Utility contractors and city water departments are always looking for ways to install pipe faster and easier. The city of Malden, Missouri, water department embarked on a year-long project to install 60,000 feet of 6-inch SDR21 pressure pipe in 2019. The project had a very large scope, consisting of open trench pressure pipe installation, horizontal direct drilling and casing pulls, all to be installed by the city’s water utility department.
RieberLok entered the project after the first phase of 20,000 feet of pipe had already been installed by using the spline method with yellow colored pipe. The sales rep approached the city about using a different type of internal restraint for the project. After the RieberLok self-restraining gasket was presented to the water department and the Utility Board, they chose to complete the project using the RieberLok.
We partnered with a major PVC pipe manufacturer and Kevin and Jerry Smith of Powell Supply in Malden, Missouri. After considering both options, the city chose the field-installed version of RieberLok rather than the optional pre-installed version from the PVC manufacturer’s pipe plant. RieberLok and the pipe supplier finished the remaining portion of the project — 40,000 feet of 6-inch IPS pressure class 200, with every joint restrained.
After RieberLok and the pipe manufacturer explained the RieberLok warranty, the City of Malden felt comfortable moving forward with the RieberLok gasket. The Malden crew installed the RieberLok joint restraint outside the ditch much faster, easier and with fewer issues than their previous system. The city also saved a significant amount of money on the price of the pipe, as the yellow splined pipe is significantly more expensive than the standard PVC pressure pipe that is used with the RieberLok gasket.
Pictured here is a training day at the Malden water department’s yard, which involved the city crew and water supervisors, along with Kevin and Jerry Smith of Powell Supply.
You have several options for restraining your PVC C900 and IPS pressure class pipe. The RieberLok gasket is an internal, push-on restraint for PVC pressure pipe that does not require any special tools, rods, clamps, bolts, or poly and wax wrapping. If you are interested in learning more about how the RieberLok gasket works, please contact us at www.riberlok.com.
