The Concrete Pipe Journal is published three times a year by the Ontario Concrete Pipe Association and is distributed throughout Ontario and across Canada and the United States. It is also available online at ocpa.com. Address inquiries or comments about the Concrete Pipe Journal to: Editor: Concrete Pipe Journal, Ontario Concrete Pipe Association, 447 Frederick St, Second Floor, Kitchener, Ontario N2H 2P4, Email: [email protected], Phone: 519.489.4488, Fax: 519.578.6060 40051061 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Ontario Concrete Pipe Association, 447 Frederick St, Second Floor, Kitchener, Ontario N2H 2P4 Hanson Pipe & Precast Responds Quickly to Highway 417 Closure NATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE CONCRETE PIPE INDUSTRY PUBLISHED BY THE ONTARIO CONCRETE PIPE ASSOCIATION concrete pipe journal 2010 The eastbound lanes of Highway 417 near Ottawa were closed in March of 2010 for four days due to the failure of a corrugated steel culvert. The highway was closed from Tuesday March 2 through Saturday March 6 while the steel culvert was replaced. Highway 417 is a key transportation artery connecting the two major Canadian cities of Ottawa and Montreal. Motorists and commercial traffic used an eleven kilometre detour through the eastern Ontario countryside while the highway was repaired. This is the second such closure of this highway in less than two years for the same reasons. In April 2008 the westbound lanes were closed for two days for the replacement of another failed corrugated steel culvert. The problem with this steel culvert was detected by the highway maintenance contractor for the area. Workers for the contractor were fixing potholes when they realized that one apparent pothole was in fact a large cavity under the traffic lanes. The bottom and sides of the cavity could not be detected by placing a hand shovel in the hole and rotating it horizontally. The highway was promptly closed. PipePac software has a user friendly design program that enables designers to determine the class of concrete pipe for any installation conditions that may be anticipated. To download PipePac Software for free, visit the Technical Re- source Centre at www.ocpa.com. P2 | MTO Deputy Minister Addresses Standing Committee on Public Accounts P3 | Concrete Pipe Reused for Markdale Storm Sewer P4 | Drainage Systems Under the Ontario Building Code P5 | Airports Not the Place to Gamble with Infrastructure P6 | Professor R. Doug Hooton Awarded New Chair in Concrete Durability and Sustainability Educate your staff on topics such as MTO Gravity Pipe Guidelines, Protecting Yourself as a Gravity Pipe Designer, the Marston Span- gler Method or PipePac Software with a free Lunch & Learn from OCPA. You pick the topic and in- vite key staff, and we bring lunch and a 60-minute presentation—at no charge to you. Call 519.489.4488 or email [email protected] to book your Lunch & Learn today. Lunch & Learns In This Issue... Design Manual Available on CD PipePac Available at OCPA.com Hanson Pipe and Precast Quickly Responds to Highway 417 Closure continued on page 2 It’s small. It’s compact. Get yours today by emailing your name & address to OCPA at [email protected]or download it from the Technical Resources Centre at www.ocpa.com. spring
Transcript
The Concrete Pipe Journal is published three times a year by the Ontario Concrete Pipe Association and is distributed throughout Ontario and across Canada and the United States. It is also available online at ocpa.com. Address inquiries or
comments about the Concrete Pipe Journal to: Editor: Concrete Pipe Journal, Ontario Concrete Pipe Association, 447 Frederick St, Second Floor, Kitchener, Ontario N2H 2P4, Email: [email protected], Phone: 519.489.4488, Fax: 519.578.6060
40051061
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:Ontario Concrete Pipe Association, 447 Frederick St, Second Floor, Kitchener, Ontario N2H 2P4
N A T I O N A L J O U R N A L O F T H E C O N C R E T E P I P E I N D U S T R Y P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E O N T A R I O C O N C R E T E P I P E A S S O C I A T I O N
concretepipejournal2010
The eastbound lanes of Highway 417 near Ottawa were closed in March of 2010 for four days due to the failure of a corrugated steel culvert. The highway was closed from Tuesday March 2 through Saturday March 6 while the steel culvert was replaced. Highway 417 is a key transportation artery connecting the two major Canadian cities of Ottawa and Montreal. Motorists and commercial traffic used an eleven kilometre detour through the eastern Ontario countryside while the highway was repaired.
This is the second such closure of this highway in less than two years for the same reasons. In April 2008 the westbound lanes were closed for two days for the replacement of another failed corrugated steel culvert.
The problem with this steel culvert was detected by the highway maintenance contractor for the area. Workers for the contractor were fixing potholes when they realized that one apparent pothole was in fact a large cavity under the traffic lanes. The bottom and sides of the cavity could not be detected by placing a hand shovel in the hole and rotating it horizontally. The highway was promptly closed.
PipePac software has a user friendly design program that enables designers to determine the class of concrete pipe for any installation conditions that may be anticipated.
To download PipePac Software for free, visit the Technical Re-source Centre at www.ocpa.com.
P2 | MTO Deputy Minister Addresses Standing Committee on Public Accounts
P3 | Concrete Pipe Reused for Markdale Storm Sewer
P4 | Drainage Systems Under the Ontario Building Code
P5 | Airports Not the Place to Gamble with Infrastructure
P6 | Professor R. Doug Hooton Awarded New Chair in Concrete Durability and Sustainability
Educate your staff on topics such as MTO Gravity Pipe Guidelines, Protecting Yourself as a Gravity Pipe Designer, the Marston Span-gler Method or PipePac Software with a free Lunch & Learn from OCPA. You pick the topic and in-vite key staff, and we bring lunch and a 60-minute presentation—at no charge to you.
Call 519.489.4488 or email [email protected] to book your Lunch & Learn today.
Lunch & Learns
In This Issue...
Design Manual Available on CD
PipePac Available at OCPA.com
Hanson Pipe and Precast Quickly Responds to Highway 417 Closure
continued on page 2
It’s small. It’s compact. Get yours today by emailing your name & address to OCPA at [email protected] or download it from the Technical Resources Centre at www.ocpa.com.
spring
OCP Journal.indd 1 10-05-14 9:05 PM
Concrete Pipe Reused for Markdale Storm Sewer
Highway Closed for Second Time in Two Years Due to Pipe Failure
By Robbie Kitchen, Con Cast Pipe
When specifying pipe material for pipelines and culverts, the design engineer, contractor, and eventual owner of the infrastructure system should consider the durability of that system. This is especially important within the context of designing and constructing buried infrastructure that is sustainable. Reusing products and materials is a fundamental element of sustainable development that results in infrastructure assets with long term value because of durability. Servicing of a site in Markdale, Ontario for a new Chapman’s ice cream production facility demonstrates the durability of concrete pipe, and how it contributes to sustainable development.
Chapman’s is the largest independent ice cream and ice water products manufacturer in Canada, and Markdale’s principle employer of about 350 to 400. In 1973, David and Penny Chapman purchased the century-old creamery that has grown into a multi-million dollar business. A fire that destroyed the facility on September 4, 2009 resulted in the construction of a new production facility on a nearby site.
A 30-year old concrete pipe storm sewer located on the site of the new facility had to be relocated to
accommodate the new building. When the pipe was excavated, the contractor discovered that it was in excellent condition. Salvaging the concrete pipe to reduce the cost of servicing the site became an option. After a review of this opportunity by the consulting engineer, municipality and contractor, the decision was taken to reuse any concrete pipe that was not damaged during excavation.
Of the 300 m (approximately 123 units) of 1350 mm diameter reinforced concrete pipe removed from the original storm sewer alignment by Cedarwell Excavating, some 90 units were re-usable. Precast manholes and a precast structure required to complete the construction of the storm sewer in its new alignment were supplied by Con Cast Pipe.
