FAQ

Products

1. What products does Hanson Pressure Pipe provide?
2. What products does Hanson Pressure Pipe provide that can be used for water applications?
3. Is Hanson involved in any projects now where we might have seen your products?
4. What is the difference between prestressed concrete lined cylinder pipe (L-301) and prestressed concrete embedded cylinder pipe (E-301)?
5. When calculating head losses, what Hazen-Williams friction coefficient should I use for concrete pressure pipe?
6. What is a good value to use for the pressure wave velocity for concrete pressure pipe when performing a surge analysis?
7. Can concrete pressure pipe be installed on pile supports? If so, how is this done?
8. How are fittings constructed for use with concrete pressure pipe?
9. Why are the bedding and backfill techniques for prestressed concrete pipe more economical than for flexible pipe materials such as steel and ductile iron?
10. Can concrete pressure pipe be installed underwater?
11. Why is the corrosion protection system for concrete pressure pipe so effective?
12. Is there a design standard for prestressed concrete pressure pipe?
13. Is there a design procedure for bar-wrapped concrete cylinder pipe (C-303)?
14. What are some of the applications for concrete pressure pipe?
15. What is the difference between prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (C301) and bar-wrapped concrete cylinder pipe (C303)?
16.When it comes to corrosion protection, what is the major difference between concrete pressure pipe and ductile iron pipe?

HeidelbergCement

1. Aren’t you HeidelbergCement now?
2. When did the sale take effect?
3. Who is HeidelbergCement and why did they acquire Hanson?
4. Where is HeidelbergCement’s corporate headquarters?

General Business

1. Where are the corporate headquarters?
2. How many manufacturing facilities does Hanson operate?
3. Where are they located?
4. How many pressure pipe facilities are there and where are they located?
5. How many employees does Hanson Pressure Pipe have?
6. Who is Hanson Pressure Pipe’s parent company?
7. What distinguishes Hanson Pressure Pipe from its competitors?
8. How long has Hanson Pressure Pipe been in business?
9. Who are your customers?
10. What are your annual sales?

Products

Q: What products does Hanson Pressure Pipe provide?

A: Hanson produces concrete and steel pressure pipe, which is used in water transportation systems, raw water intake, plant piping, subaqueous and elevated pipes, outfalls, cooling water and gravity sewers.

Q: What products does Hanson Pressure Pipe provide that can be used for water applications?

A: Concrete and steel pressure pipe used for water transportation systems, raw water intake, plant piping, subaqueous and elevated pipes, outfalls, cooling water and gravity sewers are available in a wide range of lengths and diameters and are ready to stand up to the demands of the toughest applications.

Q: Is Hanson involved in any projects now where we might have seen your products?

A: Hanson Pressure Pipe was an important part of the North Texas Municipal Water District’s project to transport water from an innovative artificial wetland to thirsty North Texans. Hanson produced 30,000 feet of 84-inch diameter 0.376-inch wall steel pipe lined with cement mortar and externally coated with polyurethane.

Hanson Pressure Pipe is supplying $7 million worth of pipe and fittings to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District for the construction of the Harbor Siphons. Harbor Siphons, an $88 million project, will expand the capacity of the District’s interceptor system to deliver sewage flows equal to capacity of the north wastewater treatment plant.

Q: What is the difference between prestressed concrete lined cylinder pipe (L-301) and prestressed concrete embedded cylinder pipe (E-301)?

A: The manufacture of both Lined Cylinder Pipe and Embedded Cylinder Pipe are covered in the AWWA C301 standard. The difference between these two pipe types is based on how they are manufactured. There are no performance differences between the two. Lined Cylinder Pipe has the structural concrete core formed by spinning the steel cylinder and joint ring assembly and introducing fresh concrete inside. Centrifugal force causes the concrete to form in a layer on the inside surface of the steel cylinder. Once the concrete core has been cured, prestressing wire is helically wrapped onto the outside surface of the steel cylinder. The AWWA C301 standard allows the manufacture of this pipe in diameters 16” through 60”. Embedded cylinder pipe is manufactured by placing the steel cylinder and joint ring assembly inside of a pair of vertical steel forms and introducing the concrete in from the top of the forms. The concrete fills the space both inside and outside of the steel cylinder. Once the concrete core has cured, the prestressing wire is then helically wrapped onto the outside surface of the concrete core. The AWWA C301 standard allows the manufacture of this pipe in diameters 24” and larger.

