Pipe Restraints: Installation Meets, Overcomes Challenges in Canada Reservoir, Supply Line Project

The pipeline's buried metal was susceptible to corrosion, driving the team to develop a method to protect the pipe restraints over time.

The city of Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Canada, is growing substantially due to its thriving potash, fertilizer, and oil and gas industries. Aiming to be proactive, the city has taken strategic steps to provide for the fast-growing population. As such, building a reservoir and supply line to deliver water to the newly-developed region was considered a top priority.

The city chose SIGMA, a provider of waterworks, fire protection and OEM products, to provide the piping restraints, in collaboration with EMCO Corporation and Gabriel Construction.

According to Rob Mathews, SIGMA's Territory Sales Manager for Western Canada, the project underwent a rigorous and time-constrained installation process for two reasons: the pipeline traversed an area being used by Agriculture and Agrifood Canada (AAFC) for agriculture research, requiring the team to use the property between crop cycles; and the pipeline's buried metal was susceptible to corrosion, driving the team to develop a method to protect the pipe restraints over time.

"The job was challenging on all fronts," said Mathews. "This was an innovative fix and required more steps in the process than a typical restraint job would, but that's what the customer required."

Because the Saskatoon water supply pipeline traversed an area being used by AAFC for agriculture research, the team could only access the property between crop cycles.

Mathews explained that the restraints were coated with petroleum-based Denso tape and paste - a substance invulnerable to water. Further, City of Saskatoon Project Engineer Celene Anger added that the Denso tape and paste was selected for a variety of reasons, including the fact that its life expectancy is longer than sacrificial anodes.

"An important main like this one needs to have a long life span, making corrosion protection of the joint restraints a vital part of the project," said Anger.

George Tisserand, Sales Manager for EMCO (Supplier/Distributer for the Saskatoon Project) added, "We had a really compressed timeline, working around the University's agricultural calendar, and we needed a lot of pipe restraint on this job. We chose SIGMA because they have the best delivery record. They did everything possible to get the materials to the jobsite promptly, and the work was completed on time."

Water travels from the water treatment plant through a 1,050-milimeter diameter fill main to a local reservoir that supplements water supply to the city's remote areas, according to Anger. The team had to install 1,200 meters of pipe with two 90-degree bends, as well as bore a tunnel within a section under the road in only three months.

"Because we weren't allowed to interrupt the crop season and the migratory bird mating seasons on federal agricultural land, the city was given a short window of time to install this particular section of fill main," she said. "I have full confidence that SIGMA's restraints and the Denso paste and tape application job that Gabriel did will stand the test of time."

Mathews added, "The collaboration between the city of Saskatoon, EMCO Corporation, Gabriel Construction, and SIGMA was effective and rewarding. With the inestimable help of my colleague, Inside Sales Associate Dana Wax, I'm proud to say we hit every single inventory deadline."