Concrete pipe supplied for pipelines and culverts is designed to last for 100 years or more, and continues to gain additional strength after installation. Because concrete pipe is an engineered product, it can have a capital cost that is more than alternatives like plastic and metal. In the long run, however, it is more cost effective because of a long service life, lower installation costs, and capacity for salvage and reuse.
Buried concrete pipelines and culverts are sustainable systems designed to meet the needs and aspirations of the current generation without compromising the ability to meet those of future generations. The concrete storm sewer that was reconstructed to service the new Chapman’s factory is a valuable asset. The durability of a concrete sewer is apparent and there is strong evidence that it is contributing to social progress, environmental balance, and economic growth of Markdale. These are all elements of sustainable development.
An Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) spokesperson told CBC television, “We have a system that we identify and that we grade our culverts. So ones that need to be replaced are inspected on a yearly basis.” According to CBC the Ministry said they are closely monitoring problem areas. The spokesperson said the collapsed culvert on Highway 417 had shown signs of deterioration and was due to be replaced this summer.
The inspection report for an individual culvert lists the location, diameter, length, material type and condition rating. Culverts are rated good, fair or poor by a check mark in the appropriate box. A one line comments section is frequently completed when the culvert rating is poor or when a thorough visual inspection is not possible due to standing water or obstructions. There are 320 culverts on Highway 417 between Ottawa and the Quebec border, according to officials. Provincial officials could not say in April 2008 after the Highway 417 culvert failure how many were identified as priority repairs, only that $1 million had been allocated to fix culverts in the area in 2008-09.
Gerry Mulhern, P.Eng. Executive Director with the Ontario Concrete Pipe Association expressed his concerns to CBC with the problem of deteriorating culverts across Ontario. Mulhern stated that given the number of deteriorated culverts underneath Ontario highways it is just a matter of time before a catastrophic accident occurs and people are killed.
Hanson Pipe & Precast provided 15 pieces of 2400 mm diameter concrete pipe. Hanson responded immediately, supplying the concrete pipe within 24 hours.
“The country’s aging infrastructure continues to be an issue of concern particularly with regard to public safety,” said Bob Christensen, senior vice president, Hanson Building Products, East. “Hanson was glad to service its community with a structurally sound, sustainable and reliable precast concrete product.”
“Transportation infrastructure is crucial to Ontario’s economy; we have some of the busiest highways in all of North America. This makes closures very challenging, especially when thousands of motorists are inconvenienced. Nevertheless, we scheduled and completed 50 closures last year in the greater Toronto area. We now spell out in all contracts which lanes and shoulders must be closed, and that closure is not optional, it is mandatory. Further, to ensure inspectors’ complete understanding, we have provided written guidelines to all inspectors.” “Every provincial bridge in Ontario is thoroughly inspected every second year. Ontario is the only province where this is a legislated requirement. Inspections are conducted or supervised by a qualified professional engineer. Every inspector takes three days’ mandatory refresher training every two years. If an inspector does not participate in training, he or she cannot lead or supervise an inspection. And, as I mentioned earlier, the lead inspector of the team must have five years’ experience.”
“To sum up, Mr. Chair and members of the committee, MTO takes very seriously our duty to ensure the safety of the travelling public, and we take very seriously the findings of the Auditor General on bridge safety and maintenance. We are taking action on every one of his eight recommendations, as you have seen in our action plan.”
Full transcript available at http://www.ontla.on.ca/
On March 24, 2010 senior officials from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts at Queen’s Park to address issues raised by the Auditor General in regards to the inspection and maintenance of bridges in Ontario. The officials in question were Bruce McCuaig, Deputy Minister, Ray Mantha, P. Eng., Executive Director and Gerry Chaput, P. Eng., Chief Engineer. The following are excerpts from some of the comments made by the Deputy Minister to the Committee:
“MTO is, if nothing else, an engineering organization. Professional engineers abide by a code of ethics in which the duty to public welfare is paramount. In our engineering organization, our duty to public welfare is safety. Mr. Chair and members of the committee, the first priority of the Ministry of Transportation is the safety of the travelling public. I want to assure you at the outset of my remarks that our province’s bridges are safe.”“Year after year, Ontario’s roads have been found to be the safest in North America. Our outstanding record in transportation safety is due to a combination of factors, including legislation, infrastructure, planning, design, education and enforcement. Our standards are considered the highest. Our engineers have always been thorough and meticulous in their work. But as the Auditor General has pointed out, we can do a better job on some aspects of that work. We are grateful for his suggestions to enhance our processes to better manage Ontario’s 2,720 bridges on behalf of the province’s taxpayers.”
MTO Deputy Minister Addresses Standing Committee on Public Accounts
PG3PG2
PROVIDING QUALITY PRECAST PRODUCTS THROUGHOUT BC.CONCRETE PIPE • OIL INTERCEPTORS • MUNICIPAL CAST IRON • BOX CULVERT • 3 SIDED CULVERT • MANHOLE & CATCH BASINS • BARRIERS • POLE BASES • PRECAST MANHOLE BASES • CUSTOM PRECAST • STORMCEPTOR®
Call BC toll-free 1.800.667.9600 www.langleyconcretegroup.comLANGLEY CONCRETE LTD PARTNERSHIP20142 Logan Avenue Langley, BC V3A 4L6 Ph 604.533-1656 Fax 604.533-8191
Thirty year-old 1350 mm diameter RCP ready for reuse as a storm sewer.
continued from page 1
Road closed again for the second time in two years.
An apparent pothole was a large sinkhole.
On April 10, 2009, wildfires in Texas resulted in damage to a multi-barrel HDPE culvert installation. To minimize the chance of fire-related damage on future installations, Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) modified the criteria for use of thermoplastic pipe on TXDOT projects.
On January 4, 2010, TXDOT published a Special Specification for Thermoplastic Pipe that defines conditions where thermoplastic pipe can and cannot be used on a TXDOT project. For roadways under TXDOT jurisdiction, only nonflammable pipe products will be used in the following applications:
• Wherethereisanaveragedailytrafficcount greater than 2,000 vehicles,
• Instructuretostructure(closed)applications,
• Wherepipe diametersaregreaterthan36 inches in diameter,
• Wheretherearethreeormorepipesused in a single crossing, and
• Inanydepthgreaterthan12feet.
In addition to these changes, TXDOT requires nonflammable pipe end sections and concrete aprons to be used in any cross drains involving thermoplastic pipe.
The TXDOT policy memorandum and Special Specification for Thermoplastic Pipe dated January 4, 2010 includes thermoplastics such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, steel ribbed high density polyethylene (SRHDPE) pipe, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe and polypropylene (PP) pipe.
Damage to Plastic Pipes due to Wildfires Results in Specification Change
OCP Journal.indd 2 10-05-14 9:05 PM
Concrete Pipe Reused for Markdale Storm Sewer
Highway Closed for Second Time in Two Years Due to Pipe Failure
By Robbie Kitchen, Con Cast Pipe
When specifying pipe material for pipelines and culverts, the design engineer, contractor, and eventual owner of the infrastructure system should consider the durability of that system. This is especially important within the context of designing and constructing buried infrastructure that is sustainable. Reusing products and materials is a fundamental element of sustainable development that results in infrastructure assets with long term value because of durability. Servicing of a site in Markdale, Ontario for a new Chapman’s ice cream production facility demonstrates the durability of concrete pipe, and how it contributes to sustainable development.
Chapman’s is the largest independent ice cream and ice water products manufacturer in Canada, and Markdale’s principle employer of about 350 to 400. In 1973, David and Penny Chapman purchased the century-old creamery that has grown into a multi-million dollar business. A fire that destroyed the facility on September 4, 2009 resulted in the construction of a new production facility on a nearby site.
