Are you aware of the condition of your PCCP (prestressed concrete cylinder pipe)? If not, PICA is here to help! At PICA, our team is committed to helping municipalities, industrial companies, and pipeline owners worldwide understand the condition of their pipelines. Our state-of-the-art in-line inspection tools can provide precise and accurate information regarding the condition of your pipelines. That way, you can make informed decisions regarding repairing, rehabilitation, or replacing your pipes. Keep reading to learn more about the tools PICA uses to inspect PCCP.
The Basics of PCCP
To put it simply, PCCP is a prestressed concrete cylinder pipe. This type of pipe comprises a concrete core, a thin steel cylinder, high-tensile pre-stressing wires, and a mortar coating. The concrete core of PCCP pipes is its main structural load-bearing component, and the steel cylinder acts as a water barrier between the layers of concrete. At the same time, the pre-stressing wires produce a uniform yet compressive pressure on the steel cylinder and concrete core that offsets the hoop stresses in the pipe. The mortar coating provides protection from physical damage and external corrosion to the pre-stressing wires. Prestressed concrete cylinder pipes are durable and resistant to physical damage. They can even manage the stress of high internal pressures and external loading. This construction makes prestressed concrete cylinder pipes perfect for all transmission mains in municipal water and wastewater applications.
However, even though PCCP pipes are solid and durable, over time, they, too, just like many other types of pipelines, will begin to degrade. Depending on how well the pipe segments were manufactured and assembled in the ditch, the degradation may come sooner rather than later. Fortunately, PICA is here to help with your inspection of PCCP!
PICA’s Pipeline Inspection Tools
The condition of your prestressed concrete cylinder pipes is critical for your wastewater and water main operations. At PICA, our team uses the latest innovative RFT and NFT pipeline inspection tools to ensure your water mains operate safely. PICA utilizes various electro-magnetic remote field technology (RFT) and near-field technology (NFT) to inspect your prestressed concrete cylinder pipes. In particular, our main RFT and NFT tools for PCCP inspections are the SeeSnake RAFT and SeeSnake EMIT for RFT and the new PICA NFT Tool. More information on these tools is below.
SeeSnake RAFT (Restricted Access Flexible Tool)
PICA’s SeeSnake RAFT tool has been manufactured to assess C-301 and C-303 prestressed concrete cylinder and bar-wrapped pipes. This unique tool features a collapsible design that allows it to be inserted into your pipes through small access manways and cover roughly 2 km (1.4 miles) of 36″ to 60″ pipe per day. As a self-contained, tethered pipeline inspection unit, the RAFT provides incredibly accurate and detailed information about the condition of your water mains.
SeeSnake EMIT (Electro-Magnetic Inspection Tool)
Like the RAFT, the SeeSnake EMIT is a self-contained non-destructive water main inspection tool used to assess large internally lined pipes between 60″ and 108″. Both the RAFT and the EMIT SeeSnakes from PICA can detect “loss of preload,” a condition of C-301 E pipes caused by broken or damaged wires that fail to provide cylinder compression locally. PICA’s SeeSnake EMIT is perfect for identifying numerous concrete cylinder pipe defects, such as broken wires, bars, and corroded cylinders. Also, like the RAFT, the EMIT features a collapsible design that enables PICA’s technicians to insert sections of the tool through small access locations easily.
Inspect Your PCCP Pipes with PICA Today!
Since the early 1990s, PICA has been North American municipalities’ top choice for PCCP inspections. Our team of skilled technicians is here to help you determine the condition of your PCCP without needing expensive and time-consuming excavation or other modes of destructive testing. Contact PICA today to learn how our team can inspect your PCCP water mains!