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Galvanized Corrugated Steel Pipe Specifications

Corrugated steel pipes, commonly used in storm sewers, culverts and storm water detention systems, are able to withstand harsh environmental conditions and burial depths. They also give structure and support to buildings where they are installed. Several coatings and linings are available to improve durability, including galvanizing, with corrugated steel providing the core strength.

  1. Galvanizing

    • Galvanizing is commonly applied to corrugated steel pipes, which are coated via hot-dip, electrical or mechanical methods. The zinc coating provided by galvanization considerably extends a pipe's lifespan. The slow degradation of zinc protects the base steel from physical corrosion. Galvanized corrugated steel pipes are sometimes coated with asphalt to boost its anti-corrosive properties.

    Specifications

    • In the United States all aspects of galvanized corrugated steel pipes and fittings are governed by the specifications provided by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, under the guidance of the National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association. These guidelines include the galvanization process, the base metal composition, the pipe shape, installation and additional material such as coupling bands, which must be the same base metal and have the same coating as the pipe.

    Designs

    • Galvanized corrugated steel pipes are designed in either full-round or pipe-arch shapes. Full-round pipes are more common, but the pipe-arch shape is recommended when inadequate headroom space is available since the low and wide design provides sufficient capacity without need for raising the grade by horizontally distributing the area. Pipes are also fabricated with circumferential corrugations, and lap joints are constructed with helical lock or riveted seams.

    Coating

    • Corrugated steel pipes are zinc-coated at a minimum thickness of 10 mils on either side. Coating at a rate of two ounces per square foot enables the pipes to function at an alkali pH range of 6 to 10, gives a resistivity reading between 2,000 and 8,000 ohms per cm and ensures a lifespan of up to 50 years. Coating at 4 ounces per square foot further optimizes this performance.

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