By Mel Marshall, Mel C. Marshall Industrial Consultants Reinforced concrete pipe is widely known for its long history, with evidence of the first concrete pipe sanitary sewer in America dating back to 1842 in Mohawk, N.Y. Since then, concrete wastewater pipelines have grown increasingly more complex in their design, manufacture, installation, and inspection. As the […]
By Margarita Takou, Ph.D., P.E., ACPA Technical Resource Manager At the ACPA, we talk a lot about the benefits of precast reinforced concrete pipe (RCP), but did you know the association’s membership also produces precast reinforced concrete box culverts? Like RCP, box culverts offer the benefits of precast concrete construction such as superior durability strength, […]
By Gean Na, P.E., Director, American Concrete Pipe Association – California October is national Fire Prevention Month to raise awareness about fire safety in communities across the country. As we think about ways to ensure homes and families are protected from fire, we think about many precautions inside the home. Are smoke alarms functioning and […]
By Josh Beakley, P.E., ACPA Vice President of Engineering Concrete pipe and concrete pipe joints are among the most durable, resilient infrastructure materials on the planet. While reinforced concrete pipe offers proven performance, the ACPA occasionally encounters misinformation about its products’ longevity and durability. Here, we address three misconceptions surrounding concrete pipe performance — joint […]
By Josh Beakley, P.E., ACPA Vice President of Engineering It’s not unusual to have a buried drainage pipe with minimal cover. This cover may be soil, flexible asphalt pavement, or rigid concrete pavement. At the American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA), we often hear the question: “What’s the minimum allowable depth of cover for a buried […]
When a 114-year-old culvert collapsed below Washington Street near downtown Waukegan, Illinois, the result was a 45-foot deep sinkhole that required emergency repairs. The situation deteriorated after a rainstorm. Immediate repairs were essential to avoid rupturing a sanitary line that could end up flowing into Lake Michigan. Washington Street is a four-lane arterial street with […]
As the 20th anniversary of a significant canal breach in Utah passed, the canal company’s investment in repairs and replacement are a triumph for the water users and the engineering community. Precast concrete products have been integral to the improvements. On July 11, 1999, the Davis and Weber Canal breached. Nearby Riverdale City homes faced the […]
By Douglas Holdener, P.E., Director, Florida Concrete Pipe Association Reinforced Concrete Pipe (RCP) provided the ideal repair solution for the ongoing failures of a private office park’s 20-year-old HDPE pipe system. In July 2018, County Materials Corporation began supplying CrownPointe Commerce Park in Orlando, Fla., with more than 1,600 feet of 54-inch diameter RCP […]