TPi March 2019

Plastic & composite tubes

Polypipe helps Siemens in car park construction

and Permavoid, as the initial design was over budget. 2,700 Polystorm-R cells, 600 Permavoid Medium Duty with Biomat cells and more than 600m of Permachannel. By utilising the Permavoid and Polystorm range in conjunction, Polypipe was able to re-work the design while still allowing the controlled water treatment and surface water run-off across the site as per the initial design. Polystorm-R is designed for use in trafficked areas with a compressive strength of 61 tonnes/m 2 . Its modular structure made it suitable for use within the site’s restricted areas, where the car park was being installed around existing buildings. By supporting PP O’Connor through the tender process, Polypipe worked with all parties to The solution included

supply a system that delivered cost savings compared to the original plan for the scheme. Chris Reilly, commercial director at PP O’Connor, said, “We were able to work with Polypipe to supply a cost-effective, reliable and easy-to-install system that helped the client significantly reduce costs without compromising the quality of the final car park. “Using Polystorm and Permavoid provided us with an ideal solution for a large car park and with further expansion in the pipeline at this site we will be able to put a similar system in place.” The development is expected to be fully developed by 2020. Polypipe – UK www.polypipe.com

Polypipe’s water management systems have been installed across a new 500-space car park that will service an expanding science park complex in Manchester, UK. The two-hectare mixed-use Siemens Campus complex includes a £65mn private hospital, 92 new homes and commercial space. With many visitors expected on the site, close to Manchester’s main road network links, a large car park was required to provide ample parking space. Polypipe was called upon by PP O’Connor, the appointed principal con- tractor for the scheme, and worked in conjunction with supply and install partner Hydro WMS to offer a geo- cellular storm-water management with treatment solution utilising Polystorm geocellular

New PP-R piping systems document from PPI The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc (PPI) has announced the publication of a techni- cal document relating to the proper integration of copper tubing and com- ponents with random copolymerised polypropylene (PP-R) piping materials for plumbing applications. mixed-material plumbing systems which combine copper with PP-R piping materials, it is critically important to limit flow velocities through each copper component to ensure that flow- accelerated corrosion of the copper components will sure Steering Committee within its Building & Construction Division to focus on polypropylene pressure pipe. Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc – USA www.plasticpipe.org

not result. This is important for the longevity of both the copper and the PP-R piping materials.” TN-57 explains the reasons for this poten- tial concern, and how plumbing designers can avoid issues that cause this kind of fail- ure. PPI is a trade associa- tion representing all segments of the plas- tic pipe industry, and recently announced the formation of the Polypropylene Pres-

PPI TN-57 ‘Proper Integration of Copper Tubing and Components with PP-R Piping Materials for Plumbing Applications’ describes how improper or excessive flow rates within plumbing systems that contain copper materials (eg tubing, fittings and valves) combined with PP-R piping materials can result in premature failure of both the copper components and the PP-R materials, potentially resulting in plumbing system leaks. The problem is exacerbated by operating the system above 60°C (140°F) for extended periods of time. According to Lance MacNevin, P Eng, director of engineering for PPI’s Building & Construction Division, “In

Plumbing systems that combine copper with PP-R piping materials are appropriate as long as the flow rate within the copper components is not excessive, according to the PPI

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March 2019 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL