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  • What Trenching and Excavation Guidelines are Important when Installing Ductile Iron Pipe?

    What Trenching and Excavation Guidelines are Important when Installing Ductile Iron Pipe?

    By Bill Kleczka   01/07/2022  In Environmental & Safety Installation

    Have you ever been asked what size trench is needed when installing Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe)? How safe are the working conditions within a trench? Knowing the proper trench to utilize during the installation of the material will help save time, effort, and money on any job site. But most importantly, this knowledge will help keep everyone safe within and around the trench. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has gone to great lengths to define and identify any threats in the trenching and excavation safety when installing DI pipe. This Iron Strong Blog will share and explain the different trenches available while outlining the safety considerations required when excavating earthen material.

  • Young Water Professionals - A Guide to Success

    Young Water Professionals - A Guide to Success

    By Jaycie Bellamy   02/14/2025  In Career Resources

    As a junior and senior in college, I spent a lot of time asking those I looked up to in the workforce, such as my parents, friend's parents, and professors, what I should expect from my professional career. Majoring as a mechanical engineer, I was worried I would be required to remember and be fresh on every equation or theory in thermodynamics, materials science, and all my other brain-twisting courses. Luckily, the water industry found me, and it came paired with quite a few resources to help me excel as a young professional.

  • HOW MANY RESTRAINED JOINTS DO I NEED WHEN DESIGNING A PROJECT?

    HOW MANY RESTRAINED JOINTS DO I NEED WHEN DESIGNING A PROJECT?

    By Clinton CJ Fowler   12/19/2024  In Products Technical

    What do balancing a checkbook and restraining Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) have in common? They are both important skill sets that lead to peace of mind.  A typical waterline experiences thrust forces produced by fittings, closed valves, or dead ends. These forces must be "balanced out” or canceled to maintain the pipeline’s longitudinal integrity across the joints. Similar to managing a checkbook, the weight of the pipe, the water contained in it, and the backfill above it, along with the pipeline's friction with surrounding soils, help counteract a portion of the "thrust force" bill. The remaining force must be zeroed out using a calculated length of restrained joint pipe and fittings, following the ASTM/AWWA calculation protocols.

    In this #IronStrong Blog, we will explain thrust forces, how they are created in a water line, why they are important, the information needed to calculate them, and how to easily calculate them using the McWane Pocket Engineer™. Once you have those calculations, we will show you what pipe joints to use and in what quantities to make your pipeline restraint secure for generations.

  • What Training Resources Does McWane Ductile Provide?

    What Training Resources Does McWane Ductile Provide?

    By Shawn Smith   08/09/2021  In Our Company Services

    At McWane Ductile, we believe that training and continuous education for our staff and customers are vital to a company's success. Because of this, we offer a wide variety of training opportunities for water professionals throughout the industry. Here are the many training resources available to you.

  • Updates to Envision® and How Ductile Iron Excels in The New Rating System

    Updates to Envision® and How Ductile Iron Excels in The New Rating System

    By John Johnson, ENV SP, NACE CT   07/23/2020  In Environmental & Safety Installation Products

    This Blog Reflects Significant Updates for Envision Manual V3. As we know, America's infrastructure is in crisis! According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the estimated investment needed is $1 Trillion over the next 25 years for underground water infrastructure. This investment, as well as the ever-increasing cost of electricity, limited water supply, ever-decreasing natural resources, and environmental concerns, are driving the need for change. Change on how infrastructure is designed and constructed – utilizing more sustainable design and construction practices. ENVISION is designed to provide guidelines for these changes to North American infrastructure. In short, it is a rating system approach very similar to LEED Building Certification; however, with the focus on infrastructure.

    Envision not only asks, ‘Are we doing the project right?’ but also, ‘Are we doing the right project?’

  • What Are Some Common Misconceptions Associated with Ductile Iron Pipe?

    What Are Some Common Misconceptions Associated with Ductile Iron Pipe?

      12/04/2020  In Products Technical

    In 1492, Christopher Columbus was shocked when his ship made landfall in a land Europeans had never explored. Along the way, he proved that Earth isn’t flat after all. Right?

    Wrong: Despite a persistent legend, neither Columbus nor his Spanish patrons thought Earth was a finite plane instead of a round planet. That was thanks to scientists, philosophers, and mathematicians who, as early as around 600 B.C., made observations that Earth was round. Using calculations based on the sun's rise and fall, shadows, and other physical properties of the planet, Greek scholars like Pythagoras and Aristotle determined that the planet is actually a sphere.1

    So, what’s the point of today’s history lesson? It often reminds me that there are numerous myths associated with Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe), and in this Iron Strong Blog, we’ll list some of those ideas, provide factual data, and discuss why they are simply misconceptions.

  • The McWane Ductile Universal Test Facility - Improving Products Today for Your Tomorrow!

    The McWane Ductile Universal Test Facility - Improving Products Today for Your Tomorrow!

    By Jerry Regula, ENV SP, AMPP CT   01/30/2019  In Environmental & Safety Services Technical

    Moving Forward

    Presently, in our industry, two essential components of a successful business include providing water professionals with high-quality, sustainable products in a timely manner, as well as offering outstanding customer service.