A 30-year old concrete pipe storm sewer located on the site of the new facility had to be relocated to
accommodate the new building. When the pipe was excavated, the contractor discovered that it was in excellent condition. Salvaging the concrete pipe to reduce the cost of servicing the site became an option. After a review of this opportunity by the consulting engineer, municipality and contractor, the decision was taken to reuse any concrete pipe that was not damaged during excavation.
Of the 300 m (approximately 123 units) of 1350 mm diameter reinforced concrete pipe removed from the original storm sewer alignment by Cedarwell Excavating, some 90 units were re-usable. Precast manholes and a precast structure required to complete the construction of the storm sewer in its new alignment were supplied by Con Cast Pipe.
Concrete pipe supplied for pipelines and culverts is designed to last for 100 years or more, and continues to gain additional strength after installation. Because concrete pipe is an engineered product, it can have a capital cost that is more than alternatives like plastic and metal. In the long run, however, it is more cost effective because of a long service life, lower installation costs, and capacity for salvage and reuse.
Buried concrete pipelines and culverts are sustainable systems designed to meet the needs and aspirations of the current generation without compromising the ability to meet those of future generations. The concrete storm sewer that was reconstructed to service the new Chapman’s factory is a valuable asset. The durability of a concrete sewer is apparent and there is strong evidence that it is contributing to social progress, environmental balance, and economic growth of Markdale. These are all elements of sustainable development.
An Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) spokesperson told CBC television, “We have a system that we identify and that we grade our culverts. So ones that need to be replaced are inspected on a yearly basis.” According to CBC the Ministry said they are closely monitoring problem areas. The spokesperson said the collapsed culvert on Highway 417 had shown signs of deterioration and was due to be replaced this summer.
The inspection report for an individual culvert lists the location, diameter, length, material type and condition rating. Culverts are rated good, fair or poor by a check mark in the appropriate box. A one line comments section is frequently completed when the culvert rating is poor or when a thorough visual inspection is not possible due to standing water or obstructions. There are 320 culverts on Highway 417 between Ottawa and the Quebec border, according to officials. Provincial officials could not say in April 2008 after the Highway 417 culvert failure how many were identified as priority repairs, only that $1 million had been allocated to fix culverts in the area in 2008-09.
Gerry Mulhern, P.Eng. Executive Director with the Ontario Concrete Pipe Association expressed his concerns to CBC with the problem of deteriorating culverts across Ontario. Mulhern stated that given the number of deteriorated culverts underneath Ontario highways it is just a matter of time before a catastrophic accident occurs and people are killed.
Hanson Pipe & Precast provided 15 pieces of 2400 mm diameter concrete pipe. Hanson responded immediately, supplying the concrete pipe within 24 hours.
“The country’s aging infrastructure continues to be an issue of concern particularly with regard to public safety,” said Bob Christensen, senior vice president, Hanson Building Products, East. “Hanson was glad to service its community with a structurally sound, sustainable and reliable precast concrete product.”
“Transportation infrastructure is crucial to Ontario’s economy; we have some of the busiest highways in all of North America. This makes closures very challenging, especially when thousands of motorists are inconvenienced. Nevertheless, we scheduled and completed 50 closures last year in the greater Toronto area. We now spell out in all contracts which lanes and shoulders must be closed, and that closure is not optional, it is mandatory. Further, to ensure inspectors’ complete understanding, we have provided written guidelines to all inspectors.” “Every provincial bridge in Ontario is thoroughly inspected every second year. Ontario is the only province where this is a legislated requirement. Inspections are conducted or supervised by a qualified professional engineer. Every inspector takes three days’ mandatory refresher training every two years. If an inspector does not participate in training, he or she cannot lead or supervise an inspection. And, as I mentioned earlier, the lead inspector of the team must have five years’ experience.”
“To sum up, Mr. Chair and members of the committee, MTO takes very seriously our duty to ensure the safety of the travelling public, and we take very seriously the findings of the Auditor General on bridge safety and maintenance. We are taking action on every one of his eight recommendations, as you have seen in our action plan.”
Full transcript available at http://www.ontla.on.ca/
On March 24, 2010 senior officials from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts at Queen’s Park to address issues raised by the Auditor General in regards to the inspection and maintenance of bridges in Ontario. The officials in question were Bruce McCuaig, Deputy Minister, Ray Mantha, P. Eng., Executive Director and Gerry Chaput, P. Eng., Chief Engineer. The following are excerpts from some of the comments made by the Deputy Minister to the Committee:
“MTO is, if nothing else, an engineering organization. Professional engineers abide by a code of ethics in which the duty to public welfare is paramount. In our engineering organization, our duty to public welfare is safety. Mr. Chair and members of the committee, the first priority of the Ministry of Transportation is the safety of the travelling public. I want to assure you at the outset of my remarks that our province’s bridges are safe.”“Year after year, Ontario’s roads have been found to be the safest in North America. Our outstanding record in transportation safety is due to a combination of factors, including legislation, infrastructure, planning, design, education and enforcement. Our standards are considered the highest. Our engineers have always been thorough and meticulous in their work. But as the Auditor General has pointed out, we can do a better job on some aspects of that work. We are grateful for his suggestions to enhance our processes to better manage Ontario’s 2,720 bridges on behalf of the province’s taxpayers.”
MTO Deputy Minister Addresses Standing Committee on Public Accounts
PG3PG2
PROVIDING QUALITY PRECAST PRODUCTS THROUGHOUT BC.CONCRETE PIPE • OIL INTERCEPTORS • MUNICIPAL CAST IRON • BOX CULVERT • 3 SIDED CULVERT • MANHOLE & CATCH BASINS • BARRIERS • POLE BASES • PRECAST MANHOLE BASES • CUSTOM PRECAST • STORMCEPTOR®
Call BC toll-free 1.800.667.9600 www.langleyconcretegroup.comLANGLEY CONCRETE LTD PARTNERSHIP20142 Logan Avenue Langley, BC V3A 4L6 Ph 604.533-1656 Fax 604.533-8191
Thirty year-old 1350 mm diameter RCP ready for reuse as a storm sewer.
continued from page 1
Road closed again for the second time in two years.
An apparent pothole was a large sinkhole.
On April 10, 2009, wildfires in Texas resulted in damage to a multi-barrel HDPE culvert installation. To minimize the chance of fire-related damage on future installations, Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) modified the criteria for use of thermoplastic pipe on TXDOT projects.
On January 4, 2010, TXDOT published a Special Specification for Thermoplastic Pipe that defines conditions where thermoplastic pipe can and cannot be used on a TXDOT project. For roadways under TXDOT jurisdiction, only nonflammable pipe products will be used in the following applications:
• Wherethereisanaveragedailytrafficcount greater than 2,000 vehicles,
• Instructuretostructure(closed)applications,
• Wherepipediametersaregreaterthan36 inches in diameter,
• Wheretherearethreeormorepipesused in a single crossing, and
• Inanydepthgreaterthan12feet.
In addition to these changes, TXDOT requires nonflammable pipe end sections and concrete aprons to be used in any cross drains involving thermoplastic pipe.
The TXDOT policy memorandum and Special Specification for Thermoplastic Pipe dated January 4, 2010 includes thermoplastics such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, steel ribbed high density polyethylene (SRHDPE) pipe, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe and polypropylene (PP) pipe.
Damage to Plastic Pipes due to Wildfires Results in Specification Change
OCP Journal.indd 3 10-05-14 9:05 PM
job includes designing infrastructure in accordance with applicable codes that will perform its intended purpose throughout its project life. Sometimes those goals can be mutually exclusive. It is critical the professional engineer receive more information from a pipe salesperson’s visit than just a canned sales pitch. The following are sample questions to ask all pipe salespeople whose products may be included in a drainage system covered by the OBC:
1. Do all of your company’s pipe products offered for sale in Ontario meet the OBC?
2. Which products offered for sale in Ontario do not meet the OBC? Explain.
3. Must your products be certified by a testing agency accredited for that purpose by the Standards Council of Canada?
4. May I have a copy of your certification program protocol?
5. What specifications regulate the manufacturing of your products?
6. Do all of your plastic pipe products for drainage systems have a minimum pipe stiffness of 320 kPa as required by the OBC?
