Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) - C301
Built for Bigger Challenges
Prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP; lined) brings together concrete’s high compressive strength and steel’s high tensile strength to form a durable structure that can stand up to any project’s requirements. It is ideal for all municipal water and wastewater applications, as well as industrial piping. PCCP is manufactured in accordance with the AWWA C301 Standard and is designed in accordance with the AWWA C304 standard.
First introduced in 1942, PCCP features a steel cylinder core encased in high-strength concrete and circumferentially wrapped with prestressing wire for added structural integrity and to serve as a watertight membrane. A dense Portland cement mortar coating ensures long-term corrosion protection, making it an ideal choice for pressure pipelines and critical infrastructure.
C301 Features
Ease of Installation & Economical
PCCP is installed in less time on-site. Because it is a rigid conduit, PCCP needs no special bedding or backfilling under normal ground conditions. Installing any other pipe material often requires bracing, highly compacted bedding, trucking in select fill and/or welding — each adds cost, time and potential problems.
High Pressure Capacity
PCCP has the high strength to withstand internal and external loads. The pipe’s concrete and steel wall is prestressed with steel wire to provide strength to withstand the pressure requirements. The rigid wall fully supports the external forces of the surrounding earth. Prestressed concrete pressure pipe is the only piping material that is designed for the simultaneous application of internal pressure and external load.
Corrosion Protection
PCCP provides built-in corrosion protection. The high pH, alkaline environment provided by the portland cement concrete and mortar provides electrochemical protection against corrosion for the encased steel components. This is far superior to barrier-type protection offered by polyethylene encasements, tape wraps and paint.
Designed for project requirements
PCCP is custom-designed for each application; thus, the customer does not pay for unnecessary strength. Each section of pipe, along with the fittings, are designed and fabricated to meet project-specific internal pressure and external loadings.
Advantages:
- Resistant to physical damage
- Rapidly and economically installed
- Excellent corrosion resistance
- Can resist high internal pressure and external loading
- Wide range of pipe diameters available (up to 144 inches)
- Typically, more economical installed cost than most lined and coated ferrous pipes
- Custom fittings
Typical C301 Applications
- Municipal water transmission mains
- Wastewater and force mains
- Industrial water systems including cooling water and process lines
- Agricultural irrigation systems
- Power generation circulating water supply
- NRCS Principal Spillways
- Intakes and Outfalls
Installation Types
- Trench installation with bedding and backfill
- Tunnel and trenchless installation
Key Installation Considerations and Components
- Rubber-gasketed steel joints for watertight connections
- Snap Ring and clamp-type mechanically restrained joints
- Can generally be backfilled with native material
- Deep joints and bevels for grade and alignment changes
- Tapping service available
Thrive Under Pressure.
The widest range of precast, pressure, and trenchless pipe solutions in North America, backed by industry-leading engineering and logistics. Thompson Pipe Group delivers all that.