Is every piece of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) round? The short answer is no, but most of the time, a piece of pipe may be so slightly oval that it is not even noticeable to the end user. In fact, the way pipe is manufactured today, out-of-round issues are rarely a concern. At our foundries, there are quality assurance procedures in place that help safeguard this from occurring. However, there are occasions when you may encounter a piece of pipe in the field, typically on a field cut, that is too oval to facilitate an easy assembly. This #IronStrong Blog provides step-by-step instructions on how to round an oval ductile iron pipe using a field rounding kit.
The water industry in the United States has experienced many challenges throughout the years. The good news is that these challenges have been met head-on by experienced, dedicated professionals who continue to provide their customers with clean, safe drinking water even though the bar of excellence continues to rise. One measure depicting the priority of these challenges is the State of the Water Industry Survey, conducted annually by the American Water Works Association. “AWWA’s State of the Water Industry (SOTWI) Survey is designed to identify water sector challenges and investigate possible underlying causes and drivers. In November 2022, when the survey closed, 4,123 water professionals had shared their opinions by responding to the survey—our highest number of responses yet!”(1)
After completing my continuing education lunch presentation on restrained joints and horizontal directional drilling for a civil engineering office and reminding the group to sign the sign-in sheet to verify their attendance, I had a younger engineer approach me to ask a question. The question was whether I knew how many continuing education hours his state required and what information he needed to confirm his attendance for the continuing education activity. Those questions are relatively common, and this #IronStrong Blog will focus on answering what continuing education hours are, why civil engineers need them, and how they get them.
In the realm of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) joints, standard SBR (Styrene Butadiene) gaskets are the traditional watertight sealing solution. However, did you know these gaskets are not intended for all applications? When dealing with unique jobs, selecting the proper gasket material catering to specific operational demands is essential. There are specialized gaskets, distinct in composition and functionality, that transcend the conventional capabilities of SBR gaskets. Each gasket described below is made for specific purposes based on factors like soil conditions, fluid temperature, or powerful industrial forces. These gaskets utilize modern elastomers to withstand the demands of any given project. In this #IronStrong Blog, we will closely examine each gasket available for your pipeline project.
Today’s modern push-on gaskets are comprised of different types of rubber compounds, and the development of the push-on gasket has proven to be instrumental to the success of the leak-free water and sewer joint. Let's take a closer look at each specialty gasket available on the market today.
In 2021, President Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA); however, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) only recently (August 2023) published final guidance implementing BABA, which went into effect October 23, 2023, and can be found on the Federal Register website here. In this #IronStrong Blog, we will navigate through BABA and discuss how it applies to Ductile iron products made in the USA.
November 8 is National STEM/STEAM Day, highlighting the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics in children’s education. The manufacturing of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) and constructing pipelines for water and wastewater infrastructure are complex processes that rely heavily on STEM principles. In this #IronStrong Blog, we will explore the intricate connections between these fields and their significance in ensuring safe and efficient water and wastewater management now and in the future.
Did you know October 14 is World Standards Day? At McWane Ductile, standards matter—because they matter to everyday life. International standards play a critical role in consumer safety, environmental protection, technological advancement, and economic growth.
In this #IronStrong blog, we explore why standardization is essential for manufacturing Ductile Iron (DI) products and what it means for the people and communities that rely on them. With insights from Hal Eddings, Technical Director at McWane Ductile, and Jeremy Stewart, Quality Assurance Manager at McWane Ductile–Utah, the discussion highlights how rigorous standards help ensure quality, reliability, and long-term performance for consumers.
Have you ever been asked what lining or coating your Ductile iron pipe material needs to have? Does all pipe in a water or sewer application system need some protective measure to keep the service life of the pipe constant? Ductile iron has been a reliable material for transporting water and wastewater nationwide for many years. Many variations of linings and coating have developed over time, but ceramic-enhanced epoxy and/or (porcelain enamel) glass linings have become the typically specified options. The remainder of this #IronStrong Blog compares these two protective lining options.
Oxidation and rust are related, yet they are not equal nor interchangeable as words or concepts. Both are a form of corrosion, although varying by many degrees and measures. Quite simply, and although early in this article, here's the bottom line – oxidation results in and typically stalls at "surface discoloration," a largely cosmetic effect often referred to as patina. Rust results in a loss of metal mass. Keep reading this Iron Strong Blog for more details of the difference.
Are you the owner, supervisor, or crew member responsible for installing Ductile iron pipe? Have you ever become nervous before a hydrostatic pressure test or experienced increased anxiety during a test? Were you relieved when the waterline passed the test? What about if it failed? Did you feel defeated?
In a continuous effort to make your job easier, we have developed an online submittal builder to quickly and neatly package your personalized presentation.
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Looking for answers to your DI pipe questions? Find decades of Ductile iron expertise with installation guides, videos, tip sheets, training resources, and more in our Learning Center.
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