Think about it. In today's world, the engineer, contractor, and owner all have liability in construction projects far after the project is completed. The last thing that you want is to lose sleep over concerns that the storm drainage system in your last project is failing. Here at James Hardie, we have been manufacturing pipe for over 80 years and we understand your fears. That is why we have designed Hardie Pipe to have a service life in excess of 100 years - the same rating given to steel-reinforced concrete pipe and the highest possible.   

We know that the common perception is that concrete stands the tests of time. But while you may not realize it, the integrity and durability of your drainage system is often compromised the minute that your concrete pipe is put into the ground. This happens because concrete by nature is an extremely brittle material and subject to cracking during the rigorous installation process. You may say, "Well, that's what the steel is there for." Unfortunately, you're only kidding yourself. In traditional RCP, the concrete not only provides a structure, but also serves an equally important role - to protect the steel from the chloride and sulfide ions in the groundwater that can cause rapid and premature failure. In most cases, the cracks that occur during construction will only cause headaches later if not properly repaired.

This is never an issue with Hardie Pipe. As a highly engineered composite, Hardie Pipe utilizes a special material formulation that inhibits cracking. We've designed the concrete matrix in our pipe to have a slightly increased ductility over traditionally batched concrete. This allows our Hardie Pipe to deflect slightly under extreme loading and withstand more than 1.5 times the first crack load of steel-reinforced RCP, reducing the potential that your storm sewer will be damaged during installation or in-service and will be there for years to come. Second, we don't use any steel reinforcement (or other material that may corrode) to provide strength, which makes Hardie Pipe the ideal material for wet, tidal applications. At James Hardie, our products are built to last. We are committed to providing you with the best pipe on the market today - as well as a better night's sleep. 

Pipes under load

Pipes under load