Progress does not stand still, and all spheres of human life are improving over time. Manufacturers of pipes for various purposes strive to make their products more reliable, durable and strong, able to withstand external and internal loads, as well as damage as a result of physical impact. To do this, the pipes are covered with special protection - a corrugated braid, which is made of metal, plastic and even polymer threads. Corrugated pipes are widely used in the arrangement of the sewer system. Since chemicals in the form of cleaning agents are often mixed with household waste and waste products, sewer pipes must be made of a special polymer material. Such polyethylene must be impact-resistant, as well as withstand abrasion loads. In terms of strength, sewer pipes often surpass metal-plastic products. The latter is often used in urban water supply systems.
Varieties of corrugations
Today there is a wide variety of suchmaterial, like plastic corrugation. According to its purpose, it is divided into 4 types. To understand what their fundamental difference is, one should describe the features of each product:
- Electrical. They have medium flexibility and good load-bearing characteristics.
- Gas corrugated stainless steel pipes. These are usually single-layer corrugated pipes, which have good flexibility.
- For arranging cables and wires. Usually two-layer options are used, they usually find application where there is a high risk of damage.
- For the arrangement of sewerage. A two-layer version is usually used, which has good resistance to mechanical and chemical damage.
Pipe specifications
Specialists identify two main characteristics that directly affect the reliability and durability of the pipe. The first parameter is the degree of reliability of the product. The second is resistance to applied loads. To protect pipes from damage as a result of physical impact, the structure is covered with a corrugated stainless steel layer. Such protection retains the lightness and flexibility of the pipe, which is why such a coating is used to protect gas and water pipes. During electrical installation, a corrugated pipe is also often used, which is able to protect cables from mechanical damage, as well as from electric shock and ignition as a result of a short circuit. To date, there are the following types of corrugations:
- Easy category. Suchstructures are lightweight and highly flexible. They are mainly used for installation outside buildings, because they are characterized by low resistance to mechanical damage.
- Heavy category. This kind of corrugated pipe is suitable for underground installation, and is also resistant to medium mechanical type loads.
- Superheavy category. These pipes are characterized by special strength and are used in communications with strong pressure. An example would be pipelines under highways. Thanks to the size of the corrugations, the extra-heavy category also finds its use all the time, and installation is not difficult.
Metal corrugation
This is the most commonly used sink pleat. Also, these pipes are used for the following purposes:
1. Culvert. It can be shaped like an arch, which allows the water to move in a natural way. This is an alternative to the arch bridge, and with the use of hot-dip galvanizing, corrosion can be avoided. If necessary, there are also various additional protection measures that allow you to meet the following requirements:
- Installation is accurate and fast, resulting in little time and effort.
- Selecting the type of cross section, which depends on the geological features of the area.
2. Car roads. Usually they are arranged so that they do not intersect under any condition. Also, the distribution of the pipe is also found during the devicetunnels, because they have a high seismic resistance. They are also used as a transition for animals, in which case they become an analogue of the tunnel.
3. Crosswalk. It is the most efficient and economical. Among the advantages here are usually noted the presence of various shapes and sizes, the ability to embed niches for lighting, as well as the ability to quickly install various systems.
4. The device of water supply networks. Very often, such pipes are used when it is necessary to perform laying in especially difficult conditions, and also where it is practically impossible to perform splicing with fittings. Multiple pleat sizes make this much easier.
5. Protection of mechanisms from damage. Such pipes are used in order to protect the wiring from docking with chemical compounds, water, and also from mechanical damage. At the same time, the use of metal allows you to maximize the protection of the contents. Corrugated pipes can also be used for ordinary cable laying in difficult conditions. This includes a large depth underground, high humidity, aggressive environment, and much more.
Opportunities for reconstruction
Specialists often use corrugation to reconstruct or restore a damaged pipe system. There are cases when the water supply system needs to be strengthened as a result of the load, or modern pipes equipped with additional corrosion protection should be connected to the existing water supply.
Often corrugation is used for temporary construction of the crossing. Forcorrugated tubes are tightly connected to each other, installed above the river, and an embankment of gravel, sand or earth is made from above. After that, pedestrians can safely and safely move around the temporary structure. Builders can start building the main bridge.
Advantages of metal pipes
Benefits include:
- Strength. This quality is achieved even with a small mass, because the original design is used in the product. Based on many years of testing, we can say that the sink corrugation, which is used even in the most difficult conditions, is very durable. The service life can even reach 100 years.
- Cost. Due to the fact that automatic welding is used during installation, as well as the consumables themselves are inexpensive, expenses can be reduced even by 40%.
- Comfort for loading, unloading and transport. More than 400 m of pipes can be placed even in a standard car.
- Comfort when storing. Due to the low weight and dimensions of the corrugations, you can freely store the pallets of the structure, which will save space in the premises or on construction sites.
