged to deliver in-creased productivity while slashing overhead requirements. Powered by high-pressure water, these cutters generate fi ve times the torque of their pneumatic counterparts, allow-ing them not only to cut faster with-out stalling, but to mill out an entire connection rather than leave a cou-pon to cause problems downstream. They also cut at up to 30,000 rpm, leaving exceptionally clean edges that require no post-cut brushing.

Hydro-powered cutters common-ly integrate onboard cameras, as pressurized water is readily avail-able to rinse cutting debris from view and to actuate outriggers that minimize vibration. These onboard cameras eliminate the expense of an auxiliary CCTV crawler to monitor cutting progress. Many hydro-pow-ered cutters are also self-propelled, saving the time and resources re-quired to string a winch line from a secondary manhole. Self-propul-sion not only allows these cutters to crawl up to 500 ft, it adds an-other axis of cutting motion to the cutting arm’s bend and rotation. Furthermore, hydro power can be packaged compactly, allowing cut-ting in lines as small as 2.5 in.

Lateral reinstatement is harsh work, and maintenance — routine and unplanned — is part of any relining crew’s daily activity. In fact, many relining operations incur the expense of keeping an extra cutter system on hand just to avoid downtime. With a water-cooled motor that has few moving parts, hydro-powered cutters require substantially less maintenance and are easily serviced in the field. Water also cools the cutting bit, allowing it to perform up to 90 hours before it’s replaced. Hydro-powered cutters typically use diamond-impregnated hardened steel cutters, which are better matched to the speed and torque of hydro-powered cutting, and last longer when cutting hard UV-cured liners and performing pre-lining tasks. In fact, protruding taps, raised joints, roots, grout f lashing, rebar and other hard materials can all be cut on a single run.

Mike Russin is advanced technologies manager for Envirosight.

Hydro-Powered Cutters Meet the Growing Demands

TECHNICAL FORUM

By Mike Russin



The Latest Innovation in Pipe & Culvert Repair using Carbon FRPJoin Dr. Mo Ehsani, founder of QuakeWrap, for this informative one-hour webinar on Carbon FRP for pipe and culvert repair. Prof. Ehsani has been featured on major media such as CNN, National Public Radio, and the History Channel for his expertise on strengthening of structures, particularly related to earthquakes, terrorist attacks and other potential structural disasters

Dr. Ehsani will focus his presentation on two Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) systems for pipe repair and strengthening:• The traditional wet layup system • The recently developed PipeMedic™ laminates

Join us online for this informative webinar session! For more information and to register go to www.trenchlessonline.com/index/webinars

Date: September 16, 2009Time: 2 pm Eastern / 1 pm Central / Noon Mountain / 11 am Pacifi cCost: FREE to attendees Earn: .1 CEU

Educational Webinar SeriesSponsored by:

CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

23-25 Tunneling Short Course, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo.(303) 444-2650 Web: www.microtunneling.com

OCTOBER

6-8 ICUEE 2009, Louisville, Ky., AEM, Web: www.icuee.com

10-14 WEFTEC 2009 Annual Conference & Expo, Orlando, Fla., (800) 666-0206

NOVEMBER

15-17 AEM Annual Conference, Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Fla.,

Web site: www.aem.org

19-20 HDD Executive Forum, Doubletree Hotel Houston Intercontinental Airport, Houston,

Web: www.trenchlessonline.com/hdd

DECEMBER14-15 UIM Asset Management

Conference, IUPUI, Indianapolis,(330) 467-7588, Web: www.uimonline.com


BUSINESS CARDS





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oADVERTISER .....................................................................................................................................................PAGE #

ABS Trenchless GmbH ................................................................................................................................................67

American Augers ....................................................................................................................................................... 2&3

Arntzen ..........................................................................................................................................................................67

Astec Underground ......................................................................................................................................................55

Avanti Archived Webinar .............................................................................................................................................63

Barbco Inc. ....................................................................................................................................................................16

Benjamin Media Resource Center ..............................................................................................................................27

Bor-It Mfg. Co., Inc. .......................................................................................................................................................18

Colorado School of Mines Tunneling Short Course ....................................................................................................69

