With administrative offices located in Dallas, Texas, The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI) is the major trade association representing all segments of the plastics piping industry. PPI members share a common interest in broadening awareness and creating opportunities that expand market share and extend the use of plastics pipe in all its many applications. As an association, PPI focuses collaborative efforts to accumulate data, concentrate facts and target resources toward advancements in applications and increases in widespread usage.
Of course, PPI has an increasing interest in pipebursting, since PVC and HDPE are currently primary components of the replacement part of the process. It’s in their interest for more folks in any water or liquid conveyance industry to understand more about pipebursting, and in that vein, they’ve issued a really useful 49-page excerpt from one of their publications. It’s actually Chapter 16 of their Handbook of PE Pipe, and contains a great deal of excellent information, from an introduction to the process to potential problems and solutions. Here’s a list of the subsections:
- History
- Pipe Bursting and Trenchless Pipe Replacement Systems
- Pneumatic
- Static
- Pipe Splitting
- Pipe Reaming
- Impactor Process
- Old Pipe Material
- New Pipe Material
- When is Pipe Bursting a Preferred Solution?
- Pipe Bursting Project Classification
- Pipe Bursting Applicability and Limitations
- Design Considerations
- Pre-design Phase
- Design Phase
- Utility Survey
- Investigation of Existing Pipe and Site Conditions
- Insertion and Pulling Shaft Requirements
- Soil Considerations in Pipe Bursting
- Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP)
- Risk Assessment Plan
- Ground Movement Associated with Pipe Bursting
- Plans and Specifications
- Submittals
- Quality Control/Quality Assurance Issues
- Dispute Resolution Mechanisms
- Maximum Allowable Tensile Pull
- Permitting Issues
- Typical Bidding Form For a Pipe Bursting Project
- Selection of Pipe SDR
- Construction Considerations
- Typical Pipe Bursting Operation Layout
- Shoring The Insertion and Pulling Shafts
- Matching System Components to Reduce Risk of Failure
- Toning for Utilities
- By Pass Pumping Considerations
- Dewatering Considerations
- Ground Movement Monitoring Program
- Pipe Connection to the Manhole
- Pipe Connection to Other Pipes
- Pipe Bursting Water Mains
- Service Connections
- Groves on the Outside Surface of the Pipe
- As-Built Drawing
- Contingency Plan
- Safety Considerations
- Cost Estimating
- Potential Problems and their Possible Solutions
- References
As you can see, it’s quite a comprehensive—some might even say exhaustive—guide, which couldn’t hurt anyone who’s serious about this industry. It’s complete with formulas, diagrams and photos in all the right places.
A perfect introduction for new hires to be able to grasp the entire scope of what we do, it’s also a great refresher for those who’ve been at it a while. And best of all, it’s a free download…so what do you have to lose? Have a look today, and see if you don’t think it’s something your staff should spend some time with.
