Factors to consider
Andy mentioned a range of factors that influence the correct selection of pipe.
- Application (water, sewer, etc) – this will influence the pipe characteristics required, such as pipe material, PN, DN, pipe length.
- Depth of burial will influence the pipe stiffness required
- Installation techniques (open trench versus trenchless) as this will influence the type of pipe and type of joint required
- Ground conditions (aggressive soils, unstable soils, groundwater, etc) will influence the pipe material, stiffness and joint type required for the project.
Andy says, “Other non-project specific considerations that should be made are the pipe service life requirement (50 åÂ- 100 years), the risk profile of particular pipe products and finally the triple bottom line assessment; economic, environmental and social impacts.”
How does Global Pipe meet these requirements?
“Global Pipe supply HOBAS pipe products made of superior CC-GRP material that is suitable for both water and sewer applications.” Global Pipe can supply pipe ranging from:
- PN1 to PN32
- SN 2,500 to SN 1,000,000
- Diameters from DN 200 to DN 3,000.
Pipe lengths typically available are 1 m, 2 m, 3 m and 6 m. Pipes are also available in both open trench and jacking (trenchless) varieties.
“We can supply pipes that cater for projects ranging from day-to-day small diameter open trench pipelines to major infrastructure type large diameter tunnelled pipelines. HOBAS is unique to the Australian market in that we supply a range of pressure jacking pipe.”
Trenchless applications
Trenchless applications for the products include jacking pipe for major water and sewer pipe applications, pipe rehabilitation using sliplining techniques and rising mains using pressure jacking pipe.
The product is commonly used for water, sewer and industrial applications such as desalination plants, mining and power station projects.
New developments
Use of the HOBAS Pressure Jacking Pipe has brought about change in the past twelve months, Andy explains. The HOBAS Maintenance Hole product in Australia is another development for the industry.
The largest diameter HOBAS jacking pipe project in Australia thus far is Pimpama where 880 m of DN 1,500 HOBAS CC-GRP jacking pipe has been used on the project, showcasing a growing trend towards use of the product.
There is an ever growing list of trenchless projects using HOBAS jacking pipes in Australia at the moment, the largest of which is the Pimpana project in Queensland.
In Poland the Czajka jacking pipe project, the largest jacking pipe project using GRP jacking pipe to date. The project will use 6 km of DN 3,000 jacking pipe.
Issues affecting future development of the industry
Andy believes that better understanding of pipe design characteristics, material selection and how they apply to different applications is necessary.
Following the world’s best practice in trenchless project delivery, these issues must be taken into consideration:
- Pipe material selection
- Installation technologies
- Design optimisation to encourage a “single pipe solution” rather than a pipe within a tunnel
- TBM adaptability to suit various pipe materials so that project outcomes are not determined by the TBM diameter sourced by the installing contractor.