Inherent strength is one of the main requirements for any infrastructure product. With all ranges of concrete pipeline products designed to strength class 120 (BS 5911: 2004), concrete pipes and manholes now offer the most inherently strong option in the market. A concrete pipe is a structure and is therefore less susceptible to the effects of poor bedding and aspects of poor installation. This is reflected on the ability of the product to serve for a very long time, with a proven and specified asset service life exceeding 100 years. On the other hand, other vulnerable pipe alternatives (including specific types of plastic pipes) will need the structure of the pipeline system to be built around the pipeline. This, and other aspects associated with loss of strength over time, may pose a number of questions in regard to the need for sufficient inherent strength built into the sewer pipe itself.

Latest (non) British Standards testing! An ‘unconventional’ testing trial was carried out by Basal, the Norwegian concrete pipe industry management company in September 2006. A 52 tonne tank was driven over the three concrete pipes – and the pipes passed the tests successfully! This clearly shows the true strength of concrete pipes and its dominance over other forms of pipeline systems. Basal dryly notes that the test was carried out to “convince those few who continue to cast doubts over the actual strength and durability of concrete pipes”.

Another demonstration of EN 1916 concrete pipes strength: German style! German Concrete Pipeline Systems Manufacturers BRU GmbH & Co carried out their own testing trial using a 44.2 tonne Komatsu excavator! In a demonstration almost identical to the one made in 2006 by Norwegian BASAL, the huge excavator was driven over 4 BRU concrete pipes and the pipes passed the test successfully, sufficiently proving why concrete pipeline systems are the safe option.