Auger Boring Small Diameter HOBAS GRP Pipe Beneath Dutch Railway
In 2010, due to the establishment of new industrial plants in Rotterdam’s harbor, a new 10,000 volt power line became necessary for sufficient power supply. Since the railway network’s safety measures prerequisite a protective pipe for all pressure lines and cables running beneath the railway, ProRail, the company in charge of the Dutch railway network, set about seeking for an adequate small diameter solution.
Quick installation was a crucial factor, so that the usually employed GRE pipe which has to be glued at the joints was ruled out. ProRail turned to HOBAS Benelux; the easy to handle, light weight HOBAS GRP Pipes are quickly assembled due to their push to fit couplings. HOBAS Benelux had been authorized supplier for pipelines undercrossing the Dutch railway for a decade. Until then, the smallest diameter for HOBAS GRP listed by ProRail had been De 427 mm. Thanks to the flexibility in the design of HOBAS Pipes the required diameter De 220 Jacking Pipes were produced with a wall thickness of 20 mm to suit the required maximal auger boring force of 148 kN and to comply with all of the network’s other safety measures. The 36-meter host pipe was installed in 4 meters depth within one day only. The contractor was pleased with the result and further small diameter auger boring and jacking projects beneath the railway were implemented with GRP so that ProRail extended the listed range of GRP diameters by DN 200.