7. Do your products meet the leakage requirements of Section 7.3.6.2 and Section 7.3.6.4.
If the salesperson appears vague or unsure of the answers, the professional engineer needs to do his or her due diligence. It is always a good idea to get specific answers in a letter signed by a professional engineer employed by the pipe company.
If engineers responsible for designing, constructing, and inspecting drainage systems in accordance with the OBC included these recommendations in their due diligence, then all parties involved, including the project owners and the public, would be better served.
Canada’s Building RegulationsThe Constitution Act gives provinces and territories the primary responsibility for building regulations in Canada, except for federal government buildings, buildings housing federally regulated industries, and aboriginal lands.
The provinces and territories work with the National Research Council (NRC) to develop and publish model building, fire and plumbing codes that they can adopt as their own. The Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have adopted the National Building Code of Canada (NBC) as their own provincial or territorial code. British Columbia and Alberta have also adopted this code, but changed the name to the British Columbia Building Code (BCBC) and the Alberta Building Code (ABC) respectively. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland do not have province wide building codes but require their major municipalities to use the NBC. The federal government requires conformance with the National Building Code.
Ontario is the only provincial jurisdiction that publishes its own building code. Although based on the National Building Code, about 10 per cent of the OBC is different. However, Ontario has stated a commitment to work with the other provinces and territories to move towards greater harmonization.
PG4
Drainage Systems Under the Ontario Building Code
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By Mike Schmidtler, P.Eng.General Manager, Calgary PipeLafargeIs the use of drainage products other than concrete pipe in or adjacent to major airport facilities really worth the risk? Many design engineers don’t think so. They specify concrete pipe because it doesn’t burn or rust, gains strength over time, and the service life is proven to be longer than 100 years.
Calgary International Airport has a 10-year plan that envisions the development of more than 700 acres of industrial, aviation, and recreational land. The 20-year plan adds another 800 to 900 acres to the city’s industrial land base. Deerfoot North Trade Park will be the CAA’s (Calgary Airport Authority) newest trade park catering to commercial, airside and logistics users. Located adjacent to Deerfoot Trail, the Deerfoot North Trade Park will have convenient access to intermodal transportation in highway and railroad.
When the design engineer prepares tender documents, the owner may conduct a form of value engineering to determine where cost savings might be realized. The design engineer, MMM Group Limited, had specified concrete and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe for the Deerfoot North Deep Utilities and Surface Works, Package #3. The owner determined that there could be capital cost savings by including HDPE pipe in the bid document. CAA then called tenders for the servicing of the Deerfoot North Trade Park with an addendum that had a separate schedule of quantities for alternative pricing, which listed high density polyethylene pipe (HDPE) for portions of the storm sewer. The storm sewer alignment for servicing the park ran adjacent to the access roads and runway infrastructure of the airport.
The Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Concrete Pipe Association (CCPA) was determined to defend the original specification by the design engineer that did not include the addendum for HDPE pipe, and arranged to present a case to the Airport Authority to consider concrete and PVC pipe only for the storm sewer. Jason Finner, P.Eng, Technical Resource Engineer with the Alberta Chapter of the CCPA presented the proper engineering design requirements for HDPE pipe addressing all potential failure modes, and how they can be very different from concrete pipe or even other types of
flexible pipe that are more commonly used. In addition, he showed why owners of buried infrastructure must consider the danger of burning pipe to the public and firefighters, including associated hazardous fumes and explained that by using concrete pipe in and around major transportation facilities, liability can be limited in the case of fire.The contractor, WRD Borger Construction Ltd. was concerned with the tender addendum that called for such a large quantity of large diameter HDPE pipe. The contractor’s experience did not include any project where large diameter HDPE was installed. Subsequently, Lafarge, along with Jason Finner presented similar information to the contractor. Based on the information presented, the CAA accepted the original specification that called for concrete pipe.
Lafarge supplied over 3,700 m (almost 4 km) of reinforced concrete pipe in diameters ranging from 900 mm to 2400 mm in diameter. In addition, the company supplied over 70 manholes ranging in size from 1200 mm in diameter to 2800 x 2800 mm square vaults. The contract for the supply of pipe was $2.4 million and the manholes, $500,000. The Package #3 contract is expected to be completed in the spring of 2010.
These PVC Pipes are certified to CSA B182.4 with a pipe stiffness of 320 kPa and comply with OBC requirements.
Large diameter RCP used for storm sewer installed by contractor.
Ontario Building Code (OBC) requirements for a drainage system constructed in con-junction with a building are complex. It is critical that design professionals gain a firm
understanding to specify code-compliant pipe products.
Gerrard F. Mulhern, P.Eng.Pipe products that do not meet the Ontario Building Code (OBC) are being promoted to engineers and contractors across the province of Ontario on a regular basis. Similarly, pipe products that do not meet the National Plumb-ing Code of Canada (NPC) are also being promoted across the country. Engineers occasionally unwittingly specify products that do not meet OBC re-quirements. These, in turn, are installed by contractors. Both the engineer and contractor are placing themselves in a position of risk by violating the building code. In particular, the engineer could be subject to disciplinary action by the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO). Ignorance of a code is not a defense as far as the PEO is concerned.
Where does the building code apply?
The OBC applies to buildings. Section 1 of Ontario’s Building Code Act, 1992 states:
In this Act building means,
•astructureoccupyinganareagreaterthan10m2 consisting of a wall, roof, and floor, or any of them, or a structural system serving the function thereof, including all plumbing, works, fixtures, and service systems appurtenant thereto;
•astructureoccupyinganareaof10m2 or less that contains plumbing, including the plumbing appurtenant thereto;
•plumbingnotlocatedinastructure;
•asewagesystem;or
•structuresdesignatedinthebuildingcode.
Plumbing under the OBC includes a drainage system. This comprises an assembly of pipes, fittings, fixtures, and appurtenances on a property used to convey sewage and clear water waste to a main sewer or a private sewage disposal system. A drainage system also includes a private sewer, but not a subsoil drainage piping, which is installed underground to intercept and convey subsurface water, and includes foundation drain pipes (e.g. perforated underdrains).
Pipe materials meeting the building code
Section 7.2.5.3. of the OBC states concrete pipe shall conform to CSA A 257 Series, Standards for Circular Concrete Pipe and Manholes. It also states precast reinforced circular concrete manhole sections, catch basins, and fittings shall conform to CSA A 257.4, Precast Reinforced Circular Concrete Manhole Sections, Catch Basins, and Fittings. Concrete pipe and manholes produced in Ontario by the members of the Ontario Concrete Pipe Association meet the requirements of the Ontario Building Code for drainage systems.
Ontario Building Code (OBC) requirements for a drainage system constructed in conjunction with a building are complex. It is critical that design professionals gain a firm understanding to specify code-compliant pipe products.
Section 7.2.5.10. of the OBC states plastic pipe and fittings used underground, outside a building, or under a building in a drainage system shall be certified to:
Plastic pipe shall have a stiffness equal to or greater than 320 kPa. Additional CSA standards for plastic pipe are referenced in the OBC, but for clarity’s sake, only standards primarily used for drainage are listed here.
It is important to highlight some key points in regard to plastic pipe:
•onlyplasticpipesproducedtoCSAstandardsareallowed,exceptforacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) pipe produced to ASTM F 628, Standard Specification for Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) Schedule 40 Plastic Drain, Waste, and Vent Pipe with a Cellular Core;
•high-densitypolyethylene(HDPE)pipeproducedtoAmericanAssociationof State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and ASTM standards are not allowed;
•allplasticpipemustbecertifiedbyatestingagencyaccreditedforthatpurpose by the Standards Council of Canada;
•HDPEpipeproducedtoCSAB182.8,ProfilePolyethylene(PE)StormSewer and Drainage Pipe and Fittings, does not meet the OBC.