Cretex ............................................................................................................................................................................33

CUES, Inc. ....................................................................................................................................................................14

Ditch Witch ......................................................................................................................................................................7

Educational Webinar Series .........................................................................................................................................68

Excavac .........................................................................................................................................................................39

Forrer Supply Co. Inc. ...................................................................................................................................................66

Gabe’s Construction Co. ..............................................................................................................................................57

Geophysical Survey System, Inc. ................................................................................................................................57

GeoSpatial Corporation ................................................................................................................................................61

GeoSpatial Corporation ................................................................................................................................................64

Griffin Pump ..................................................................................................................................................................66

Guilin Huali Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. China ..............................................................................................................44

H&H Enterprises ...........................................................................................................................................................68

The HDD Co. Inc...........................................................................................................................................................54

HDD Exeuctive Forum..................................................................................................................................................37

Holly Pipe Corp. ............................................................................................................................................................66

Horizontal Technology Inc. ...........................................................................................................................................53

Inliner Technologies ......................................................................................................................................................29

Interplastic Corp. ...........................................................................................................................................................25

ISCO Industries ............................................................................................................................................................67

JM Eagle ...................................................................................................................................................Back Cover

Kerneos Aluminate Technology ...................................................................................................................................13

King Contracting Inc. ....................................................................................................................................................63

Laney Directional Drilling..............................................................................................................................................53

LaValley Industries LLC................................................................................................................................................40

Lee Supply Company, Inc. .............................................................................................................................................9

Lewis Manufacturing.....................................................................................................................................................32

LJ Welding & Machine..................................................................................................................................................66

LMK Enterprises .............................................................................................................................................................5

McElroy Mfg. .................................................................................................................................................................35

McLaughlin....................................................................................................................................................................17

Mears Group Inc. ..........................................................................................................................................................28

Melfred Borzall ..............................................................................................................................................................45

Michels Corp. ................................................................................................................................................................46

AD INDEXPlease visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info for more information about any of the products and services advertised in this issue.

For more inform

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TRENCHLESS CONTRACTORS

6104 Fenkell Rd.Andover, OH [email protected]

Directional Drilling• Pipe Bursting/Reaming• Equipment Sales• General & Industrial • Contracting

Over 25 years construction experience!

Midwest Mole ................................................................................................................................................................67

Moffatt Enterprises .......................................................................................................................................................54

NASTT’s No-Dig 2010 ..................................................................................................................................................41

NST Corp. .....................................................................................................................................................................67

PipeMedic Webinar Session ........................................................................................................................................65

Plastics Pipe Institute ...................................................................................................................................................11

POSM LLC .....................................................................................................................................................................8

Radius Professional HDD Tools ...................................................................................................................................71

Rain for Rent .................................................................................................................................................................66

The Robbins Co. ...........................................................................................................................................................12

Roose Manufacturing ...................................................................................................................................................67

Sanexen Environmental Services ................................................................................................................................14

Slabach Enterprises .....................................................................................................................................................67

Sprayroq Inc. .................................................................................................................................................................31

Tex-Direct Drilling ..........................................................................................................................................................27

Trenchless Technology 2009 Webinar Series .............................................................................................................58

U S Composite Pipe South (USCPS) .........................................................................................................................19

Underground Tools Inc. ................................................................................................................................................15

Universal HDD ..............................................................................................................................................................59

VacTron Mfg. .................................................................................................................................................................67

Vacuworx International .................................................................................................................................................43

Vaporooter ....................................................................................................................................................................36

WEFTEC 09 .................................................................................................................................................................47

TUNNELING SHORT COURSEColorado School of MinesSeptember 23-25, 2009

To register and for more information, please visit our Web site:www.tunneling.com

Breakthroughs in Tunneling



When you’re faced with an impending disaster, isn’t it only natural to take steps to

prevent the catastrophe? Believe it or not, our towns, cities and entire communities are on the cusp of such a situation.

I’m talking about our nation’s water systems — they’re failing. Water main breaks are popping up regularly and news reports are increasing about flooding that puts citizens in harm’s way. Yet we continue doing things the same way and expecting different results — isn’t that the definition of insanity? It’s time to implement smarter, greener, more sustainable solutions.

