FRP Pipes - What Are The Benefits Of Using FRP Pipes?

Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Pipes are used in various industrial product applications including the handling of materials in a corrosive environment and also the transfer of corrosive products and materials. However, the fastest growing application of FRP systems is for industrial equipment. The application of FRP pipes ranges from handling of combustible and flammable liquids at retail facilities to water and sewer mains in the industrial and municipal markets.

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Advantages of FRP Pipes

1. Corrosion resistance
FRP pipes inherit resistance to corrosion. In most cases, Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics are the only material that can handle some service environment. Moreover, their resistance to corrosion is normally combined with their cost advantage to make them the most acceptable solution. Corrosion resistance of Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic pipes is a function of the total resin content and the resin used in the pipe laminate. Therefore, higher resin content means more resistance to corrosion.

2. Weight advantages
FRP pipe has low weight to strength ratio, which is another distinct advantage of the FRP pipes. For the same strength, Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic pipes weigh approximately half as much as aluminum and one seventh as much as stainless steel. 
Lightweight properties are vital especially when considering the ease and cost of installation of piping systems. FRP pipes’ inherent light weight is a major advantage when the equipment has to me mounted on an existing structure such as scrubbers on rooftops or mezzanines.

The high strength of FRP pipes plays a major role in the design of various FRP equipment and applications such as pultruded shapes. Moreover, the high strength combined with the light weight features make FRP pipes suitable for filament wound pipes and ducts. 

4. Economy

Lower cost is a major advantage of using FRP pipes because they offer an effective solution to corrosion at the lowest cost when compared to materials such as titanium, rubber lining and stainless steel. However, the cost advantage of such materials mainly depends on the design considerations, application, pressure involved, availability, raw material costs and product configurations.

5. Flexibility

FRP pipes are versatile in their applications is often overlooked. However, it is important to note that you can do things with Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic pipes which cannot be done effectively and economically with other readily available materials. FRP pipes can be used to mold any piece of equipment or configuration for which permanent or temporary molds can be built. For instance, duct work is quite easy with FRP pipes because you can make all types of Tee inlets, rectangular transitions, circular transitions, elbows, and flanges at minimal cost. Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic pipes can also be used to line new and existing structures.

The design of FRP systems has been greatly enhanced by using of computer software programs. These programs mainly include; chemical composition, gas flow analysis, liquid flow analysis, thrust block analysis, free span analysis, and installation information. This is very important in order to ensure that the specific requirements in different industries are fully met so as to guarantee maximum efficiency of FRP pipes.

5 Reasons to use Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP)

When selecting a building material for an infrastructure project, there are a few key factors to consider before making a decision. Engineers must be sure to make selections that will benefit both the people within their agency, who will be working with the material, as well as the project’s end users.

One such material is fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), which can be hugely beneficial for both builders and users. Read more below to find out how this unique material can work for you.

1. Production and Installation Time

When developing the design for your overall infrastructure plan, it’s important to factor in the amount of time that will be needed not only for the whole project, but also for each step within the process. Obviously, saved time translates to saved costs, but you certainly don’t want to sacrifice quality for efficiency. FRP can provide an ideal balance, helping to save valuable production time while still providing the necessary quality, strength and durability. Below, compare the production and installation time of FRP to that of precast concrete:

As you can see from the chart, FRP’s total production time is 15 days less than that of precast concrete. This translates to more than two weeks’ worth of saved labor costs and overall downtime for infrastructure development. FRP also requires less total installation time than precast concrete — almost five days less, on average.

Thanks to this shorter installation time, engineers using FRP don’t have to complete their work solely during the workweek. Instead, they can opt to do installation work on the weekends, too, when there is less traffic congestion and end users will experience less inconvenience and fewer interruptions to their commutes.

2. Weight

Going hand-in-hand with a quicker installation time is FRP’s weight. FRP is known for being lightweight. In fact, it’s about eight times lighter than reinforced concrete — meaning FRP is also less labor-intensive to use and install, and requires less equipment. This material also requires less labor during removal processes. See below to compare the total weight of FRP to the total weight of precast concrete.

As you can see from the chart, FRP is significantly lighter than precast concrete, with an FRP panel weighing about 5,000 lb and a precast concrete panel weighing nearly 41,000 lb. Using a lighter material makes it easier on your workers, saves on labor costs and places less stress on the infrastructure. The lower the weight of the material being used, the less wear and tear the infrastructure will experience as a whole.

3. Corrosion and Maintenance

Offering high durability and strength, as well as reliable resistance to corrosion, FRP is long-lasting and mitigates the need for ongoing maintenance. The lack of frequent maintenance and repairs helps to save on expensive labor and material costs and also prevents inconvenience to end users, since repair downtime is minimized.

And, since FRP is long-lasting and resistant to corrosion, the long-term costs end up being less as well.

Though FRP does have a slightly higher price point per square foot at initial installation, the material allows for many benefits in terms of long-term cost savings. Because FRP causes less stress on the infrastructure and is more durable than other materials, it diminishes the need for costly repairs or reconstruction down the road. For example, bridges and platforms constructed from materials such as reinforced concrete, steel, or wood often fall apart 15 to 20 years after initial installation — requiring extremely expensive repairs or even a whole new investment to rebuild from scratch. FRP, however, is built to last and won’t experience corrosion over time like many other construction materials.

