Call all utilities and contractors.
Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. is seeking new data on the life of HDPE pipes with the help of long-term end users. If their samples are selected for testing, they will receive a $200 reward.
According to Patrick Vibien, director of engineering in PPI's power and communications department, HDPE ducts that have been removed due to replacement, rewiring, or for any reason are eligible for ongoing research.
"Specifically, we are looking for samples of HDPE conduits that have been in use for 15 years or more. The conduits may be buried in ground transmission power cables of any voltage, telecommunication lines or optical fibers," Vibien said in the news release.
Vibien added that HDPE tubing comes in a variety of colors—although gray is usually rigid PVC—and it has a printed line that indicates the year of manufacture. Any length between 8 and 20 feet in diameter and some basic information about the location of the catheter and its history of use are useful.
Vibien also asks anyone planning to remove the buried HDPE pipe to notify him, because PPI will work with its member companies to witness the process, collect data about the installation, and collect used samples to be shipped to its testing facility for evaluation.
PPI will select up to three samples for the project. The collected samples will undergo physical and chemical laboratory tests to study the long-term performance and durability of the catheter.
"As we all know, HDPE conduit is an excellent material for accommodating and protecting power and telecommunications cables. Its advantages include jointless length, high strength and installation toughness," Vibien said. "This research work will increase the knowledge system regarding the long-term durability of the product in power and communication applications."
PPI said that the survey results will be made public, so this information can help utility companies predict future pipeline replacement projects.
Anyone who has samples to submit or plans to remove the HDPE catheter can contact Vibien via [Email Protection] or 469-499-1048.
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