The major culprits are older degrading pipelines that get patched up using traditional materials. This predicament is worsened by a lack of regulation over water loss from leaking pipe systems. Yet, these are easy to correct.

First, let’s take a look at the situation. The figures for water loss are

staggering. Due to the limitations of traditional pipe systems, it is common practice for utilities to accept and anticipate 10 to 15 percent rate of water loss. Current industry standards allow leakage rates for newly installed potable and storm water systems.

Public water systems serving more than 1 million people in the United States average a loss of 17 percent. New York City pegs its loss at 10 percent: Daily water use is just more than 1 billion gal. The world loses around 33 percent of its drinking water each year.

It’s not only a ‘cost-of-water’ issue. Leaking sanitary sewer and storm sewer pipes can also pose environmental and health issues.

These circumstances point to a dire need to regulate water loss and leaking pipes. If it became mandatory that infrastructure managers reduce water loss by a certain percentage each year and totally eliminate it in the next decade, for example, there would be significant benefits. Perhaps

most important would be the reduction of potable water waste. This would push back the timeframe when additional water resources — new wells, reservoirs, water supply contracts with neighboring states, etc. — would be needed and help to fight periodic droughts.

The New York Times Op-Ed columnist, Bob Herbert recently questioned, “I wonder what it will take to get this country serious about repairing and rebuilding its crumbling and increasingly obsolete infrastructure.” He then referenced the 2009 “Report Card for America’s Infrastructure” produced by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE):

“America’s drinking water systems face an annual shortfall of at least $11 billion to replace aging facilities that are near the end of their useful life and to comply with existing and future federal water regulations. This does not account for growth in the demand for drinking water over the next 20 years. Leaking pipes lose an estimated seven billion gallons of clean drinking water a day.”

Mr. Herbert concluded: “We’re suffering now from both a failure of will and of imagination.”

This does not have to be the case. It can be changed. Plastic pipe provides favorable labor and material costs, ease of installation, superior joints and a lower carbon footprint when compared to traditional metal and concrete pipe. It’s lighter, easier and practical to transport, requiring less fuel for delivery. It can be installed in many cases through trenchless applications that minimize destruction of an area and the need to re-route traffic.

Plastic doesn’t rust, won’t discolor water, is corrosion and abrasion resistant, doesn’t tuberculate and doesn’t lose its long-term hydraulic efficiency due to internal pipe wall build up. Best of all, because high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe sections and fittings are fused together delivering a completely monolithic

pipe system, it’s totally leak free. There are glimmers of hope. On a

city-by-city basis, solutions are being implemented. One example is in Cascade, Idaho, where the under-funded and neglected infrastructure water and wastewater systems were on their last legs. Upon realizing the benefits of HDPE pipe, a plan was implemented to replace the mishmash of concrete, steel, cast iron and just about every other type of pipe that had been previously used. For Cascade, the possibility of future water loss was eliminated.

Another is Tulsa, Okla., where old metal pipes leak water at an alarming rate and water conservation is a priority. These conditions, coupled with the city’s awareness that HDPE pipe is used by the area’s oil and gas industry where zero-leakage is critical, convinced the city to install it for potable water systems in new sub-divisions.

These types of revitalizations are growing. But, new rules are needed. Regulations could be developed insisting advanced materials such as HDPE pipe be considered as part of the due diligence for a new system or the repair of an existing one.

If we are serious about helping to minimize our carbon footprint and protect precious natural resources we need to apply innovative greener solutions that deliver sustainable performance characteristics and thereby prevent all-too-familiar catastrophes.

If you would like more information about HDPE pipe systems, contact the Plastics Pipe Institute at (469) 499-1044 or visit www.plasticpipe.org.

Tony Radoszewski is the executive director of the Plastics Pipe Institute Inc., a North American, not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1950. Representing both Canada and the United States, it is the major trade association representing all segments of the plastic piping industry and provides educational sessions, materials and expert testimonials.

POINT OF VIEW

Our Failing Water Infrastructure: We Can Rebuild It Smarter, Better & Greener By Tony Radoszewski



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TrenchLess Technology - 08 AUG 2009