Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing
#1
11-15-02, 03:47 PM
Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing
anyone know if this company is good or not. They advertise a lot but are they way overpriced? Is their work better than that of other firms.
Mid-Atlantic tells me that other firms use PVC pipes while they use a superior product. Do PVC pipes really have a problem or is this just probably a scare tactic?
Mid-Atlantic tells me that other firms use PVC pipes while they use a superior product. Do PVC pipes really have a problem or is this just probably a scare tactic?
#2
11-17-02, 12:08 PM
Member
Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing
This is suppose to be an "award winning" company. If in doubt, get estimates from other companies and compare apples to apples--methods, materials, warranties, costs.
Evaluation of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe Performance
Prepared by A.P. Moser and Kenneth G. Kellogg, College of Engineering, Utah State University
February 1994
AWWA Research Foundation Order Number: 90644
BACKGROUND
Water utilities have reported pipe failures of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe ranging from joint leakage to catastrophic failures during tapping. Some failures have been attributed to aging of the PVC material. Other concerns include chemical permeation and variability of PVC composition among manufacturers. Prior to this study, the extent of the reported failures and the bases for concerns have been unknown. Also, data on how installation and tapping procedures have influenced performance have been lacking. The objectives of this study are
to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the use and performance characteristics (including performance limits) of PVC water pipe
to conduct the necessary research and analysis to resolve problems and concerns identified by the first objective
to report results of analyses along with conclusions and recommendations
APPROACH
A data-gathering questionnaire was developed to obtain information from water utilities and engineering firms. Every effort was made in developing the questionnaire and in processing the information to ensure sample and analysis integrity while maintaining anonymity of the respondents. Each responding utility was placed in one of four subgroups based on the quantity of PVC pipe reported in its system: nonuser, 1-10 miles, 10-50 miles, and >50 miles.
RESULTS
Approximately 80 percent of the total amount of installed PVC pipe reported in this study was pipe manufactured to the American Water Works Association (AWWA) C900 Standard. Most of the remaining 20 percent was manufactured to the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) D2241 Standard.
All user groups rated PVC pipe high in most design categories, but placed it second in overall performance compared to other pipe materials. PVC pipe was given the highest rating of all products in terms of hydraulic characteristics. Data indicate that the two PVC pipe characteristics that diminished its overall performance rating were the difficulty in locating buried PVC pipe and the added effort required to prevent damage when excavating PVC pipe. The primary reasons given for selecting PVC pipe were corrosion resistance, life expectancy, durability, and frictional head loss, in that order.
The majority of the respondents did not appear to handle PVC any differently from other pipe products in terms of storage even though they recognized that special consideration might be necessary. About 10 percent of the utilities indicated they had experienced some problem(s) they believed could be directly attributed to the exposure of PVC to ultraviolet light.
Permeation of PVC pipe by aggressive chemicals appears to have been a minor problem. The questionnaire did not ask respondents to differentiate between permeation of the pipe wall and permeation of the rubber gasket.
Detailed information concerning tapping problems was necessary to complete the study; consequently, 67 utilities were resurveyed by telephone for additional information on tapping. Of those utilities reporting catastrophic tapping failures in the 5-year period ending June 1992, only about 27 percent reported having, on average,more than l failure per year. In addition, approximately 80 percent of those utilities reporting catastrophic failures felt they had solved their tapping problems and had not had any failures in the last year or two of the survey period. On the average, catastrophic tapping failure occurred for every 571 taps made. It was determined that the majority of pipe tappers had learned tapping procedures through an informal apprenticeship program.
Twenty-two utilities that reported long-term problems were also contacted for additional information via the telephone resurvey. All resurveyed utilities reporting tapping or long-term problems were asked to supply samples of problem PVC pipe for testing. A real resistance to the request was sensed, and most utilities indicated that samples were no longer available. Only two utilities supplied PVC pipe samples for testing, and some of this pipe did not pass minimum test standards. Selected utilities that participated in the resurvey were also asked to supply samples of PVC pipe currently being installed. Responses to this request were excellent with 16 utilities providing pipe samples. Samples ranging in size from 2-in. to 12-in. diameter produced by 10 separate manufacturers were received from most areas of the United States. All samples passed the fusion quality test and generally appeared to be of high material quality. Some of the pipe samples showed evidence of long-term exposure to ultraviolet light. Four such samples with severe sunburn failed the impact test.
The study concluded that:
Almost 50 percent of problems reported with PVC pipe occur in the first year after installation.
Material-related long-term problems reported in PVC pipe are few and are decreasing with time. This is an indication that these problems are not a result of aging.
An analysis of reported data shows that problems associated with PVC water pipe manufactured to the ASTM D2241 Standard is about twice as high as for pipe manufactured to the AWWA C900 Standard.
Reported experiences with problems associated with exposure to ultraviolet light or aggressive chemicals were low in number.
Tapping problems associated with PVC pipe are decreasing as utilities gain more experience in tapping PVC.
Some utilities require the use of saddles for tapping of PVC pipe and feel that this requirement reduces tapping problems. However, an analysis of data indicates that utilities requiring the use of saddles reported, on the average, about the same number of problems as those using direct tapping.