- You will not need to maintain the structure and spend a lot of money.
- A wide range of presented designs in sizes and shapes. With a large selection of cross-section types, you can choose the best option for you. In some casesit is possible to choose a design that will be combined with other surrounding structures.
- Metal corrugated pipe can be used in various climatic conditions.
Corrugated PVC pipes
PVC pipe is a structure made of polymers. It has become popular due to its clear advantages and low cost. The scope of application here is wide, for each task you can choose the most optimal version of the corrugations in size. Due to the fact that the corrugated pipe bends well, it can be used even in hard-to-reach places, which will reduce installation time.
Cable protection pipes
Today, corrugated pipes are often used to protect electrical cables. The protective corrugated pipe can be used for various purposes, for example, for laying telephone cables, as well as for electrical wiring. The purpose of using corrugations in this case is to protect the cable from adverse environmental influences and mechanical damage. The corrugation also acts as a dielectric.
Selection of corrugations by diameter
What should I pay attention to? To choose the right corrugation size for the cable, you should carefully study the wiring diagram in the house, which you want to lay or replace with a new one. For example, if you want to connect one lighting fixture, then a protective tube diameter of 16 mm is suitable for you. If you would like to install onesocket, then a pipe diameter of 20 mm will be optimal for laying a cable to an electrical appliance in it. You also need to take into account the cable cross-section. Too thick wire may not fit in the inner cavity of the corrugation.
The protective tube can withstand temperatures ranging from -25 to +60 degrees, which allows you to carry out electrical installation work at any time of the year. The price of such cable protection is low, while they are of very good quality.
Why do we need a corrugated probe
In the process of selecting corrugations by size, you should know that each type of corrugated PVC pipe is made in two versions: without a probe and with a probe. The probe is a metal wire that allows you to conveniently pull the cable through the entire corrugation. This solution allows you to reduce the time that is usually spent on broach. If the pipe is too long, broach becomes completely impossible. The probe does not affect flexibility, the wire is very thin, so it weighs a little.
Probeless pipe models also have their advantages, for example, they can be cut with an ordinary knife or scissors, while the wire for pulling is not so easy to damage without special tools. In order to cut it, you will need metal scissors or a jigsaw.
The use of corrugations in sewers
When choosing pipes for sewerage, remember that they must withstand a large load, because the installation will be done underground. Very often, such sewer pipes are made of two layers of polyethylene, which is able to withstand high pressure. Like othersvarieties of pipes, sewer cannot be used at high temperatures. The maximum value is +40 degrees. Mainly used for domestic sewerage device. Temperature exposure up to +80 degrees is allowed, but only if it is short-lived. The material may melt, causing the pipe to malfunction and leak.
Advantages of corrugated pipes
Of the main advantages, the following can be distinguished:
- When laying wires, corrugated pipe acts as a good dielectric.
- The material has a high resistance to ignition. Some products have a coating that protects the structure from open fire.
- Water resistant.
- Durability.
- High degree of protection against mechanical stress.
- Quality insulation.
- High environmental friendliness.
- Material is non-toxic.
- Flexibility.
HDPE and LDPE pipes
This option ensures the wide use of corrugations to protect objects from environmental influences and mechanical damage. Often they can be seen when laying cable lines. Installation is possible both in the ground and in monolithic concrete, which further simplifies the dismantling process. Such pipes consist of two layers, one of which is external corrugated, made of polyethylene, as well as two internal smooth ones, which are also made of polyethylene. These design features make it possible to obtainhigh mechanical strength and easily withstand various kinds of loads.
Advantages of using LDPE and HDPE pipes
Among the main advantages are the following:
- Low specific gravity for quick and high quality installation.
- Able to use both at high temperatures and at low temperatures.
- Reducing the cost of transportation in large volumes due to convenient sizes.
- Due to the convenient dimensions, the work with the corrugation is simple: the load can be easily moved at the installation site.
- Due to the high flexibility, the use of additional fittings during the turns of the track is excluded.
- Low cost compared to similar polyethylene or metal pipes.
- Water resistant.
- Durability.
- Corrosion resistant.
- Sustainable materials.
Flaws
From the minuses, the following can be distinguished:
- A large number of bends can cause deformation and breakage.
- Being deformed.
- Unattractive appearance that may not fit with the design of the room or exterior features.
Coated pipes
Having considered the main options for corrugated pipes, we can say that they all have both their advantages and disadvantages. That is why, everyone will get for himself a suitable option that will serve him for many years. Mainthe selection criterion for the purchase will be the selection according to the necessary parameters, for example, if the area where plumbing or wiring will be located may be subject to mechanical stress, it is best to purchase a corrugated stainless pipe. If you choose such a product, not taking into account all the parameters, you will have to carry out repair work again. In this case, you need to know the pros and cons of corrugations in order to better navigate the final decision.
