The need and importance of adequate underground pipe protection and periodic examination is now recognized by practically all progressive gas utilities. A gas utility’s underground structures, the mains and services, represent a large percentage of its total capital investment. The large investment must be guarded in a manner that will provide maximum economy and safety when first costs, maintenance expense, and life expectancy are considered.
The purpose of this article is to present a general discussion of underground pipe protection practices that are followed by a gas distributing company in urban and suburban areas.
Prior to 1926 our company’s major distribution system consisted of either cast-iron or wrought-iron pipe. The cast-iron mains were laid with lead filled bell and spigot joints. The wrought-iron mains and services were connected with either flanges or couplings. In the middle twenties the use of lead for cast-iron joints was discontinued and cement substituted. After...