4. cost savings

FRP structures are highly reliable and low-maintenance, but they shouldn’t be considered maintenance-free. Repairs requiring field service will need to be performed on rare occasions. Performing yearly routine inspections (at minimum) will help ensure potential issues can be caught before they become a problem. If an issue has been identified and reported (ex. cracks, crazing, discoloration, excessive wear, etc.), a field service technician will be sent out to complete the repair.

As mentioned, structures made from steel, concrete and wood are prone to regular repair work, as well as those made with brick and tile – that’s also where FRP can come in. Fiberglass can be used for patch repairs on bridge decking and liners can be applied to culverts, pumps, storage tanks and pipes to protect less-resistant materials from future damage. FRP can even be used for wrapping bridge piers and columns.

Repairs made with FRP add up to long-term cost savings. Since the material is corrosion-resistant and has a much longer service life, it’s a great option to use when repairing and protecting existing structures. Take a look at our brief case study to learn more about how FRP repairs reduce costs.

5. design flexibility

FRP is ideal for any type of job that requires customization, as it is engineered to meet exact specifications. Regardless of complexity, engineers can create panels of all different sizes and shapes. This allows for aesthetic versatility, as there is a range of possible colors. It is also possible to add functional features to facilitate a smooth and easy installation process.

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FRP offers a wide range of unique benefits — short production and installation time, light weight, long-term cost savings, corrosion resistance, and superior longevity. An ideal material for use in almost any infrastructure project, FRP is very dynamic, making it the perfect choice for all types of infrastructure — including vehicle, pedestrian, and trail bridges, cantilever sidewalks, rail platforms, waterfront frameworks, storage tanks and pipes, stairs and handrails, and much more.

Creative Composites Group has extensive expertise in both FRP materials, installation, and field services, and we’re a proud FRP manufacturer. To learn more about how FRP compares to competing materials such as reinforced concrete, steel and wood, download our eBook today.

Introduction to FRP Piping

The complete form of FRP is fiberglass reinforced plastic, which is a composite material composed of a fiber-reinforced polymer matrix. Therefore, FRP pipes are made of FRP materials through contact molding or fiber winding. Various types of resins, such as thermosetting polyester, epoxy, phenolic resin, etc., are used to obtain the final product with specific FRP pipe properties. As a corrosion-resistant metal pipe substitute, FRP piping system has been widely used worldwide. By choosing FRP as the pipe material, the need for lining, external coating and cathodic protection can be easily eliminated.

Application of fiberglass reinforced plastic pipe

Due to the high durability, corrosion resistance and medium strength of FRP pipes, its use is increasing day by day. FRP piping systems are used in different industries, such as:

ㆍDrinking water and seawater desalination industry

ㆍChemical, petrochemical, oil and gas industries.

ㆍPipes and exhaust pipes

ㆍIrrigation and sanitation services

ㆍWater distribution and delivery

ㆍMud pipeline

ㆍPower plants, etc.

Additional reading:
Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best metal flooring

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Performance of FRP pipe

The main performance of FRP pipe is to make it an ideal choice for various industries in the world.

ㆍExcellent corrosion resistance

ㆍExcellent strength-to-weight ratio. It is worth noting that the strength-to-weight ratio of FRP pipes is higher than that of steel or other metal pipes.

ㆍLight weight, easy to handle and transport.

ㆍDimensional stability

ㆍDegradable

ㆍLow friction coefficient (>25% better than steel), ensuring good flow characteristics.

ㆍGood abrasion resistance

ㆍSuitable for ground and underground pipelines

ㆍResistance to biological attacks such as bacteria

ㆍNon-conductive

ㆍLow maintenance cost

FRP pipe connection

Since the length of the FRP pipe is restricted by transportation and handling, it needs to be connected. At the same time, various FRP pipe fittings need to be connected as required. The connection system of the FRP pipe shall ensure that no leakage occurs under the predetermined use conditions under the working pressure.

FRP pipe fittings

Various FRP pipe fittings are available to meet the needs of pipeline layout. Common glass steel pipe parts are:

ㆍLong radius, short radius FRP elbow

ㆍTee connection (equal tee and reducing tee)

ㆍFRP pipe flange

ㆍSteel back flange

ㆍFlange elbow

ㆍSmooth reducing elbow

ㆍSpecial bending radius

ㆍHorizontal connection

ㆍCross connect

ㆍWye Connection

ㆍReducer (eccentric and concentric)

ㆍFlange reducing agent

FRP pipe specifications

When ordering FRP pipes, the following information must be provided to the supplier:

ㆍPipe diameter

ㆍThe design and working temperature of the applied fluid.

ㆍDesign, operation, surge, vacuum, test pressure.

ㆍLive load of buried pipelines.

ㆍMaximum/minimum buried depth and trench width.

ㆍDetails of soil properties and trench preparation.

Disadvantages of FRP pipes

The main disadvantage of FRP piping system is:

ㆍIt is not recommended to use FRP pipes to transport fluids whose temperature exceeds 100°C

ㆍThe use of pigments, dyes, UV stabilizers, fillers, etc. in the resin system can reduce the slight degradation of the resin by ultraviolet light.

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Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) in Construction, Types and Uses