Section 7.2.6.8 of the OBC states corrugated steel pipe and couplings shall be certified to CSA G 401, Corrugated Steel Pipe Products. Corrugated steel pipe must be certified by a testing agency accredited for that purpose by the Standards Council of Canada.
However, Section 7.3.6.2. Tests of Pipes in Drainage Systems states: “Every pipe in a drainage system, except an external leader or fixture outlet pipe, shall be capable of withstanding without leakage a water test, air test and final test” and, Section 7.3.6.4. Water Tests in Drain, Waste and Vent Systems states: “Where a water test is made, all joints shall be tested with a water column of not less than 3 m… the system or the section shall be kept filled with water for 15 min”.
Corrugated steel pipe produced in accordance with CAN G401 Corrugated Steel Pipe Products does not meet the leakage requirements of the OBC. In fact no hydrostatic testing is included in CAN G401, unlike standards for reinforced concrete pipe, PVC pipe and HDPE pipe. Hydrostatic tests have been attempted in the past using CSP but with dismal results. Leaky joints result in infiltration and exfiltration and over time will result in sinkholes or a complete failure of the pavement overhead. Failures of this nature pose safety risks, traffic disruption and can impact property values.
Protecting yourself under the building code:
I delivered a presentation entitled “Protecting Yourself as a Gravity Pipe Designer” at an infrastructure seminar in Toronto. The audience included representatives from the various pipe industries. It became apparent during that presentation that some attendees were not as well informed as they should be on piping related issues. One senior representative from a pipe company seemed vague on his understanding of the differences between third party certification and conformance to a specification. Another thought International Organization for Standardization (ISO) registration and third party certification were the same thing. In fact, they are very different. ISO registration does not meet the OBC’s requirement of ‘certified.’
Following the presentation, several questions lingered in light of the audience’s lack of knowledge. How informed is the typical pipe salesperson on these issues when senior management does not appear to understand the concepts? A salesperson’s job is to sell pipe. A professional engineer’s
continued from page 4
continued on page 5
Photo Courtesy of: WRD Borger Construction Ltd.
Airports Not the Place to Gamble with Infrastructure
Drainage Systems Under Building Code
Reprocessed-Recycled Content.
OCP Journal.indd 4 10-05-14 9:05 PM
job includes designing infrastructure in accordance with applicable codes that will perform its intended purpose throughout its project life. Sometimes those goals can be mutually exclusive. It is critical the professional engineer receive more information from a pipe salesperson’s visit than just a canned sales pitch. The following are sample questions to ask all pipe salespeople whose products may be included in a drainage system covered by the OBC:
1. Do all of your company’s pipe products offered for sale in Ontario meet the OBC?
2. Which products offered for sale in Ontario do not meet the OBC? Explain.
3. Must your products be certified by a testing agency accredited for that purpose by the Standards Council of Canada?
4. May I have a copy of your certification program protocol?
5. What specifications regulate the manufacturing of your products?
6. Do all of your plastic pipe products for drainage systems have a minimum pipe stiffness of 320 kPa as required by the OBC?
7. Do your products meet the leakage requirements of Section 7.3.6.2 and Section 7.3.6.4.
If the salesperson appears vague or unsure of the answers, the professional engineer needs to do his or her due diligence. It is always a good idea to get specific answers in a letter signed by a professional engineer employed by the pipe company.
If engineers responsible for designing, constructing, and inspecting drainage systems in accordance with the OBC included these recommendations in their due diligence, then all parties involved, including the project owners and the public, would be better served.
Canada’s Building RegulationsThe Constitution Act gives provinces and territories the primary responsibility for building regulations in Canada, except for federal government buildings, buildings housing federally regulated industries, and aboriginal lands.
The provinces and territories work with the National Research Council (NRC) to develop and publish model building, fire and plumbing codes that they can adopt as their own. The Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have adopted the National Building Code of Canada (NBC) as their own provincial or territorial code. British Columbia and Alberta have also adopted this code, but changed the name to the British Columbia Building Code (BCBC) and the Alberta Building Code (ABC) respectively. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland do not have province wide building codes but require their major municipalities to use the NBC. The federal government requires conformance with the National Building Code.
Ontario is the only provincial jurisdiction that publishes its own building code. Although based on the National Building Code, about 10 per cent of the OBC is different. However, Ontario has stated a commitment to work with the other provinces and territories to move towards greater harmonization.
PG4
Drainage Systems Under the Ontario Building Code
PG5
By Mike Schmidtler, P.Eng.General Manager, Calgary PipeLafargeIs the use of drainage products other than concrete pipe in or adjacent to major airport facilities really worth the risk? Many design engineers don’t think so. They specify concrete pipe because it doesn’t burn or rust, gains strength over time, and the service life is proven to be longer than 100 years.
Calgary International Airport has a 10-year plan that envisions the development of more than 700 acres of industrial, aviation, and recreational land. The 20-year plan adds another 800 to 900 acres to the city’s industrial land base. Deerfoot North Trade Park will be the CAA’s (Calgary Airport Authority) newest trade park catering to commercial, airside and logistics users. Located adjacent to Deerfoot Trail, the Deerfoot North Trade Park will have convenient access to intermodal transportation in highway and railroad.
When the design engineer prepares tender documents, the owner may conduct a form of value engineering to determine where cost savings might be realized. The design engineer, MMM Group Limited, had specified concrete and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe for the Deerfoot North Deep Utilities and Surface Works, Package #3. The owner determined that there could be capital cost savings by including HDPE pipe in the bid document. CAA then called tenders for the servicing of the Deerfoot North Trade Park with an addendum that had a separate schedule of quantities for alternative pricing, which listed high density polyethylene pipe (HDPE) for portions of the storm sewer. The storm sewer alignment for servicing the park ran adjacent to the access roads and runway infrastructure of the airport.
The Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Concrete Pipe Association (CCPA) was determined to defend the original specification by the design engineer that did not include the addendum for HDPE pipe, and arranged to present a case to the Airport Authority to consider concrete and PVC pipe only for the storm sewer. Jason Finner, P.Eng, Technical Resource Engineer with the Alberta Chapter of the CCPA presented the proper engineering design requirements for HDPE pipe addressing all potential failure modes, and how they can be very different from concrete pipe or even other types of
flexible pipe that are more commonly used. In addition, he showed why owners of buried infrastructure must consider the danger of burning pipe to the public and firefighters, including associated hazardous fumes and explained that by using concrete pipe in and around major transportation facilities, liability can be limited in the case of fire.The contractor, WRD Borger Construction Ltd. was concerned with the tender addendum that called for such a large quantity of large diameter HDPE pipe. The contractor’s experience did not include any project where large diameter HDPE was installed. Subsequently, Lafarge, along with Jason Finner presented similar information to the contractor. Based on the information presented, the CAA accepted the original specification that called for concrete pipe.
Lafarge supplied over 3,700 m (almost 4 km) of reinforced concrete pipe in diameters ranging from 900 mm to 2400 mm in diameter. In addition, the company supplied over 70 manholes ranging in size from 1200 mm in diameter to 2800 x 2800 mm square vaults. The contract for the supply of pipe was $2.4 million and the manholes, $500,000. The Package #3 contract is expected to be completed in the spring of 2010.
These PVC Pipes are certified to CSA B182.4 with a pipe stiffness of 320 kPa and comply with OBC requirements.
Large diameter RCP used for storm sewer installed by contractor.
Ontario Building Code (OBC) requirements for a drainage system constructed in con-junction with a building are complex. It is critical that design professionals gain a firm
understanding to specify code-compliant pipe products.
