Gaskets Are Great
Rubber gaskets are the reliable workhorse of any Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) joint. They provide long-lasting flexibility and a watertight seal against internal pressures upwards of 1,000 psi.
What they don’t do, however, is bind the joint longitudinally against such forces. In fact, without assistance from other variables, a push-on or mechanical joint of any diameter would calmly separate lengthwise against pressures as low as 50 psi.
I have been on the road for nearly 20 years, talked with numerous contractors and distributors during that time, and there is a common question that I often get asked, "Why do Ductile iron pipe lengths vary?"
“Why should I use Ductile iron pipe?”
The question is ostensibly meant to include “instead of other types of piping material.” Well, the reasons are vast and vary depending on project requirements. Since we aren’t talking about a specific project, we’ll look at the general overriding reasons Ductile iron pipe is the best choice for your piping projects.
Question – What is the difference between Ductile Iron and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)? Answer – Many things, but some groups may attempt to “muddy the waters” with inaccurate information regarding the two materials.
With the information that follows, we will take a closer look at what really separates Ductile Iron from PVC and why it matters.
In years past, gray cast iron pipe was originally sold with no lining or coating on the pipe's interior. After many years of study, it became apparent that the inside of cast iron pipe might be affected by certain types of water. In this Iron Strong Blog, we will describe tuberculation, why it happened in older iron pipe, and the modern solution for tuberculation.
Have you ever heard the saying, “To the man who only has a hammer in the tool kit, every problem looks like a nail? (Abraham Maslow)” In the water utility industry, some folks may feel this way when faced with a pipeline installation that must circumvent natural or humanmade obstacles, especially water crossings. So, if going around or above is not an option, then what? How about below?
In today’s modern world, there are more tools available in the water pipeline construction toolkit such as the Open Trench Method, the Pier Supported System, and Horizontal Directional Drilling or HDD. In this blog, we’ll discuss the benefits of using Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) for HDD and provide some considerations and tips for your pipeline installation.
Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) has been used in water and wastewater applications for nearly 80 years. The thought process behind PCCP was sound, in that it would combine concrete's high compressive strength with steel's high tensile strength. However, like many products, PCCP has continued to fall short in the following years in many comparative categories to Ductile iron.
Within this article, we will discuss Depth of Cover and the key factors to consider when selecting the type of trench (or laying condition) for your application. We’ll also discuss why it is important to choose the correct trench application, not only for today, but for future adjustments or improvements that are planned for the surrounding area where the pipeline is being installed.
As a manufacturer of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe), we often field questions from water professionals regarding DI pipe, its uses, and how to install it properly. We even receive numerous questions about alternate materials, their differences, their uses, and the best choice for the application. And of course, when you ask, we answer…honestly, even when the answer doesn’t include Ductile iron. In this Iron Strong Blog, we’ll cover a few of our frequently asked questions (FAQ) and provide some solutions. We will continue with this FAQ series in the upcoming months.
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.
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