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25/02/2009

Growth Spurt For Water Barrier Pipe System

Polyethylene barrier pipe systems for use in contaminated land are no longer restricted to the smaller pipe diameters, with the launch of Protecta-Line sizes up to 355mm by GPS PE Pipe Systems. Protecta-Line is the first system to achieve BSI Kitemarked status to WIS 4-32-19.

Previously, installers were limited to using wrapped metal pipes for water supply when working in pipe sizes greater than 150mm bore on brownfield construction sites. With large diameters now introduced to the Kitemarked Protecta-Line range, the benefits of ease and speed of installation, freedom from corrosion, longevity and sustainability expected of PE systems are available in pipes up to 355mm outside diameter, with an integral aluminium barrier to prevent through-wall permeation of ground contaminants.

Already the most complete WRAS-approved PE barrier pipe system available, with over 10 years in service, Protecta-Line also complies fully with WIS 4-32-19. This is the first and only water industry standard for the transport of drinking water through contaminated land.

Around 70% of new homes are being built on brownfield land. The risk of a tainted water supply to such properties must be avoided: either at heavy cost of remediation - by replacing contaminated soil - or by using a barrier pipe system to prevent any potential ingress of contaminants. Using Protecta-Line in preference to a metallic pipe system also reduces typical installed costs by as much as 70% and whole life costs by at least 45%.

Introduced by GPS PE Pipe Systems in 1997, Protecta-Line leads the market as the most complete PE barrier pipe system available. Sizes now span 25mm to 355mm, with fully end-load bearing pipes and fittings requiring no concrete hydraulic thrust blocks. Pipes are supplied in 6m lengths and in 50m or 100m coils, reducing the number of couplers required for large installations and saving costs. A fully integrated range of approved and compatible Protecta-Line fittings is available to give design flexibility, thoroughly tested to ensure integrity of the system’s permeation barrier. As the aluminium barrier layer does not contribute to the pipe’s structural strength, full pressure capability is retained even when the aluminium layer is peeled in preparing for the additional option of electrofusion jointing.