Moser, A. P. & Kellogg. Evaluation of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe Performance. College of Engineering. Utah State University. February, 1994. AWWA Research Foundation Order Number: 90644. Retrieved 17 November 2002. http://www.awwarf.com/exsums/90644.htm
Evaluation of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe Performance
Prepared by A.P. Moser and Kenneth G. Kellogg, College of Engineering, Utah State University
February 1994
AWWA Research Foundation Order Number: 90644
BACKGROUND
Water utilities have reported pipe failures of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe ranging from joint leakage to catastrophic failures during tapping. Some failures have been attributed to aging of the PVC material. Other concerns include chemical permeation and variability of PVC composition among manufacturers. Prior to this study, the extent of the reported failures and the bases for concerns have been unknown. Also, data on how installation and tapping procedures have influenced performance have been lacking. The objectives of this study are
to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the use and performance characteristics (including performance limits) of PVC water pipe
to conduct the necessary research and analysis to resolve problems and concerns identified by the first objective
to report results of analyses along with conclusions and recommendations
APPROACH
A data-gathering questionnaire was developed to obtain information from water utilities and engineering firms. Every effort was made in developing the questionnaire and in processing the information to ensure sample and analysis integrity while maintaining anonymity of the respondents. Each responding utility was placed in one of four subgroups based on the quantity of PVC pipe reported in its system: nonuser, 1-10 miles, 10-50 miles, and >50 miles.
RESULTS
Approximately 80 percent of the total amount of installed PVC pipe reported in this study was pipe manufactured to the American Water Works Association (AWWA) C900 Standard. Most of the remaining 20 percent was manufactured to the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) D2241 Standard.
All user groups rated PVC pipe high in most design categories, but placed it second in overall performance compared to other pipe materials. PVC pipe was given the highest rating of all products in terms of hydraulic characteristics. Data indicate that the two PVC pipe characteristics that diminished its overall performance rating were the difficulty in locating buried PVC pipe and the added effort required to prevent damage when excavating PVC pipe. The primary reasons given for selecting PVC pipe were corrosion resistance, life expectancy, durability, and frictional head loss, in that order.
The majority of the respondents did not appear to handle PVC any differently from other pipe products in terms of storage even though they recognized that special consideration might be necessary. About 10 percent of the utilities indicated they had experienced some problem(s) they believed could be directly attributed to the exposure of PVC to ultraviolet light.
Permeation of PVC pipe by aggressive chemicals appears to have been a minor problem. The questionnaire did not ask respondents to differentiate between permeation of the pipe wall and permeation of the rubber gasket.
Detailed information concerning tapping problems was necessary to complete the study; consequently, 67 utilities were resurveyed by telephone for additional information on tapping. Of those utilities reporting catastrophic tapping failures in the 5-year period ending June 1992, only about 27 percent reported having, on average,more than l failure per year. In addition, approximately 80 percent of those utilities reporting catastrophic failures felt they had solved their tapping problems and had not had any failures in the last year or two of the survey period. On the average, catastrophic tapping failure occurred for every 571 taps made. It was determined that the majority of pipe tappers had learned tapping procedures through an informal apprenticeship program.
Twenty-two utilities that reported long-term problems were also contacted for additional information via the telephone resurvey. All resurveyed utilities reporting tapping or long-term problems were asked to supply samples of problem PVC pipe for testing. A real resistance to the request was sensed, and most utilities indicated that samples were no longer available. Only two utilities supplied PVC pipe samples for testing, and some of this pipe did not pass minimum test standards. Selected utilities that participated in the resurvey were also asked to supply samples of PVC pipe currently being installed. Responses to this request were excellent with 16 utilities providing pipe samples. Samples ranging in size from 2-in. to 12-in. diameter produced by 10 separate manufacturers were received from most areas of the United States. All samples passed the fusion quality test and generally appeared to be of high material quality. Some of the pipe samples showed evidence of long-term exposure to ultraviolet light. Four such samples with severe sunburn failed the impact test.
The study concluded that:
Almost 50 percent of problems reported with PVC pipe occur in the first year after installation.
Material-related long-term problems reported in PVC pipe are few and are decreasing with time. This is an indication that these problems are not a result of aging.
An analysis of reported data shows that problems associated with PVC water pipe manufactured to the ASTM D2241 Standard is about twice as high as for pipe manufactured to the AWWA C900 Standard.
Reported experiences with problems associated with exposure to ultraviolet light or aggressive chemicals were low in number.
Tapping problems associated with PVC pipe are decreasing as utilities gain more experience in tapping PVC.
Some utilities require the use of saddles for tapping of PVC pipe and feel that this requirement reduces tapping problems. However, an analysis of data indicates that utilities requiring the use of saddles reported, on the average, about the same number of problems as those using direct tapping.
Moser, A. P. & Kellogg. Evaluation of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe Performance. College of Engineering. Utah State University. February, 1994. AWWA Research Foundation Order Number: 90644. Retrieved 17 November 2002. http://www.awwarf.com/exsums/90644.htm