Q: When calculating head losses, what Hazen-Williams friction coefficient should I use for concrete pressure pipe?

A: The AWWA M9 Manual for Concrete Pressure Pipe recommends, in Chapter 3, Hydraulics, the following Hazen-Williams friction coefficients:

Pipe Diameters 16” thru 48”: 140
Pipe Diameters 54” thru 108”: 145
Pipe Diameters 114” and larger: 150

Q: What is a good value to use for the pressure wave velocity for concrete pressure pipe when performing a surge analysis?

A: Information for the pressure wave velocity for concrete pressure pipe can be found in chapter 4 of the AWWA M9 for Concrete Pressure Pipe.

Q: Can concrete pressure pipe be installed on pile supports? Ifso, how is this done?

A: Yes, concrete pressure pipe can be installed on pile supports either below ground or aerially. In this case, the pipe lengths must be designed for the crushing load at each support and for the effects of longitudinal bending. If the pipe is to be installed aerially, appropriate supplemental exterior protection must be applied to counter the effects of atmospheric exposure. Refer to Chapter 10 in the AWWA M9 Manual for more details regarding this installation method.

Q: How are fittings constructed for use with concrete pressure pipe?

A: Fittings for concrete pressure pipe such as elbows, tees, branch wyes, adapters, and reducers are constructed with steel plate rolled, cut, and welded. Usually, the interior and exterior surfaces receive a portland cement mortar protective coating. For fittings used with pre-stressed concrete pressure pipe, the fittings are not pre-stressed. The steel plate thickness is sized to handle the expected internal pressures and external loads.

Q: Why are the bedding and backfill techniques for pre-stressed concrete pipe more economical than for flexible pipe materials such as steel and ductile iron?

A: Pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe manufactured in accordance with the AWWA C301 standard are all designed as rigid structures; therefore, they do not derive their external load-carrying capabilities from the soil side support as do flexible pipe materials such as steel and ductile iron. Bedding a backfilling for these types of concrete pressure pipes is easier, resulting in more economy for the installation.

Q: Can concrete pressure pipe be installed underwater?

A: Yes, a significant amount of concrete pressure pipe has been installed underwater in both freshwater lakes and rivers and in the ocean. Standard pipe lengths can be welded together in the manufacturing plant or on the jobsite to form longer lengths speeding up the installation process. An innovative installation technique known as “Hydro-Pull” is very commonly used to join the pipe underwater. A special “Hydro-Pull” bulkhead is pre-installed onto one end of the pipe length to be installed. This bulkhead has a small, high-volume pump mounted in the center. Once the diver has the length lined up with the previously installedlength, the pump is turned on which quickly evacuates water from inside the pipe. The resulting pressure differential created between the pipe interior and the exterior effectively “sucks” the pipe together.

Q: Why is the corrosion protection system for concrete pressure pipe so effective?

A: Carbon steel embedded in portland cement concrete or mortar undergoes a unique chemical change at its surface. The very high pH of the concrete or mortar (in the range of 12.5 to 13.0) causes a hard, thin oxide layer to form on the steel surface passivating it. This passivation prevents corrosion from occurring. Small cracks in the mortar or concrete do not affect this type of corrosion protection. Electrochemical corrosion protection of this type is far superior to barrier-type coatings such as paints or membranes—which are never pinhole-free.

Q: Is there a design standard for pre-stressed concrete pressure pipe?

A: Yes, the design standard for pre-stressed concrete steel cylinder pipe is the AWWA C304 Standard.

Q: Is there a design procedure for bar-wrapped concrete cylinder pipe (C-303)?

A: Yes, the design procedure for (C-303) pipe is in the AWWA Manual M9.

Q: What are some of the applications for concrete pressure pipe?

A: Concrete pressure pipe has been used in a wide range of water and wastewater transmission applications. Some of these are: water transmission mains, water distribution mains, wastewater transmission systems, water and wastewater treatment plant process lines, industrial plant process water transmission lines, power plant cooling water lines, and principal spillways for water impoundment dams.

