Pipe Manufacturers’ Role in Design/Build Pipeline Projects

There are four main parties in a design/build pipeline project: the owner and his representative; the general contractor; the contractor’s design engineer (the engineer of record); and the pipe manufacturer. The selection of the pipe manufacturer by the design/build team is critical, since besides providing the pipe design calculations if required, layout drawings, and manufacturing the pipeline, the design/build team can depend on the manufacturer’s expertise to provide recommendations and alternatives to resolve unforeseen field related issues. The additional contribution by the pipe manufacturer can be limited or significant depending on the pre-engineering level of the project and the experience of the project team. Three examples of design/build pipeline projects requiring different levels of technical support by the pipe manufacturer, will be presented: the Tuyaux Bonna/American Pipe and Construction Design/Build team for the rehabilitation of 19 miles of 78-inch PCCP with a steel liner; Archer Western/Winzler & Kelly for the construction 9.5 miles of potable and reclaimed water steel pipelines ranging in diameter from 24-inch up to 48 inches; and Kiewit/Parson’s for the construction of 6000 ft. of 120-inch diameter high pressure steel-tunnel-liner penstock requiring specialized steel with very high toughness properties. Lessons learned from the three projects will also be presented.