1. Understanding our Competition - Part B Metal Pipe

2. Agenda Rigid vs. Flexible Recap ASTM’s for Flexible Metals
Flexible Metal Overview
Specific Flexible Metal Products
Ultra Flow
Smooth Cor
Plans, Specifications & the Contract
Consulting Engineer Visits
Real World Scenarios/Examples

3. ASTM’s for Flexible Metals
ASTM A760 – Steel (Ultra Flo)
ASTM A761 – Structural Plate Field Bolted
ASTM A762 – Polymer Coated Steel

4. Flexible Metals Overview
ASTM A760 & A762 (Polymer Coated)
Resistivity greater than 1500 ohm-cm
pH between 5.0 and 9.0
Soil information is vital when installing Metal Pipe
Aluminized claim of 75 to 100 year life depending on the Gauge (thickness)
Aluminized has only been installed since the 1980’s
Very little known failures since most installations are not that old
Flotation Considerations (ACPA)
Post Installation Inspection Requirements if any

5. Flexible Metals Overview
Design Life is dependent on Abrasion
Four levels of Abrasion
Level 1 – Non-Abrasion
Level 2 – Low Abrasion (less than 5 ft/sec)
Level 3 – Moderate Abrasion (5 to 15 ft/sec)
Level 4 – Severe Abrasion (over 15 ft/sec)
Velocities based on 2-year storm event

6. Flexible Metals Overview
Supplemental Paving & Coatings Claim added Service Life
Coatings/Paving Add On
Asphalt Coated
Asphalt Lined and Paved
Polymerized Asphalt Inverted Coated
Polymer Coated and Paved
Polymer Coated with Polymerized Asphalt Invert Coated
High Strength Concrete Lined
Concrete Paved
Coatings are not commonly used

7. Existing Soil Parameters
Flexible Metals Overview
Existing Soil Parameters
Is metal being backfilled with Native Material?
If so what minimum standards does the native material meet?
Is native soil being tested to see what pH & resistivity are?

8. Flotation Flexible Metals Overview Metal Pipe Floats too
In wet areas or where the existing water table is high, metal pipes will float
Know what your state/municipality requires for flotation precautions
Manufacturer recommends anchors to prevent floatation if needed

9. Summary Flexible Metals Overview
Many designers who do privately funded civil/site work hang their hat on State DOT Standard Drawings and Specifications
It is your job to know the State DOT requirements better than the Designers
Create a cheat sheet for metal products on what your State DOT requires
If the municipality the project is in does not have standards or specifications, the designer will typically provide the standards and specifications

10. Specific Flexible Metal Products

11. Ultra Flo Almost Smooth Interior
Fill Heights Vary from 68 ft to 81 ft depending on Gauge

12. SmoothCor
Smooth Interior

13. Natchez Trace

14. Natchez Trace

15. Natchez Trace

16. Natchez Trace

17. Natchez Trace

18. Natchez Trace

19. Natchez Trace

20. Natchez Trace Lining 72 Inch CMP $850/LF for 200 LF
Lining Cost $170,000
Replace section of 72 Inch CMP
$356.25/LF for 40 LF
Replacement Cost $14,250
Total Replacement Cost
$184,250 or $921.25/LF
Pipe Size Decreased from 72 inch CMP to 54 inch PVC

21. Natchez Trace

22. Plans, Specifications & the Contract
Do you typically quote on plans alone?
Do you typically quote on plans & specifications?
Or do you typically quote on plans, specs & contract?
Need to look at all three to know what you are bidding against
If metal is allowed, what is the existing soil parameters?
Was Geotech Study done for metal?
If no Geotech what are designer’s assumptions?

23. Consulting Engineers Visits
Create a HIT LIST of Design Consultants
Start with the ones closest to you that specify the most competitive products
Make time either biweekly or monthly to block out time to visit design consultants
If you have a TRE use them!
If you do not have a TRE use your ACPA representative
It starts with Designers and there are as many of them as there are Contractors
Always take engineering pads, smaller ones are preferred & Donuts or Biscuits

24. Success Stories
Any examples of what has worked or what has not worked in your particular market?

25. Real World Examples
Please provide a few recent examples that you have come across while bidding work in your particular market

26. Bucket of Confusion with Different Flexible Plastic Products
What Bucket is your competition in?
The ONLY other BUCKET – The Flexible bucket!!!!!
If it’s not RCP its FLEXIBLE!!!

27. Questions