Gerrard F. Mulhern, P.Eng.Pipe products that do not meet the Ontario Building Code (OBC) are being promoted to engineers and contractors across the province of Ontario on a regular basis. Similarly, pipe products that do not meet the National Plumb-ing Code of Canada (NPC) are also being promoted across the country. Engineers occasionally unwittingly specify products that do not meet OBC re-quirements. These, in turn, are installed by contractors. Both the engineer and contractor are placing themselves in a position of risk by violating the building code. In particular, the engineer could be subject to disciplinary action by the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO). Ignorance of a code is not a defense as far as the PEO is concerned.
Where does the building code apply?
The OBC applies to buildings. Section 1 of Ontario’s Building Code Act, 1992 states:
In this Act building means,
•astructureoccupyinganareagreaterthan10m2 consisting of a wall, roof, and floor, or any of them, or a structural system serving the function thereof, including all plumbing, works, fixtures, and service systems appurtenant thereto;
•astructureoccupyinganareaof10m2 or less that contains plumbing, including the plumbing appurtenant thereto;
•plumbingnotlocatedinastructure;
•asewagesystem;or
•structuresdesignatedinthebuildingcode.
Plumbing under the OBC includes a drainage system. This comprises an assembly of pipes, fittings, fixtures, and appurtenances on a property used to convey sewage and clear water waste to a main sewer or a private sewage disposal system. A drainage system also includes a private sewer, but not a subsoil drainage piping, which is installed underground to intercept and convey subsurface water, and includes foundation drain pipes (e.g. perforated underdrains).
Pipe materials meeting the building code
Section 7.2.5.3. of the OBC states concrete pipe shall conform to CSA A 257 Series, Standards for Circular Concrete Pipe and Manholes. It also states precast reinforced circular concrete manhole sections, catch basins, and fittings shall conform to CSA A 257.4, Precast Reinforced Circular Concrete Manhole Sections, Catch Basins, and Fittings. Concrete pipe and manholes produced in Ontario by the members of the Ontario Concrete Pipe Association meet the requirements of the Ontario Building Code for drainage systems.
Ontario Building Code (OBC) requirements for a drainage system constructed in conjunction with a building are complex. It is critical that design professionals gain a firm understanding to specify code-compliant pipe products.
Section 7.2.5.10. of the OBC states plastic pipe and fittings used underground, outside a building, or under a building in a drainage system shall be certified to:
Plastic pipe shall have a stiffness equal to or greater than 320 kPa. Additional CSA standards for plastic pipe are referenced in the OBC, but for clarity’s sake, only standards primarily used for drainage are listed here.
It is important to highlight some key points in regard to plastic pipe:
•onlyplasticpipesproducedtoCSAstandardsareallowed,exceptforacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) pipe produced to ASTM F 628, Standard Specification for Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) Schedule 40 Plastic Drain, Waste, and Vent Pipe with a Cellular Core;
•high-densitypolyethylene(HDPE)pipeproducedtoAmericanAssociationof State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and ASTM standards are not allowed;
•allplasticpipemustbecertifiedbyatestingagencyaccreditedforthatpurpose by the Standards Council of Canada;
•HDPEpipeproducedtoCSAB182.8,ProfilePolyethylene(PE)StormSewer and Drainage Pipe and Fittings, does not meet the OBC.
Section 7.2.6.8 of the OBC states corrugated steel pipe and couplings shall be certified to CSA G 401, Corrugated Steel Pipe Products. Corrugated steel pipe must be certified by a testing agency accredited for that purpose by the Standards Council of Canada.
However, Section 7.3.6.2. Tests of Pipes in Drainage Systems states: “Every pipe in a drainage system, except an external leader or fixture outlet pipe, shall be capable of withstanding without leakage a water test, air test and final test” and, Section 7.3.6.4. Water Tests in Drain, Waste and Vent Systems states: “Where a water test is made, all joints shall be tested with a water column of not less than 3 m… the system or the section shall be kept filled with water for 15 min”.
Corrugated steel pipe produced in accordance with CAN G401 Corrugated Steel Pipe Products does not meet the leakage requirements of the OBC. In fact no hydrostatic testing is included in CAN G401, unlike standards for reinforced concrete pipe, PVC pipe and HDPE pipe. Hydrostatic tests have been attempted in the past using CSP but with dismal results. Leaky joints result in infiltration and exfiltration and over time will result in sinkholes or a complete failure of the pavement overhead. Failures of this nature pose safety risks, traffic disruption and can impact property values.
Protecting yourself under the building code:
I delivered a presentation entitled “Protecting Yourself as a Gravity Pipe Designer” at an infrastructure seminar in Toronto. The audience included representatives from the various pipe industries. It became apparent during that presentation that some attendees were not as well informed as they should be on piping related issues. One senior representative from a pipe company seemed vague on his understanding of the differences between third party certification and conformance to a specification. Another thought International Organization for Standardization (ISO) registration and third party certification were the same thing. In fact, they are very different. ISO registration does not meet the OBC’s requirement of ‘certified.’
Following the presentation, several questions lingered in light of the audience’s lack of knowledge. How informed is the typical pipe salesperson on these issues when senior management does not appear to understand the concepts? A salesperson’s job is to sell pipe. A professional engineer’s
continued from page 4
continued on page 5
Photo Courtesy of: WRD Borger Construction Ltd.
Airports Not the Place to Gamble with Infrastructure
Drainage Systems Under Building Code
Reprocessed-Recycled Content.
OCP Journal.indd 5 10-05-14 9:05 PM
PG6
The 2010 Ontario Concrete Pipe Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held at Langdon Hall near Cambridge, Ontario on February 9, 2010. The Technical Committee and the Marketing Committee held combined meetings at Langdon Hall prior to the AGM and the Board of Directors also met that day. The meeting was attended by concrete pipe and precast concrete producers from across Ontario as well as supplier members. The day concluded with the President’s Reception and group dinner.
Ontario Concrete Pipe Association will hold Technical and Marketing meetings at The Rosseau – A JW Marriott Resort – Muskoka, Ontario on September 30 to October 1.
Overlooking Lake Rosseau, this resort is the first of its kind in Canada, located only 2.5 hours north of Toronto.
This Ontario resort boasts an array of indoor and outdoor activities for all seasons.
The Rosseau offers a year-round indoor-
Trevor Moran, has been hired by the Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Concrete Pipe Association as the Association’s Technical Resources Engineer to advance concrete pipe awareness and sales. He recently worked in the oil and gas industry designing pipelines and well site facilities for natural gas and oil production ensuring adherence to specific regulatory requirements. Trevor is experienced in overseeing construction activities and troubleshooting field issues with project inspectors, managing energy industry projects and designing subdivisions and roadways. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta with a B.Sc. in civil engineering.
outdoor pool and luxurious Spa Rosseau.
The resort includes a world-class golf course – The Rock, a Faldo Course.
The meeting is open to employees of all member companies of OCPA and to invited guests.
Similar to the 2009 meetings at Niagara-on-the-Lake we look forward to seeing delegates from across Canada and the United States in Muskoka. Additional information will be available on www.ocpa.com.
Annual General Meeting Held at Langdon Hall
OCPA 2010 Fall Meetings in Muskoka, Ontario
New Technical Resources Engineer for CCPA Alberta Chapter
PG7
we’ve got you covered.Hanson is the leading provider of concrete
pipe, manholes, catch basins, box culverts,
Quickspan™ bridges and Stormceptor®
products, backed by the most experienced
design & technical support team in the
business. Trust Hanson to help you
weather the storm.
www.hansonpipeandprecast.com
Cambridge: Head Office888.888.3222
Ottawa800.833.7540
Whitby800.265.1354
Windsor888.880.8006
delivering high quality product.State of the art equipment
1.800.461.5632
Professor R. Doug Hooton Awarded New Chair in Concrete Durability and Sustainability
The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering is at the forefront of innovation when it comes to concrete, sustainability and engineering solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues. In April Professor Doug Hooton from the University of Toronto received recognition from the industry and the federal government. Professor Hooton was appointed Chairholder of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council(NSERC)ofCanada/CementAssociationofCanadaIndustrialResearch Chair in Concrete Durability and Sustainability.
