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PipeSak, the original geotextile pipeline weight, offers a number of advantages over other pipeline weighting systems.
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Strength, Durability & Safety
PipeSaks are made from ASTM tested, geotextile rated fabrics — with a 4X overall factor of safety.
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Short lead time
PipeSaks can be fabricated and shipped directly to a site, often within days.
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Economical
Low product price, reduced handling costs, and use of local gravel as ballast combine to make PipeSak the most economical pipeline weighting system.
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Safe to install
Installation is safe and simple. Fill the PipeSak bag weights with gravel from a local source, distribute along the right of way, lower over the pipeline, and back-fill.
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Trench friendly
No extra trench depth required. Less trench dewatering required. PipeSak conforms to most trench bottoms.
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Soft
PipeSak geotextile pipeline weights are a soft buoyancy control, allowing the pipeline the ability to move slightly while still maintaining negative buoyancy and coating protection.
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Less weight required
PipeSak's "effective weight" under water often exceeds that of equivalent concrete weights due to less water being displaced.
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Better cathodic protection
PipeSak is as permeable as the ballast used to fill it, allowing groundwater and cathodic protection an easy path.
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Environmentally friendly
Concrete coatings and saddleweights can leach chemicals into the ground water. PipeSak's non-biodegradable polypropylene fabric is filled with local gravel, making them as environmentally friendly as the natural stone used to
fill them.
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Easy to remove
PipeSak is non-biodegradable and can easily be removed if ever required.
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Other Fabric Weights
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- PipeSaks spread the fabric load using a multi-compartment design that is safer and longer-lasting than the one or two compartment design used by other fabric weights.
- PipeSaks maintain a minimum 4X factor of safety for all sizes — both in the lift webbing and the geotextile body fabric. Other fabric weights only offer this in their lifting webbing.
- PipeSak always uses a heavy (420 GSM) geotextile rated fabric (signified by the black color). Others use a far lighter (200 GSM) bulk bag fabric (typically white) which, even doubled up, does not offer the same strength and long-term durability.
- PipeSaks can be installed with a single lift hook, which can be released without workers in the trench. The system of hooks and loops used by other fabric weights can be difficult to release.
- With their stable, low design, PipeSaks can be installed on to a floating pipeline without risk of tipping — requiring no trench dewatering. The other single and two compartment designs can be difficult, if not impossible, to place on a floating pipeline.
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Concrete Weights
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- long lead time to form and cure
- trench must be dewatered
- extra trench depth often required
- potential for coating damage
- weight tipping is always a problem
- leftover weights are common
- lift hook prone to rusting
- have been known to leach chemicals into the groundwater
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Continuous Concrete Coating
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- expensive and heavy - generally used only for river crossings
- long lead time
- have been known to leach chemicals into the groundwater
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Screw Weights
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- expensive for small projects
- borehole logs required
- resistance to rusting and cathodic shielding unproven
- workers required in trench
- rigid fix
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