In 2017 approximately 3,500 linear feet of 30” Flowtite® fiberglass reinforced polymer (FRP) pipe with a pressure class of 300 psi was installed in Henderson, Nevada. Due to corrosive soil the Galleria Reclaimed Waterline required numerous corrosion related repairs.
The geotechnical evaluation indicated the soils are too corrosive for buried steel and required a non-corrosive pipe. Thompson Pipe Group engineers designed and proposed FRP pressure pipe.
FRP has multiple restraint options:
- Thrust blocks with the native soil support can be used.
- The key-lock restrained joint is a quick and easy option where a nylon spline is added to the joint.
- Flanges may be bolted to the pipe to hold joints together.
- Joint lamination is similar to field welding steel pipes. FRP pipe joints are laminated with layers of fiberglass.
For this project, joint laminations were the most appropriate design. Thompson Pipe Group field services representatives assisted with onsite training and project start up.