“Industrial Research Chairholders have to be outstanding researchers, able to build and nurture successful relationships with their industrial partners,” says Suzanne Fortier, president of NSERC. “Dr. Hooton is an excellent example of this blend of talent and skills. The Canadian cement and concrete industries will benefit greatly from his research goal to produce stronger, higher quality building materials.”
The Chair’s funding is valued at $1.8 million over five years with contributions from the University of Toronto, NSERC, the Cement Association of Canada, Holcim Canada and Whitemud Resources. The financial award will create a new tenure-track faculty position in this area and also allow for funding graduate student and research associate positions. The goal of the Research Chair is to provide innovative and effective approaches to improve both the environmental sustainability and durability of concrete, as well as to provide leadership in development of specifications and industry standards. Enhancing the durability of concrete, while incorporating recycled local materials, improves the sustainability of buildings and infrastructure.
“This Chair will help focus research and teaching in an area that is critical to making informed choices in infrastructure renewal and addressing the environmental and energy sustainability challenges facing the cement, concrete and construction industries,” said Dr. Hooton. “This area is of utmost importance to the Canadian cement industry and to Canadian industry and infrastructure as a whole, and I want to thank NSERC and the industrial partners for their commitment, even in tough economic times.”Some of Professor Hooton’s discoveries in the chemical degradation of concrete by alkali-silica reaction and in the rate of penetration of de-icing salts leading to corrosion of steel in concrete bridges have been adopted by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario as well as in Canadian (CSA) and US (ASTM) standards. He is also using sophisticated nanotechnology level tools to examine the chemistry and mineralogy of concrete and to investigate its durability. He also hopes to use ‘particle packing’ down to the nano level to make what he calls “quantum leaps” in the properties and durability of concrete.
“Professor Hooton is a leading innovator in the important field of sustainable concrete engineering and cement research,” said Cristina Amon, Dean, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. “We are grateful to NSERC and our industrial partners for enhancing our efforts to address concrete sustainability and its environmental implications in the infrastructure renewal.”
State and local governments across the United States may have to replace their water systems because of defective pipes, according to a whistle-blower lawsuit unsealed earlier this year. Regardless of the outcome, this case should be of interest to engineers across North America who are involved in the specification of pipes for gravity and pressure applications.
The whistle-blower, John Hendrix, accuses his former employer, one of the world’s largest pipe manufacturers, of falsifying test results about the quality of its products. Pipes that should last 50 years are in some cases rupturing in their very first year, according to Mr. Hendrix and some state documents. This can lead to explosions, leaks, fires and other dangers.
Officials of the company, JM Eagle, dispute the allegations and say that the tests were done correctly.
Mr. Hendrix said he uncovered the problem after he was asked to oversee the certification of a new manufacturing process that put the pipes through a prescribed battery of tests. He concluded that JM Eagle had been selling substandard plastic pipe since 1996, and that it had subsequently manipulated test results.
When he told his superiors of his concerns, they said the problems were a normal “business risk,” according to the complaint. When he pressed harder, he was fired.
Mr. Hendrix then began a whistle-blower lawsuit under federal and state statutes that allow private citizens to file on behalf of government agencies if they suspect a fraud. In his lawsuit, he asserts that less than half of JM Eagle’s pipe would have qualified for sale if it had been properly tested. “It became
apparent to me that this was being done intentionally,” he said in an interview.
Some states, cities and water districts have already experienced leaking, cracking and exploding pipes made of PVC, or polyvinyl chloride. Many are now joining Mr. Hendrix’s lawsuit, filed in United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Nevada, Virginia, Delaware, Tennessee and more than 40 water authorities in California have decided to take part.
Nevada recently spent $5 million replacing a three-quarter-mile section of a water main that supplies a large prison south of Las Vegas. The original pipe, made by JM Eagle, had been rupturing several times a year, baffling state officials and costing tens of thousands of dollars a year to repair. Other states and cities are still reviewing the allegations and deciding whether to participate. The cost of repairing or replacing the defective pipes is not known, but could run into many millions of dollars for each of the affected systems.
JM Eagle, a successor to Johns Manville that was once based in Livingston, N.J., and now has its headquarters in Los Angeles, has operated a dozen manufacturing plants across the United States, claiming about 60 per cent of the American market for new water pipes. It also sells to Mexico and Canada, suggesting problems could be more widespread.
A company spokesman, said the company “stands 100 per cent behind the quality of our products.” He said that the company would not have been able to gain such a large share of the market if it had not been satisfying its customers year after year.
If Mr. Hendrix’s allegations are borne out, it is not clear who will pay to repair the faulty water systems.
Bursting Plastic Pipes Leads to a Legal Battle in the United States
Doug Hooton, F.ACI, F. ASTM, F. ACerS, is the NSERC/Cement Association of Canada Senior Industrial Research Chair in Concrete Durability and Sustainability in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto. He is a member of numerous CSA, ASTM, ACI and RILEM committees. His research over the last 35 years has focused on the performance of both cementitious materials and concrete, as well as on sustainability issues and durability of concrete.
Dr. R. Doug Hooton
OCP Journal.indd 6 10-05-14 9:05 PM
PG6
The 2010 Ontario Concrete Pipe Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held at Langdon Hall near Cambridge, Ontario on February 9, 2010. The Technical Committee and the Marketing Committee held combined meetings at Langdon Hall prior to the AGM and the Board of Directors also met that day. The meeting was attended by concrete pipe and precast concrete producers from across Ontario as well as supplier members. The day concluded with the President’s Reception and group dinner.
Ontario Concrete Pipe Association will hold Technical and Marketing meetings at The Rosseau – A JW Marriott Resort – Muskoka, Ontario on September 30 to October 1.
Overlooking Lake Rosseau, this resort is the first of its kind in Canada, located only 2.5 hours north of Toronto.
This Ontario resort boasts an array of indoor and outdoor activities for all seasons.
The Rosseau offers a year-round indoor-
Trevor Moran, has been hired by the Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Concrete Pipe Association as the Association’s Technical Resources Engineer to advance concrete pipe awareness and sales. He recently worked in the oil and gas industry designing pipelines and well site facilities for natural gas and oil production ensuring adherence to specific regulatory requirements. Trevor is experienced in overseeing construction activities and troubleshooting field issues with project inspectors, managing energy industry projects and designing subdivisions and roadways. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta with a B.Sc. in civil engineering.
outdoor pool and luxurious Spa Rosseau.
The resort includes a world-class golf course – The Rock, a Faldo Course.
The meeting is open to employees of all member companies of OCPA and to invited guests.
Similar to the 2009 meetings at Niagara-on-the-Lake we look forward to seeing delegates from across Canada and the United States in Muskoka. Additional information will be available on www.ocpa.com.
Annual General MeetingHeld at Langdon Hall
OCPA 2010 Fall Meetings in Muskoka, Ontario
New Technical Resources Engineer for CCPA Alberta Chapter
PG7
we’ve got you covered.Hanson is the leading provider of concrete
pipe, manholes, catch basins, box culverts,
Quickspan™ bridges and Stormceptor®
products, backed by the most experienced
design & technical support team in the
business. Trust Hanson to help you
weather the storm.
www.hansonpipeandprecast.com
Cambridge: Head Office888.888.3222
Ottawa800.833.7540
Whitby800.265.1354
Windsor888.880.8006
delivering high quality product.State of the art equipment
1.800.461.5632
Professor R. Doug Hooton Awarded New Chair in Concrete Durability and Sustainability
The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering is at the forefront of innovation when it comes to concrete, sustainability and engineering solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues. In April Professor Doug Hooton from the University of Toronto received recognition from the industry and the federal government. Professor Hooton was appointed Chairholder of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council(NSERC)ofCanada/CementAssociationofCanadaIndustrialResearch Chair in Concrete Durability and Sustainability.
