Too often contractors throughout Australia are often caught-out using handmade wooden skids instead of spacers that comply with Australian standards. This is usually due to either forgetting to order a spacing product, or from not understanding the importance of spacers.
Apart from complying with the WSAA code, choosing a well-designed spacer system for pipeline installations is an important element in maintaining pipeline integrity, reducing delays and costs, and avoiding reputational damage.
According to Jason Linaker at kwik-ZIP, not only do homemade spacers fail to abide by design codes, they are simply too risky.
“If the pipe annulus will be grouted, handmade spacers can inhibit grout path flow. They are unsuitable for gravity sewers and fly in the face of any design that specifies proper spacers.
“Make-shift wooden spacers may rot over time and leave behind a void in the grout seal.
“Wood also has a very high coefficient of friction, which results in much higher running forces on long installations. This results in excessive abrasive wear to the runners, potentially resulting in complete failure of the spacer,” said Mr Linaker.
Other considerations and challenges when attempting to comply with spacing codes include:
- Strength: It can be difficult for contractors to find a spacer strong enough for their particular installation that doesn’t have to be designed and custom-made.
- Contact with potable water: If a spacer will be coming in contact with potable water, determining how the spacer material and any harmful contaminants may be released into the water is a key consideration. If a spacer will be used in-line on a potable water service, it should be certified as compliant with AS/NZS 4020:1999.
- Corrosion: Corrosion is the next problem, and finding a spacer that has no corrosive parts is a challenge. Fabricated metallic spacers are subject to corrosion and can impart corrosive damage to the pipeline. In some cases metallic spacers can damage the pipe, particularly if the carrier pipe is a non-metallic composite pipe such as fiberglass or PVC.
- Diameter: Finding an “÷off the shelf’ solution that suits the right ID/OD combination is also a challenge, especially if the pipe diameter changes at different points.
How Kwik-ZIP can help
According to Mr Linaker, kwik-ZIP spacers help contractors comply with the relevant standards and provide a hassle-free alternative to homemade spacers.
“In gravity sewer installations, kwik-ZIP spacers keep the pipe on-grade with a predictable response to grout flotation forces.
“kwik-ZIP’s runners provide robust support so contractors can have confidence in the fact that there will be no pooling of effluent once the sewer becomes active.
“If grade correction is necessary, kwik-ZIP spacers can be installed with varying runner heights within discrete spacers to realign the carrier pipe.
“In other types of infrastructure, the spacers help contractors comply with the design specifications in a simple, versatile and cost-effective way because they don’t have to custom-make a specific spacer.”
Mr Linaker said that because kwik-ZIP systems are made from a high grade thermoplastic, and therefore corrosive-free, they are resistant to installations involving water, including seawater.