Our Customer Service Team has put together a brief list of frequently asked questions (FAQs). Hopefully it answers any questions you might have.
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Q. Where can I buy Hardie Pipe?
A. Hardie Pipe's flagship manufacturing facility is located in Plant City, Florida. We are currently shipping in the Southeast, with plans to expand in the near future. Call Customer Service toll-free at 1-877-910-3727 to check availability of Hardie Pipe in your area. Back
Q. What is the lead-time for ordering Hardie Pipe?
A. Hardie Pipe stocks a wide range of pipe sizes and classes. Due to our manufacturing process, pipes can be manufactured and shipped within a 48-hour lead-time for delivery. To ensure that the contractor's pipe requirements are met, advanced notification to Hardie Pipe Customer Service is advised, particularly when large quantities are needed. Back
Q. How do your prices compare to the prices of other stormwater pipe?
A. Hardie Pipe is priced similarly to steel reinforced concrete pipe. Contact Customer Service toll-free at 1-877-910-3727 to obtain pricing information for your project. Back
Q. How much does each pipe weigh?
A. Due to Hardie Pipe's unique material properties, our pipes are considerably lighter than traditional steel reinforced concrete pipe. Nominal weight comparisons show that Hardie Pipe is less than half the weight of sRCP per linear foot. For example, Class III, 18" RCP typically weighs 175 lbs. while Hardie Pipe Class III, 18" only weighs 57.63 lbs! Lighter weights allow for reduced shipping costs, smaller equipment and enhanced ease of handling on construction sites. Back
Q. Why are there no steel reinforcements in Hardie Pipe?
A. The materials in Hardie Pipe are stronger than traditional concrete pipe. Our unique manufacturing process produces a uniform, composite material unlike any on the market today. Unlike brittle concrete, our product can withstand extreme loads during installation and construction, eliminating the need for steel reinforcements that can rust and corrode. Back
Q. What type of equipment do I need to unload Hardie Pipe?
A. A front-end loader with forks is the most efficient means to unload Hardie Pipe. Back
Q. What type of lube and/or gaskets do I use with Hardie Pipe?
A. Hardie Pipe provides both lube and gaskets for installation. They are delivered to the construction site with the pipe. Back
Q. Can I use normal rigging cables or chains?
A. Yes. Hardie Pipe is a rigid concrete pipe. Contractors can use nylon slings, cables or chains when moving the pipe. Back
Q. How do I cut Hardie Pipe?
A. Hardie Pipe should be cut using either a diamond blade power saw or an abrasive disc. All power cutting operations should be carried out in an open-air situation or in well-ventilated spaces to avoid inhalation of uncontrolled dust particles. Prolonged inhalation of silica dust above the level considered safe by the U.S. government will cause adverse health effects. Power cutting tools should be equipped with either a dust suppressant or a dust collection system. Back
Q. What equipment do I need to install Hardie Pipe?
A. Hardie Pipe can be installed using a backhoe or a trackhoe. As Hardie Pipe is a concrete pipe, we recommend installation according to ASTM 1479. Back
Q. Will the pipe deteriorate with time?
A. James Hardie(r) has been manufacturing the current formulation of Hardie Pipe since 1984 and is therefore in a good position to reflect on the likely service life of the product on the basis of the proven performance record. Our extensive research into the behavior of our product and the significant safety factors employed in the installed condition points to a service life in excess of 100 years. This is confirmed by the pipe that is in service with an excellent track record of performance. Back
Q. Is Hardie Pipe vulnerable to sulfate attack?
A. Unlike conventional air-cured concrete, the low free lime content makes our pipe highly resistant to sulfate attack from neutral sulfates in the ground water, or water conveyed through the pipe. Back
Q. Is there any strength loss when the pipe becomes saturated?
A. An inherent property of Hardie Pipe is that it has a different dry strength and wet strength, just as concrete pipe has a different crack strength and ultimate strength. The standards and design principles for Hardie Pipe automatically assume that the pipe in the ground is in the fully saturated condition for its entire service life. As this is the case, it is more accurate to say that Hardie Pipe gets stronger when it is dry. Back
Q. How does the water absorption of the matrix affect the pipe durability and strength?
A. Unlike steel-reinforced concrete pipe, there is no material in our pipe that is able to corrode should water or chloride ions penetrate into the matrix. And we have shown that water saturation does not weaken the pipe. Water absorption is a meaningless parameter for Hardie Pipe. In fact, the number can be misleading because as water absorption is expressed as a percentage of the dry product weight, the heavier the product the less the water absorption number for the same amount of water absorbed. Back
Q. How does Hardie Pipe compare with steel reinforced concrete pipe as far as abrasion resistance is concerned?
A. This depends on the type of coarse aggregate used in the RCP. However, this parameter is of little relevance because the product is designed to be fit-for-purpose. Abrasion resistance of Hardie Pipe is practically the same as asbestos-cement pipe, which has a history in the U.S. of over 50 years. In the vast majority of drainage applications, coarse aggregates are not normally present in the stormwater being transported, and exposure is non-existent or intermittent, making abrasion resistance a negligible factor in you selection of pipe materials. Back
Q. Given Hardie Pipe's lighter weight, will it float?
A. In reality, any pipe can float under the right conditions - including steel-reinforced concrete pipe. Flotation is based on the amount of displaced water to the pipe, weight of the pipe, and soil weight. However, in the majority of cases, like all concrete pipes, Hardie Pipe will not float under minimal cover. Back
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