“Industrial Research Chairholders have to be outstanding researchers, able to build and nurture successful relationships with their industrial partners,” says Suzanne Fortier, president of NSERC. “Dr. Hooton is an excellent example of this blend of talent and skills. The Canadian cement and concrete industries will benefit greatly from his research goal to produce stronger, higher quality building materials.”
The Chair’s funding is valued at $1.8 million over five years with contributions from the University of Toronto, NSERC, the Cement Association of Canada, Holcim Canada and Whitemud Resources. The financial award will create a new tenure-track faculty position in this area and also allow for funding graduate student and research associate positions. The goal of the Research Chair is to provide innovative and effective approaches to improve both the environmental sustainability and durability of concrete, as well as to provide leadership in development of specifications and industry standards. Enhancing the durability of concrete, while incorporating recycled local materials, improves the sustainability of buildings and infrastructure.
“This Chair will help focus research and teaching in an area that is critical to making informed choices in infrastructure renewal and addressing the environmental and energy sustainability challenges facing the cement, concrete and construction industries,” said Dr. Hooton. “This area is of utmost importance to the Canadian cement industry and to Canadian industry and infrastructure as a whole, and I want to thank NSERC and the industrial partners for their commitment, even in tough economic times.”Some of Professor Hooton’s discoveries in the chemical degradation of concrete by alkali-silica reaction and in the rate of penetration of de-icing salts leading to corrosion of steel in concrete bridges have been adopted by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario as well as in Canadian (CSA) and US (ASTM) standards. He is also using sophisticated nanotechnology level tools to examine the chemistry and mineralogy of concrete and to investigate its durability. He also hopes to use ‘particle packing’ down to the nano level to make what he calls “quantum leaps” in the properties and durability of concrete.
“Professor Hooton is a leading innovator in the important field of sustainable concrete engineering and cement research,” said Cristina Amon, Dean, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. “We are grateful to NSERC and our industrial partners for enhancing our efforts to address concrete sustainability and its environmental implications in the infrastructure renewal.”
State and local governments across the United States may have to replace their water systems because of defective pipes, according to a whistle-blower lawsuit unsealed earlier this year. Regardless of the outcome, this case should be of interest to engineers across North America who are involved in the specification of pipes for gravity and pressure applications.
The whistle-blower, John Hendrix, accuses his former employer, one of the world’s largest pipe manufacturers, of falsifying test results about the quality of its products. Pipes that should last 50 years are in some cases rupturing in their very first year, according to Mr. Hendrix and some state documents. This can lead to explosions, leaks, fires and other dangers.
Officials of the company, JM Eagle, dispute the allegations and say that the tests were done correctly.
Mr. Hendrix said he uncovered the problem after he was asked to oversee the certification of a new manufacturing process that put the pipes through a prescribed battery of tests. He concluded that JM Eagle had been selling substandard plastic pipe since 1996, and that it had subsequently manipulated test results.
When he told his superiors of his concerns, they said the problems were a normal “business risk,” according to the complaint. When he pressed harder, he was fired.
Mr. Hendrix then began a whistle-blower lawsuit under federal and state statutes that allow private citizens to file on behalf of government agencies if they suspect a fraud. In his lawsuit, he asserts that less than half of JM Eagle’s pipe would have qualified for sale if it had been properly tested. “It became
apparent to me that this was being done intentionally,” he said in an interview.
Some states, cities and water districts have already experienced leaking, cracking and exploding pipes made of PVC, or polyvinyl chloride. Many are now joining Mr. Hendrix’s lawsuit, filed in United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Nevada, Virginia, Delaware, Tennessee and more than 40 water authorities in California have decided to take part.
Nevada recently spent $5 million replacing a three-quarter-mile section of a water main that supplies a large prison south of Las Vegas. The original pipe, made by JM Eagle, had been rupturing several times a year, baffling state officials and costing tens of thousands of dollars a year to repair. Other states and cities are still reviewing the allegations and deciding whether to participate. The cost of repairing or replacing the defective pipes is not known, but could run into many millions of dollars for each of the affected systems.
JM Eagle, a successor to Johns Manville that was once based in Livingston, N.J., and now has its headquarters in Los Angeles, has operated a dozen manufacturing plants across the United States, claiming about 60 per cent of the American market for new water pipes. It also sells to Mexico and Canada, suggesting problems could be more widespread.
A company spokesman, said the company “stands 100 per cent behind the quality of our products.” He said that the company would not have been able to gain such a large share of the market if it had not been satisfying its customers year after year.
If Mr. Hendrix’s allegations are borne out, it is not clear who will pay to repair the faulty water systems.
Bursting Plastic Pipes Leads to a Legal Battle in the United States
Doug Hooton, F.ACI, F. ASTM, F. ACerS, is the NSERC/Cement Association of Canada Senior Industrial Research Chair in Concrete Durability and Sustainability in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto. He is a member of numerous CSA, ASTM, ACI and RILEM committees. His research over the last 35 years has focused on the performance of both cementitious materials and concrete, as well as on sustainability issues and durability of concrete.
Dr. R. Doug Hooton
OCP Journal.indd 7 10-05-14 9:05 PM
PG8
Concrete Pipe/Drainage Products Producer
Con Cast PipeLocation: Guelph, ONTel: 1-800-668-7473Fax: 519-763-1982Email: [email protected]: www.concastpipe.comContact: Brian Wood or Jason Spencer
Stepcon Industries Inc. Location: Mississauga, ONTel: 1-888-783-7266Fax: 905-897-6001Email: [email protected]: www.stepconindustriesinc.comContact: Michael Greer
Precast Manufacturing Equipment and AccessoriesMel C. Marshall Industrial Consultants Inc.Location: Delta, BCTel: 604-943-8512Fax: 604-943-2738Email: [email protected]: www.precastconcretebc.comContact: Mel Marshall or Braden Marshall
J D Industrial SalesLocation: Cambridge, ON Tel: 519-267-4340Cell: 519-841-2554Fax: 888-463-7598Email: [email protected]: Drew Black
businesspipeline
calendarofeventsOACETTAGM and ConferenceJune 3 - 5, 2010Muskoka, ONwww.oacett.org
Consulting Engineers of Ontario Annual Conference and AwardsJune 9 - 10, 2010Huntsville, ONwww.ceo.on.ca
American Public Works Association Congress and ExpositionAugust 15 - 18, 2010Boston, MAwww.apwa.org
American Society for Testing and Materials C13 Committee on Concrete PipeSeptember 19 – 22, 2010Chicago, ILwww.astm.org
Transportation Association of Canada 2010 Annual Conference & ExhibitionSeptember 26 - 29, 2010 Halifax, NSwww.tac-atc.ca
Ontario Concrete Pipe Association Technical and Marketing MeetingsSept 30 - Oct 1, 2010The Rosseau, A JW Marriott Resort & SpaMuskoka, ONwww.ocpa.com
National Precast Concrete Association NPCA 45th Annual ConventionOctober 21 - 25, 2010Vancouver, BCwww.precast.org
Daniel Léger joined the Hamilton Kent sales team as Territory Manager in January. He has 15 years of experience in all aspects of sales, most recently in the field of materials handling. Daniel is fluent in French and English, so will adapt easily to serving as the Territory Manager for Ontario and Quebec. He will be responsible for maintaining Hamilton Kent’s existing business as well as growing their business with new products and spreading their message of watertight infrastructure.
