A novel means of producing secondarily contained fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) piping has emerged which will greatly improve the performance and installation characteristics of the product. This method of manufacture and the product, called coaxial piping, will be reviewed and explained. The enhanced features and benefits will be discussed, including simplified installation and reduced cost. A fundamental improvement in the impact resistance of the product has occurred due to the nature of the construction of the product, which will also be presented.
Safety and environmental considerations lead an increasing number of piping installations to be secondarily contained. Whether to avoid worker exposure to hazardous chemicals in an over-head pipe line or to prevent soil contamination from a buried line, containment of the primary, or carrier pipe, by a secondary pipe is becoming more widespread.
Along with the added protection a containment pipe system provides however, come some undesirable attributes. Using two pipe instead of one is obviously more costly - more than twice as much, since the outer pipe must be larger in size. The larger pipe also brings larger fittings, not just in diameter but also in lay length and spacing in a rack or trench. All this extra piping adds up to more weight as well.
Since the applications and services which involve contained pipe concern hazardous materials, one of the most popular materials for use in contained systems is plastic piping, both thermoplastic and reinforced thermosetting resin piping. This paper will be focused on fiberglass reinforced plastic pipe systems.
CURRENT MARKET ASSESSMENT
Fiberglass piping has been gaining popularity and performance characteristics recently due to improved materials technologies for both the resin, or matrix, and the reinforcements, or fibers. These improvements, along with advancing states of awareness, comfort and knowledge of the product, have elevated the use of fiberglass pipe to the material-of-choice in several industries and applications (such as fuel handling, acid services and semi-conductor processing).
Fiberglass pipe inherently has the advantages of corrosion resistance, light weight and low maintenance after installation. These features make it very attractive for containment. The cost, installation difficulty and impact resistance of the product has however, impeded its growth.