Engineer’s Liability Considerations in Specifying Corrugated High Density Polyethylene Pipe
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 134, Issue 1
Abstract
The engineer’s role in any design project is to design a project that meets the desired purpose, is constructible, and the health, safety, and welfare of the user is protected. Yet engineers do not always recognize the consequences of their designs. Civil engineering is a profession that holds life and death consequences. When engineers design a project, an error or mistake could result in property damage, personal injury, or death. Not understanding a product, while allowing its use, may equate to negligence if injury results. Not reading the product literature may also constitute negligence, should the product’s failure result in injury or damage. When products fail the engineer may be deemed the responsible party. Many engineers do not understand, or appreciate, the differences between reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe and the potential for liability when specifying each product. Whereas RCP is a rigid structure that is designed, built, and tested as a structure before it arrives at the construction site, the “structure” of HDPE pipe is actually built and tested in the field. Hence, HDPE pipe is not an “approved equal” substitute for RCP. This paper reviews the critical aspects regarding the decision to specify corrugated HDPE pipe. Know the difference.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
AASHTO. (2005). Bridge Committee-Technical Committee T-4 Construction/T-13 Culverts, Washington, D.C.
Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS). (2005). ⟨http://www.ads-pipe.com⟩ (December 30).
American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA). (2005a). “The complete corrugated polyethylene pipe manual and installation guide.” Concrete pipe design manual.
American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA). (2005b). ⟨http://www.concrete-pipe.org⟩ (December 30).
ASTM. (2002a) Standard specification for highway bridges, 17th Ed., Sec. 17, Philadelphia.
ASTM. (2002b). Standard specification for highway bridges, 17th Ed., Sec. 30, Philadelphia.
Corrugated Polyethylene Pipe Association (CPPA). (2000). “Structural integrity of non-pressure corrugated polyethylene pipe.” TR.39.
Crumpler Plastic Pipe. (2005). ⟨http://www.cpp-pipe.com⟩ (December 30).
Enyart, J. I. (1998). Civil Engineering Magazine, May.
Fratco. (2005). ⟨http://fratco.com⟩ (December 30).
Gallatin. (1997). Form letter from the City of Gallatin, Tenn.
Hancor. (2005). ⟨http://www.hancor.com⟩ (December 30).
Hanson Pipe and Products. (2005). ⟨http://www.hansonpipeandproducts.com⟩ (December 30).
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KTC). (2005). “Evaluation of HDPE pipe performance on Kentucky DOT construction projects.” Kentucky Dept. of Transportation.
Knoxville. (1998). Letter from the City of Knoxville, Tenn. to Sherman Dixie Industries.
Lane Enterprises, Inc. (2005). ⟨http://www/lane-enterprises.com⟩. (December 30).
Lane Enterprises, Inc. Terms and Conditions of Sale (undated).
Meyers, J. J. (1992). “Deflection of buried flexible pipe.” Concrete Pipe News, April.
Nashville. (1997). Letter from Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools to Jay West, Vice Mayor.
Palmer, M. J. (undated). “Construction Failures: Who is Liable?”
Perrin, J., Jr., and Jhavari, C. S. (2003). “The economics of culvert failures.” Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.
Plastic Pipe Institute (PPI). (2005). ⟨http://www.plasticpipe.org⟩ (December 30).
Plastic Pipe Institute (PPI). (1996). Underground installation of polyethylene pipe, The Society of the Plastic Industries, Inc.
Premarc Corporation (Premarc). (1999). Pipeline deflection testing-An investigation analysis.
Prinsco. (2005). ⟨http://www.prinsco.com⟩ (December 30).
Sharff, P. A., and Chambers, R. E. (1991). “The new ASTM standard for installation of plastic sewer pipe.” Public works, November.
Soleno. (2005). ⟨http://www/soleno.com⟩ (December 30).
Transportation Research Board. (2003) “The economies of culver failures.” (November 2003).
Washburn County Register. (2002–2004 ). Shell Lake Wisconsin.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 134 • Issue 1 • January 2008
Pages: 87 - 94
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Apr 18, 2006
Accepted: May 17, 2007
Published online: Jan 1, 2008
Published in print: Jan 2008
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.