Q: What is the difference between pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe (C301) and bar-wrapped concrete cylinder pipe (C303)?

A: See pipe comparison table: Product Comparison Chart

Q: When it comes to corrosion protection, what is the major difference between concrete pressure pipe and ductile iron pipe?

A: Concrete pressure pipe is protected by mortar coating which provides a high alkaline environment that passivates all steel components. The 1-inch thick mortar coating not only provides a rugged physical barrier but also provides the chemical protection necessary to resist corrosion in aggressive soils. Ductile iron pipe is a metallic product that comes with no reliable exterior coating. As such, ductile iron pipe lacks the chemical and physical protection necessary to effectively protect the pipe. Baggies (i.e., polyethylene encasement) which are occasionally specified on ductile iron projects to provide corrosion protection, have been found to be ineffective in protecting ductile iron pipe. This is due to two reasons: a) difficulty of installing the baggies without damage making ductile iron with baggies more susceptible to corrosion in areas around the torn encasement; b) difficulty of monitoring or applying an effective cathodic protection system to protect areas of damaged ductile iron pipe because of shielding.

HeidelbergCement

Q: Aren’t you HeidelbergCement now?

A: Hanson Pressure Pipe is a HeidelbergCement Group company.

Q: When did the sale take effect?

A: The end of August 2007.

Q: Who is HeidelbergCement and why did they acquire Hanson?

A: HeidelbergCement Group employs 70,000 people across five continents and has leading positions in concrete and heavy building products and is the global leader in aggregates. HeidelbergCement recognized Hanson’s strengths and is interested in the long-term sustainable growth across all divisions. While Hanson produces several products, the acquisition will concentrate on a dual growth strategy: a focus on cement in growing markets and a focus on aggregates, building materials and related activities in mature markets and North America.

Q: Where is HeidelbergCement’s corporate headquarters?

A: Heidelberg’s world headquarters are in Frankfurt, Germany

General Business

Q: Where are the corporate headquarters?

A: HeidelbergCement is based in Frankfurt, Germany. Hanson Building Products North America is based in Dallas. Hanson Pressure Pipe, a division of Hanson Building Products North America, is based in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Q: How many manufacturing facilities does Hanson operate?

A: Hanson Building Products North America currently operates more than 150 manufacturing facilities in 25 states in the U.S. and Canada.

Q: Where are they located?

A: Hanson Building Products North America’s facilities are located in more than 25 states in the U.S. and Canada. We have a strong presence in the Northeast, Southeast, South Central and Western portions of the country.

Q: How many pressure pipe facilities are there and where are they located?

A: There are nine pressure pipe facilities located in Grand Prairie and Lubbock, Texas; Bakewell, Tenn.; Hattiesburg, Miss.; Palatka, Fla.; South Beloit, Ill.; Montréal (Saint-Eustache) and Toronto (Stouffville and Uxbridge), Canada.

Q: How many employees does Hanson Pressure Pipe have?

A: Hanson Pressure Pipe has more than 1,000 employees.

Q: Who is Hanson Pressure Pipe’s parent company?

A: Hanson Pressure Pipe is a division of Hanson Building Products North America, which is part of HeidelbergCement Group based in Frankfurt, Germany. HeidelbergCement employs 70,000 people across five continents, is the global leader in aggregates and has leading positions in cement, concrete and heavy building products.

Q: What distinguishes Hanson Pressure Pipe from its competitors?

A: Hanson Pressure Pipe provides “comprehensive service,” meaning we are involved with the owners, engineers and contractors from the very beginning of a project through the life of the pipe in the ground. Hanson designs and manufacturers pipe for the long-term to provide a lasting solution rather than a short-term fix.

Q: How long has Hanson Pressure Pipe been in business?

A: Hanson Pressure Pipe has been in business since 2007. It descended from Hanson Pipe & Precast, which descended from the Gifford-Hill Pipe Company formed in 1931.

Q: Who are your customers?

A: State Departments of Transportation, major cities and counties, public authorities, major airports and numerous private entities are among Hanson Pressure Pipe’s customers.

Q: What are your annual sales?

A: HeidelbergCement does not report product line numbers, such as pressure pipe.