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This new case study publication offers information on a recent stormwater detention project at Akron-Canton Airport, Ohio, USA, where contractors and designers decided to change their specification and opt for concrete pipes as preferred material over HDPE in order to save on size and design requirements and occupy a smaller footprint for the installation.The use of concrete pipes helped save considerable time, money and resource. A copy of the Case Study can be downloaded from here.

CPSA has been recognised again for its innovative concrete pipe lifter solution, in the Construction Products Association 2012 edition of Construction Products Innovation and Achievement (CPIA).
The pipe lifter is one of only 18 products nationwide selected for this year’s publication and is one of only nine products to make the Health, Safety and Security category. Commenting on the achievement, Simon Storer, Communications and External Affairs Director, for the Construction Products Association said: “We are delighted that the construction products industry has once again demonstrated an enormous desire to introduce a variety of new and exciting solutions. Despite the construction industry suffering more than most sectors during the current downturn, one only needs to look at the products and processes showcased in CPIA to highlight the huge impact the industry is making towards change”.2012 saw a sharp increase in demand for the new innovation which has revolutionized the process of handling and installation of concrete pipes, making it safer, quicker and cheaper at the same time. The concrete pipe lifter is already the H&S category winner of this year’s Water Industry Achievement Award (WIAA). It was also shortlisted for the Highways Magazine Excellence Awards.

The Autumn 2012 edition of CPSAs eNewsletter Pipelines is now available. Click here for news on the latest edition of Sewers for Adoption, information on how to reduce the cost of pipeline installation and details on CPSAs innovation to improve site safety.

The seventh edition of the wastewater industry guide for acceptance and adoption of sewers in England and Wales, “Sewers for Adoption” (SfA) has now been published. For the first time, the new issue of SfA includes smaller sewers and lateral drains that were previously the responsibility of property owners. SfA7 also introduces further changes designed to reduce the differences in requirements between the water companies. SfA7 includes alternative construction details for manholes; a direct result of recently introduced circular precast base manhole systems by CPSA members. These new manholes provide a safer method of construction plus time and installed cost savings and have already been used by water companies for over two years.

SfA7 also introduces new Best-Practice measures including a requirement to avoid point loading and overstressing of the joints of manhole rings., Clause E6.4 “Precast Concrete Manholes, Chambers and Wet Well” sub-clause 3 states “Joints shall be made so that the required jointing material fills the joint cavity. Concrete to concrete contact across the joint shall not be permitted”. All members of CPSA make products that fully comply with these new requirements.

A sinkhole developed on Sept 4th 2012 at 5:10pm on Highway 174 near Ottawa, Ontario as a result of a Corrugated Steel Pipe collapse. A motorist drove in to the hole but escaped with minor injuries as his car was almost stopped at that time. The highway is still closed in the eastbound direction and traffic chaos has resulted. The cost of repairs is estimated to be $6 million. Watch the Canadian News Channel CBC News report from the 4:16 -6:38 minute marks in the clip (after the ads)There is already a history of highway sinkholes caused by collapse of flexible or semi-flexible culvert systems used under roads. In 2008 a news channel reporter in Freeport, Maine,captured the moment on video as a corrugated steel pipe culvert broke loose during heavy rainfall causing the road above it to collapse.