In a recent #IronStrong Blog published in September 2024, we discussed, in detail, how to measure horizontal distances between offsets within a Ductile iron (DI) pipeline segment. This blog will continue that discussion by addressing how to calculate the vertical distance between DI pipeline offsets.
Straight-line distances can sometimes be deceiving when examining a set of plans for a water or sewer project. This #IronStrong Blog will address how to determine the exact amount of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) needed when a change of direction due to horizontal offset fittings occurs.
In today's competitive business world, talent development strategies are essential for growing a skilled workforce. Cooperative education programs or Co-Ops stand out as proactive initiatives that bridge the gap between academic learning and industry experience for many students who will eventually earn degrees and become job seekers. This #IronStrong blog explores the Co-Op program at McWane Ductile, a forward-thinking organization committed to nurturing talent. By examining this program's structure, benefits, and outcomes, this blog highlights how McWane Ductile integrates classroom theory with hands-on learning opportunities, preparing students for successful careers while attracting potential job candidates to the company.
Jimmy texts Bill, "I can't get into the virtual meeting." Bill replies, "You need to click on the link I sent you." Jimmy responds, "Where is the link?" A frustrated Bill answers, "In the email about the meeting." A confused Jimmy asks, "On my computer? Bill answers again, "Yes! Is your computer on?" Jimmy fumbles to turn on his computer and texts Bill again, "OK, it is now. How do I get to the meeting?" Does this situation sound familiar to you? Have you ever explained something to someone only to realize that they knew less about the subject than you had previously assumed? In this episode of Iron Strong, we'll cover how to use an OD (Outside Diameter) Tape when measuring Ductile iron pipe.
In my previous experience, I’ve spent many hours operating numerous types of saws in various settings, such as felling a tree during seasonal work in my college years or emergency tree removal work in the aftermath of destructive storms while serving on a right-of-way crew. Whether you’re trimming a tree or cutting a piece of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe), they share similarities, such as analyzing the situation, safety first, measuring twice, and cutting once.
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.
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