Monday, December 15, 2014

How To Take Care Of HDPE Pipes

A high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe is primarily designed to aid in the transportation of water and sewerage. For the pipe to last for a long time, you need to take good care of it. Here are ways on how to take good care of it:
How to take care of HDPE pipes
When it comes to installation, you should ensure that the units are properly installed. As rule of thumb you should ensure that you install them in accordance with the instruction of the manufacturer.
Two of the most common ways of installing the pipes are: directional bore method and open trench construction. For ideal results, you should ensure that the pipes are installed by a qualified technician.
You should never drop the units in a trench or force them through a directional bore upon "pull-back." This is to avoid damaging the pipes.
When transporting the pipes, you should be cautious and ensure that you don't damage them. The best materials to handle the pipes are: ropes, fabric or rubber protected slings and straps.
If you want to lift the pipes, you should use two slings that have been spread apart. You should avoid using chains, hooks, or cables that have been inserted into the pipe ends.
When storing the units, you should ensure that you store them on level ground that is free of sharp objects which can damage the pipe. If you are planning of stacking the pipes, you should ensure that the units you stack together don't deform the bottom layers.
If the ground is not ideal for storing the pipes, you should consider using wooden sleepers. The sleepers should be spaced in such a way that there is no deformation of the pipe at the point of contact with the sleeper or between supports.
When connecting the units to auxiliary equipment such as valves, tanks, and pumps, you should ensure that the connection is properly done. For properly connection to take place three things must take place:
  • Polyethylene flange should be thermally butt-fused to the stub end of the pipe
  • A 316 stainless steel back up ring should mate with a 316 stainless steel flange
  • 316 stainless steel bolts and nuts should be used
Conclusion
These are some of the ways on how to take care of a HDPE pipe. To be certain that the pipe is of high quality you should ensure that you buy it from a reputable store. When installing the unit, always ensure that the work is done by a qualified professional.