Introduction

Pipes, Pipes and Pipes

Fibre reinforced concrete pipe has been manufactured for over 70 years, initially in 1926 when the first AC pipe rolled off the production line and over the last 15 years with cellulose fibre reinforced concrete pipes.

This extensive manufacturing history has enabled the company to continually develop its technology and to implement constant improvements in order to produce today's high performance FRC pipes and fitting.

FRC pipes are manufactured using the Mazza process, which involves building up a number of thin laminations of a slurried mix of Portland cement, ground sand, cellulose fibre and water, on to a steel mandrel under high pressure.

The use of a polished mandrel ensures a very smooth pipe bore and a consistent internal diameter across the various pipe strength classes.

When the desired wall thickness is achieved, the mandrel is removed and the pipe is initially cured in a steam chest.

The final curing, which is made in a high pressure steam autoclave, changes the chemical structure of the cement / silica matrix producing a more chemically resistant and stronger material. The pipe ends are then machined on a lathe to produce the various joint profiles.

An extensive range of fitting are manufactured to support each of the FRC pipe system and to provide a complete drainage solution. Fitting are fabricated through a process of cutting, machining and epoxying sections of pipe together to form various fittings.

Fittings are tested to ensure integrity and compliance to AS4139.

Pipe Classes and Sizes
Pipe Size (mm)	Strength Class		Nominal O.D. (mm)	Nominal I.D. (mm)	Kg Per Metre (at EMC)
100	2		126	101	7
100	3		131	101	9
100	4		135	101	10
150	2		187	154	14
150	3		194	154	17
150	4		199	154	20
225	1		264	231	20
225	2		269	231	24
225	3		276	231	29
225	4		283	231	33
300	1		346	304	32
300	2		350	304	37
300	3		360	304	46
300	4		369	304	54
375	1		429	380	47
375	2		435	380	55
375	3		447	380	68
375	4		457	380	79
450	1		515	456	67
450	2		521	456	79
450	3		538	456	100
450	4		548	456	113
525	1		601	533	91
525	2		611	533	110
525	3		629	533	136
525	4		644	533	159
600	1		686	608	120
600	2		698	608	145
600	3		716	608	175
600	4		735	608	208
675	1		750	675	134
675	2		765	675	166
675	3		785	675	207
675	4		800	675	239
750	1		809	720	162
750	2		827	720	204
750	3		852	720	255
750	4		874	720	300

Stormwater Drainage Products

Depending on the degree of joint integrity required, three unique jointing systems are available from the basic interlocking Flush joint, the Adcol rubber ring joint, and the high integrity rubber ring joint of supertite pipe.

The flexibility and installation advantages afforded through the extensive range of sizes, pipe lengths, fitting and components for each respective jointing system ensures that the product usage is broad and varied to meet our customers needs.

Flush Joint Speed Drain

Flush Joint Speed Drain
Provides for simple male to female interlock jointing and is suitable for general storm water drainage applications.

With benefits such as speed of installation, ease of handling, standard 4m lengths, and its comparative lightweight, flush joint speed drain is a cost-effective alternative concrete pipe.

Adcol Speed Drain

Adcol Speed Drain
Couples the unique design and installation benefits of FRC pipe with a V rubber ring spigot and socket jointing system, producing a high performance alternative to O rubber ring jointing system, producing a high performance alternative to O rubber ring jointed concrete pipe.

The Adcol speed drain system offered a cost-effective solution to a complicated drainage site with confined vehicular access. The combination of saving in time due to the speed of installation, the ease of handling, the considerable weight advantage over steel reinforced concrete, and the extensive range of FRC fittings compatible with commonly used plumbing materials, allowed the project to be completed within the tight construction schedule.

Supertite Speed Drain

Supertite Speed Drain
Incorporates accurately machined coupling and special manufactured dual V rubber rings to deliver a jointing system of the highest integrity, capable of resisting infiltration and tree root penetration.

Brisbane city councils experience with Supertite speed drain has been one of a jointing system totally meeting the Authorities requirements for durability, water tightness and in particular non-penetration of tree roots. We have never found any tree root penetration in a supertite system where the product has been correctly installed. This performance is in contrast to typical round ring joints, which are high source of infiltration, continually penetrated by tree roots.

Accessories

Fitting and System Accessories
To maintain the integrity of the total stormwater pipeline, FRC fitting to complement Adcol Speed drain and supertite speed drain and to ensure a full systems solution, inclusive of junctions, saddles, bends and variety of adaptor couplings.

Fabricated customised pipes and fittings to special manufactured order to suit specific site constraints and allow installation time saving can be arranged.

Storm Water Pits and Drains

Pits, Sub-Soil and Spoon Drain
There are two lightweight pit system alternatives, all capable of withstanding an axial load of 50 tonnes.

Standard Pit System

Soakwell

The Standard Pit System
Provides for total site versatility with a range of diameter and depth options and a choice of components including prefabricated side inlets and lid options.

FRC Soakwells
Features a uniquely slotted pit body arrangement providing for a combined roofwater collection and ground water management system.

With the increasing focus on the environment, soakwells have been successfully used in sandy conditions to retain roofwater and to green the surrounding areas.

For some years the old Moreton Shire Council has used FRC pits for the collection of roofwater at the rear of properties that could not fall to the kerb.

However, Council became aware of the problem of lowering the ground water table and the associated stress it was causing to vegetation in parks along creek lines. Further, roofwater drainage outlets into parkland, were causing problems with erosion and concentration discharge into boggy areas.

The FRC soakwells are an attempt to address these problems and provide some ground water recharge whilst in peak flows obviating the overland flow problem.

FRC Slotted Drain

FRC Spoon Drain

FRC Slotted Drain
Developed for state and local government authorities for sub-soil and pavement drainage applications FRC slotted drain provides for an effective rigid sub-soil drainage pipe with high crush strength capacity and cost effective installation qualities.

FRC Spoon Drain
Is ideal for stormwater open channel drain or as permanent formwork in concrete floors. Typical FRC pipe benefits such as speed of installation, ease of handling and standard 4m lengths add to the attraction of the product.