    However, continued success in our industry depends on the ability of a company to make continuous improvements. In other words, if we do not move forward, we are not only standing still but moving in reverse. 

  • Gaskets, Goblins, and Ghouls, Oh My! A Cure from the Ditch Doctor

    Gaskets, Goblins, and Ghouls, Oh My! A Cure from the Ditch Doctor

    By McWane Ductile   10/31/2024  In How Products Q&A Technical

    Welcome to our Halloween edition of #IronStrong," where we’ve compiled the spooky challenges haunting construction builders and pipeline contractors. From tricky terrain to mysterious leaks and unforeseen obstacles, we’re here to illuminate the “scary” aspects of water pipeline installations that can send chills down a project manager's spine.

    See the “Ditch Doctor” advice column and a link to our blog, “Exorcising Restraint." We dissect a few daunting issues and present real-world solutions and insights to help brave contractors turn their nightmares into success stories. Grab your flashlight (and tools) as we guide you through the shadows, ensuring your next project is well-prepared to face any “frightening” twist that may lie ahead.

  • TR FLEX PIPE: The Truth About Availability and Pressure Ratings

    TR FLEX PIPE: The Truth About Availability and Pressure Ratings

    By McWane Ductile   11/14/2024  In Products Technical

    Misleading information has recently circulated regarding the availability of TR Flex® restrained joint pipe and fittings, creating a flurry of questions and uncertainty for engineers and utilities about its service performance and integrity. How can an engineer design a project without knowing the facts? After reviewing the information in this #IronStrong Blog, one can better understand future expectations.

  • UPDATED - Ductile Iron Pipe Versus HDPE - A Comparative Narrative

    UPDATED - Ductile Iron Pipe Versus HDPE - A Comparative Narrative

    By Ken Rickvalsky, ENV SP, AMPP CT   05/29/2025  In Comparisons Products Technical

    Selecting the right pipe material is essential for the longevity and success of any water infrastructure project. While Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) each offer distinct benefits, their differences in strength, performance, and long-term cost are significant. This article serves as a refresh of our previously published article in November 2019. It outlines key comparisons to help engineers and specifiers make informed decisions based on project-specific conditions, such as soil type, pressure, and environmental factors.

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Latest Posts

  • The Case for Cupola Melting in Large-Volume Ductile Iron Pipe Facilities
    The Case for Cupola Melting in Large-Volume Ductile Iron Pipe Facilities By Jeff Otterstedt 06/19/2026  In Comparisons Technical What is
  • The Future Is Now: How the Water Industry Is Revolutionizing
    The Future Is Now: How the Water Industry Is Revolutionizing By Jacob Lovin, ENV SP 01/29/2026  In Products Technical Technology Training
  • What is Ceramawrap Epoxy and When Should You Specify It for Ductile Iron Pipe?
    What is Ceramawrap Epoxy and When Should You Specify It for Ductile Iron Pipe? By Isabella DiCristofaro Jerry Regula, ENV SP, AMPP CT 01/28/2026  In Products Technical
  • How to Repair Ceramawrap Coating on Ductile Iron Pipe in the Field
    How to Repair Ceramawrap Coating on Ductile Iron Pipe in the Field By Jerry Regula, ENV SP, AMPP CT 01/28/2026  In How To Products Technical
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Products
  • Products
  • Ductile Iron Pipe
    • Tyton® Joint Pipe
    • TR Flex® Restrained Joint Pipe
    • Mechanical Joint Pipe
    • Mechanical Joint Lock Joint Pipe
    • Fabricated Flange and Wall Pipe
    • Ball and Socket Joint Pipe
    • Long-Span Pipe
    • Permaloy™ Pipe
    • Seismic Flex Coupling™
  • Gaskets
    • Tyton® Gaskets
    • Mechanical Joint Gaskets
    • Flange Gaskets
    • Sure Stop 350® Gasket
    • Specialty Gaskets Service & Usage
  • Fabrication
    • Fabricated Flange and Wall Pipe
    • Grooved Pipe
    • Welded Outlet Pipe
    • Thread-o-Lets
    • Weld-On Boss
  • Fittings and Accessories
    • Bronze Wedge
    • Cable Bond
    • Pipe Joint Lubricant
    • Mechanical Joint Accessories
    • Seismic Flex Coupling™
    • TR Flex® Accessories
    • TR Flex® Fittings
    • V-Bio® Encasement
  • Linings
    • Cement-Mortar Lining
    • Glass Lining
    • Protecto 401™ Lining
    • Ceramapure™ PL90 Lining
  • Coatings
    • Asphaltic Coating
    • Zinc-Coating
    • Ceramawrap Coating
    • V-Bio® Enhanced Polyethylene Encasement
  • Technical Bulletins
  • Specifications
  • Certifications
  • Submittal Builder
  • Product Warranty
Learning Center
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  • Iron Strong Blog
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  • Ditch Doctor/FAQ
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