NEWS


North American water pipe failures rise 27% in six years


Water pipe failure rates in North America have risen sharply in the last six years, according to an updated study. The Buried Structures


https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/mae_facpub/174/


Laboratory at Utah State University (USU) has published a second study on break rates of the most commonly used water pipe materials, as a follow-up to its previous 2012 study. The information was


gathered by sending a survey to water utility companies. It is based on responses from more than 300 of them. This response rate is almost 50% higher than that for the previous one, and accounts for 45% more installed pipe (around 200,000 miles of water mains). The survey recorded 23,803 pipe failures that needed repairs. Water main break rates are an important factor to use when assessing pipe performance and durability said Steven Folkman of USU, the lead researcher for both reports.


“In general, pipe replace-


ment rates need to in- crease,” said Folkman. The new study confirmed a major finding from the previous one – that PVC pipe has the lowest overall break rate compared with other types of pipe. PVC was the pipe material with the lowest break rate in USU’s 2012 study. However, the Ductile Iron


Pipe burst rates have increased – mainly due to failures in older metal pipes


Overall, break rates have


increased 27% over the past six years. Utilities should be concerned that break rates for cast iron (CI) and asbestos cement (AC) pipes – which together account for nearly half of installed water mains in North America – in- creased by 46% and 43%, respectively, in that time. Although these types of


pipe are no longer manufac- tured, they are now reaching the end of their expected lives – which could have dramatic consequences. “Utilities across the


country would need to rapidly accelerate their pipe replacement schedules to avoid potentially serious economic and social impacts,” said Folkman. According to the survey,


an average of 0.8% of installed pipe is replaced each year across the country, which equates to a 125-year national pipe replacement schedule. Pipe replacement rates should be between 1% and 1.6%, said Folkman – equivalent to 100-year and 60-year replacement schedules.


Pipe Research Association (Dipra) has taken issue with the study – accusing it of ‘bias’. “It’s hardly surprising that a study sponsored by Uni-Bell finds favourable results for their product,” said Gregg Horn, VP of technical services at Dipra. “The study excludes primary failure modes for PVC pipe. These exclusions include the absence of data on construction damage, the tapping of service lines, and joint leakage – failure modes that are reported to be among the primary prob- lems for PVC pipe.” � www.usu.edu


Tekni-Plex adds to medical portfolio


US-based Tekni-Plex has acquired Dunn Industries, a manufacturer of speciality extrusion tubing for medical device applications. Dunn, based in New Hampshire, is known for its tight tolerance, small diameter medical device tubing. Its product line is complementary to the


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micro-extrusion tubing made by Tekni-Plex’s Natvar business unit. Its existing president, Duane Dunn, will be general manager of the new company within Tekni-Plex. “Tekni-Plex already has a significant stake in the medical device market via its Colorite medical com-


pounds and Natvar medical tubing business,” said Paul Young, president and CEO of Tekni-Plex. “We are now looking to grow the solu- tions we provide by expand- ing our product offering and manufacturing capabilities.” Founded in 1987, Dunn


makes medical tubing with outer diameters as small as


0.008in (outer diameter) x 0.004in (inner diameter) and as large as 0.480 inches for a variety of applications. Applications range from


simple, single lumen catheters used for drainage, to complex, multi- lumen applications for coronary angioplasty. � www.tekni-plex.com


April 2018 | PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION 5


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