Pipe manufacturer and supplier Fiberpipe says glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) pipes are the future of pipes in South Africa.

“GRP pipes were introduced onto the civils market in South Africa during June 1992 and have been used worldwide in the civils market since the late 1960s.

“The growth in demand for these pipes has been phenomenal and, currently, pipes with diameters of up to 4 m are being manufactured. It is only our prevailing reticence to embrace new materials that will limit the growth of GRP pipes in South Africa,” says Fiberpipe technical manager Jan Krüger.

He notes that, to date, more than 900 projects, during which more than 2 000 km of GRP pipe was used, have been completed in Africa.

“The consulting engineers who designed the GRP pipelines in the 1990s are still, after 20 years, specifying the use of these pipes.

“These pipes are the pipes of the future, as more traditional pipe materials, like steel, are becoming more expensive. GRP piping becomes more affordable over time, owing to new developments in the materials and manufacturing processes of the pipes,” he says.

Owing to the ease of installation of GRP pipes and their resistance to corrosion, Krüger notes, they can be used in potable water transfer, firefighting, seawater and desalinated water, sewage and irrigation applications. GRP pipes are also suitable for use in power plants and for chemical and industrial waste.

“They are also competitively priced and do not need any maintenance. The pipelines are designed to have a life span of 50 years, which is a positive for companies struggling to keep up with maintenance routines,” he says.

Krüger says Fiberpipe manufactures its products according to strict local and international specifications and also appoints specialised personnel to train the consulting engineers, contractors or clients on how to handle and install the pipes correctly.

“If something goes wrong with a pipeline project, it is usually during the installation. “This is because clients or their engineers sometimes do not supervise or they appoint inexperienced workers to try to cut costs.

“After experiencing some problems during an installation in 2009, we decided to be present during the installation of all our GRP pipes. This has made a huge difference and we have had very few problems since then,” he says.

Krüger says traditional pipe materials, such as asbestos and clay, are slowly being pushed out of the market by GRP pipes.

“During 2013, we will launch a new drive to ensure that GRP pipes become the material of choice for clients and consulting engineers,” he concludes.