As Australia’s pipeline networks age and extreme weather events become more frequent due to climate change, taking a proactive approach to corrosion management is more crucial than ever.
Corrosion is a major threat to pipeline infrastructure, but a proactive approach can help extend asset life and reduce long-term costs.
Corrosion accelerates the deterioration of pipeline systems, shortening their lifespan and necessitating expensive repairs. Several factors make pipelines more susceptible to corrosion including weather, temperature, soil type and water.
Extreme weather events can increase the risk of asset failure in already corroded pipelines, leading to service disruptions, flooding, road closures and significant costs. By incorporating corrosion resilience into both new pipelines and rehabilitation projects, asset owners can better manage pipeline corrosion and extend the lifespan of infrastructure.
One beneficial tool for mitigating pipeline corrosion is the installation of an appropriate spacer system.
Spacers ensure proper pipe alignment and provide a physical barrier between the pipe and external surfaces, reducing contact with moisture, debris and corrosive elements. Spacers also promote airflow and drainage, reducing the likelihood of corrosion-inducing conditions like trapped water or stagnant moisture.
Choosing the right system
When selecting a spacer system, it’s important to consider potential materials and their properties. Spacers made from metals, such as steel, are more vulnerable to deterioration, especially in harsh environments.
“In regions with high salt levels, tropical conditions, or acid sulphate soils, pipelines are particularly susceptible to rapid corrosion,” kwik-ZIP general manager Paul Jefferys said.
“For example, in areas with acid sulphate soils, metallic spacers can suffer significant corrosion upon contact with these soils.”
Jefferys said that in these conditions the corrosion can be transferred to via metallic spacer to the steel pipeline itself.
Non-metallic spacers, made from high-grade, inert materials, are ideal for preventing the transfer of corrosion.
Engineered for resilience
kwik-ZIP’s range of spacers are specifically designed to meet the challenges posed by the Australia’s unique climate and environmental conditions.
Engineered in Australia, kwik-ZIP spacers are manufactured from an engineered thermoplastic blend – a high-grade thermoplastic that is flexible, extremely tough and has a low coefficient of friction.
“kwik-ZIP’s highly resistant spacers are particularly suited to harsh environments where spacers made from other materials such as metal do not hold up as well,” Jefferys said.
Even when in contact with harsh environments for long periods of time, kwik-ZIP spacers remain highly resistant to corrosion, offering the ideal solution for asset owners seeking to improve the resilience of their networks.
kwik-ZIP spacers are suitable for use in both pressure and non-pressure pipelines, and can be used for a wide range of pipe materials, including steel, ductile iron, PVC and PE. The HDXT Series, for example, is designed for medium- to heavy-weight pipes and is suitable for both grouted and un-grouted installations.
kwik-ZIP’s HD, HDX and HDXT series spacers have been successfully appraised by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) against the WSA PS-324 Product Specification, which prescribes casings spacer requirements for correct protection of carrier pipes when installed inside casings.
The products are also approved for use within many utilities’ infrastructure, including Melbourne Retail Water Association, South-East Queensland’s Infrastructure and Materials (IPAM) list, Sydney Water and the Water Corporation. All products are certified by the Australian Water Quality Centre (AWQC) for use in contact with drinking water.
kwik-ZIP maintains a focus on price effectiveness, simplicity and rapid on-site assembly to ensure that its systems deliver significant cost, time and operational advantages to all customers.
Do you have news for the international trenchless industry? Contact Journalist Joseph Misuraca at joseph.misuraca@primecreative.com.au
