Trenchless close-fit installations in PE 100-RC quality
The Compact Pipe@ system for trenchless installation of gas, drinking water, and sewer pipes has been enhanced with PE 100-RC materials to improve crack resistance. Experiments demonstrate that the close-fit installed PE 100-RC pipe is durable under high loads and meets the requirements of PAS 1075.
The factory deformation process (M-stage), along with delivery as coiled material and the on-site insertion and reformation process (I-stage), has no significant impact on the stress crack resistance of the tested Compact Pipe® drinking water and gas pipes. The hot steam-controlled reformation provides thorough tempering of the PE pipe as it closely fits the outer casing. This is followed by cooling under internal pressure, resulting in a new, stable, low-stress PE 100-RC pipe cross-section. The requirement of 160 hours in the ACT for stress crack resistance according to PAS 1075 corresponds to an FNCT proof of over 3,300 hours. Samples from Compact Pipe® SDR 17 installations exceed the required service times, meeting PAS 1075 standards for PE 100-RC pipes by more than double.
3R international - Issue 06, 2014, pages 24-26
