WHY CONCRETE
ABOUT CONCRETE
Concrete is one of the strongest, most durable, and long-lasting construction materials on the planet. Utilized for centuries to build roads, fortresses, and colosseums, the introduction of better admixtures, improved production techniques, and engineering innovations, concrete has evolved to become resilient than ever.
Why Concrete Pipe?
Concrete pipes are structures made of concrete and steel which is a combination of properties that allows a designer to specify any level of strength required in a project.
People who choose concrete pipe trust our products because amongst others they offer strength, variability of shapes, design, and installation while at the same time proven resilience and durability. Concrete pipes have existed for more than a century and a half with many of them still in their original installations. Innovations, research, and improved installation processes will ensure that current and newly installed concrete pipe will remain installed for centuries to come.
The manufacturing of precast concrete pipes takes place at a controlled factory setting with rigid production standards and quality control requirements. Plant tours can be taken at any facility for anyone to observe the production of these products.
Concrete pipe production supports local communities by using local resources and being available anywhere close to your project sites. While compared to other products, precast concrete pipe offers many advantages: Below are 16 reasons why concrete pipe is the number 1 choice of many end users. What are your reasons?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Strength
Precast concrete pipe is the strongest pipe available. It can be designed and plant tested to resist any load required. Unlike flexible pipe, it has minimal reliance on installation to support loads; it relies primarily on its inherent brute strength manufactured into the pipe.
Resilience
As the strongest pipe available, precast concrete pipe is designed and tested to resist any load required. With the ability to withstand almost any disaster, concrete pipe is the most product in its class and it will not burn, rust, tear, buckle, deflect, and it’s immune to the attack of most elements, whether the pipe is buried or exposed. Projects that use concrete pipe can prepare and plan to absorb, recover from, or more successfully adapt to adverse events.
Sustainable
Made of locally-sourced, natural and recycled materials, designed for a long life, able to be integrated into surrounding ecosystems, and suitable for LEED projects, concrete pipe meets the environmental needs of the communities it helps build. Its durability and long-life, reduce the costs associated with repair and replacement, minimizing the costs and disruption to the surrounding environment.
Dependability
Concrete pipe’s long-term performance is proven, not theoretical. Innovation has made concrete pipe more reliable and dependable than ever. This innovation includes improvements to concrete mixes, pipe design, manufacturing processes and more.
Structure & Conduit
Concrete pipe is a rigid pipe that provides both structure and conduit when it arrives on site. Unlike flexible alternatives, concrete pipe has little dependence on the surrounding soil for its structural performance.
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Disaster-Resilient
Concrete pipe will not burn, corrode prematurely, or collapse under loads designed into the pipe structure. In heavy rainfall or catastrophic flooding situations, concrete’s density keeps pipes in place against upward, buoyant forces. When concrete pipe is under roadways, evacuation routes remain safe.
Life-Cycle Cost
Concrete pipe has lower installed costs, less ongoing maintenance, and reduced likelihood of future problems. This adds up to a lower total cost over the life cycle of your project. That’s the definition of real value.
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Environmentally Friendly
Concrete is produced with benign, natural materials. What’s more, manufacturing of concrete consumes less energy than fabrication of alternative pipes. It is also recyclable and has little if any environmental impact. Because it’s a local resource, concrete can provide lower fuel cost for delivery.
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Lower-Risk Installation
Concrete’s strength facilitates successful installation. This lessens the liability on the owner, engineer, and contractor. When proper installation is specified and inspected, concrete pipe has the lowest installed cost and risk, compared to alternative products.
Design / Construction Flexibility
Precast concrete pipe provides strength and flexibility to ensure the success of your most demanding applications. Pipes are manufactured with a variety of sizes, shapes, joints, and seal options. Plus, an array of linings and coatings can handle the most aggressive environment.
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Joint Performance
Concrete pipe offers the design engineer several different joint types, depending on the application, to meet the utmost demanding project specifications. Soil-tight, water-tight, and pressure-rated joints can be designed to meet different sealing requirements.
Hydraulic Performance
Precast concrete pipe’s rigidity and mass allow it to greatly outperform flexible pipe systems in this critical area, which in turn helps to improve hydraulic efficiency by minimizing the resistance to water flow that often occurs when the shape or integrity of a flexible pipe is compromised.
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Quality Control
Concrete pipe has the most rigorous quality control testing in the drainage industry. From raw materials and form setups to batching equipment and tests curing concrete placement, every step of the manufacturing process is meticulously monitored to ensure design strengths are met.
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Mass
Concrete pipe has a number of built-in features benefitting design, installation, and performance. The pipe’s mass makes it more durable to install and resistant to flotation.
Manufactured Locally
Local availability provides better convenience and helps minimize shipping time and costs related to trucking. Having a local manufacturing resource also means the materials are designed and produced to meet local/state standards and supports the local economy.
Long Lifespan
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommends a design life of 70 to 100 years for precast concrete pipe, and there are countless examples of installations that surpass those numbers. This means the expectation for precast concrete’s functional life is at least twice as long as lesser materials.