Benefits of Using Clay Drainage Products
Burdens are stockists of a wide range of Hepworth Clay Drainage products. Below is a list of benefits in using clay drainage products:
Quality
Most Hepworth Clay Drainage products are Kitemarked (where standards exist)- Process control is strictly monitored during and post manufacture by product testing
- Regular third party inspections are made by UK, European and worldwide quality inspectors
- No restrictions regarding product use have been implemented by any UK Water Company.
Strength
- The pipe is strong enough to withstand most loading situations all by itself. Bedding material serves to enhance the load carrying capabilities of the pipe
- The pipe provides nearly all of the strength that is required in the ground
- This strength does not change over time and is certified in the factory
- Clay has the ability to withstand high imposed loads.
Sustainable Drainage Solution
- The clay raw material used to produce the Clay Drainage products is sourced locally to the factory resulting in the reduced transportation of raw materials
- Clay drainage products are produced in conjunction with an Environmental Management System to BS EN ISO 14001
- Clay pipes are mainly manufactured in roller kilns using less energy than previous methods
- The manufacturers of the Clay Drainage products have recently been presented with a Carbon Trust sponsored award for achievements in energy efficiency
- The pipe material itself can be recycled and reused in manufacture
- Clay has already stood the test of time, it is a known and dependable material.
Jetting Resistance
- Clay drainage is highly resistant to high water pressure jetting methods and equipment
- Clay has higher jetting pressure limits than other drainage and sewer materials
- More blockages will be cleared first time with reduced risk
- All Hepworth Clay pipes carry the Lifetime Jetting Guarantee.
Durability
- Lifetime expectancy in excess of 100 years
- The ability to use long replacement cycles gives a low lifetime cost
- Minimisation of disruption to buildings and services in the future due to longer replacement cycles
- Reduced risk of failure in service due to high pipe strength and jetting resistance.
Chemical resistance
- As vitrified clay is one of the most inert materials in existence, the pipes are unaffected by any effluent acceptable in an adopted sewer system or by aggressive ground conditions
Asset life of clay pipes
- The long service life of clay pipes is based principally on the nature of the pipe material
- Vitrified clay is intrinsically inert, so that pipe strength does not deteriorate with time
- It can resist modern rigorous maintenance methods such as high pressure water jetting
- The UK clay pipe industry provides a 100 year life expectancy for all sizes, subject to the pipes being laid according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This means that long replacement cycles can be safely accommodated, leading to a low lifetime cost
- Hospital building codes HTM 81 & 83 require increased floor slab fire resistance, therefore clay is specified
- Water companies have no restrictions over the use of clay yet there are many for Structured Wall Plastics.
Recycled aggregate
- Research during 1998 and 1999 into the structural performance of clay pipes laid on a variety of recycled materials showed that these may be safely used for bedding clay pipes
- Recycled aggregate is approved for use with Clay Drainage systems as detailed in Sewers for Adoption 6th Edition.