High Density Polyethylene Pipe (HDPE)
Culvert pipe options must provide a clear open channel for water flow, infrastructure, or other materials, plus support loads that that may be mobile or static, often weighing thousands of pounds. They must also be able to perform under extreme weather conditions, including heat, cold, and flooding.
When installed properly, they can ensure the long-term structural integrity of a property by reducing the risk of flooding, waterlogging, erosion, and other drainage issues.
ADCO Pipe & Supply, LLC is a high-volume dealer for culvert pipe. We offer a spectrum of sizes and constructions to fit most applications, and our team of sales specialists can provide guidance on selecting the right pipe to meet specifications and performance requirements.
Culvert Pipe Applications
Culvert pipes typically have two functions: to be able to hold up weight of any kind of traffic passing over (pedestrian, automobiles, etc.) without collapsing, and to provide a clear pathway for water or other materials. Applications include:
- Stormwater management and drainage to protect infrastructure from flooding and erosion.
- Industrial wastewater management to transport wastewater, control water flow, and prevent contaminated water getting into the environment.
- Protecting natural water flow of streams.
- Road and railway drainage to drain and control water flow in and around roads, highways, railway lines, and other facilities to prevent erosion.
- Agriculture and land drainage to manage water flow for irrigation and proper drainage.
- Line or repair existing culvert pipes and drainage channels, improving their effectiveness and/or prolonging their service life.
- Utility infrastructure for protecting and maintaining underground utility infrastructure like electrical and communication cables, sewage, and gas.
“Dry” culverts that have specific purposes, such as channeling a fire hose beneath a noise barrier to allow for easier firefighting along a highway.
Culvert Pipe Construction And Specification
Culvert pipes can be constructed of a variety of materials, including cast-in-place or precast concrete, galvanized steel, aluminum, or plastic (typically high-density polyethylene). Many are designed to provide quick, secure connections between segments, typically bell and spigot joints, so installation can proceed quickly. Depending on the installation, gaskets may be used between sections to ensure watertightness.
Undersized and poorly placed culverts can cause lots of problems, including degrading water quality via scour and erosion, as well as restricting the movement of aquatic organisms between upstream and downstream habitats. Improperly sized culverts may also be susceptible to blockage from debris in high water flow situations creating additional problems.
Culvert Regulations
Construction or installation at a culvert site generally results in disturbance of the site’s soil, stream banks, or stream bed, and can result in the occurrence of unwanted problems such as scour holes or slumping of banks adjacent to the culvert structure. Culvert pipes must be properly sized, installed, and protected from erosion to promote maximum function.
Thus, many U.S. agencies require that culverts be engineered to meet specific federal, state, or local regulations and guidelines to ensure proper function and to protect against culvert failures. These agencies include the Federal Highway Administration, Bureau of Land Management, and Environmental Protection Agency, as well as state or local authorities.
Culverts are classified by standards for:
- Load capacity
- Water flow capacity
- Life span
- Connection seals
- Installation requirements for bedding and backfill.
Common standards used for culvert pipe include ASTM F2881, AASHTO M330, ASTM F1417 or ASTM F2487 (watertightness), ASTM D2321 and ADS (installation), ASTM F2648 and ASTM F277 (gaskets).
At ADCO, we adhere to these standards and others as required when designing, engineering, and specifying culverts. We can also assist you in your specifications.
Choose ADCO For Your Culvert Pipe Project
At ADCO Pipe & Supply, LLC, our experience, expertise, reputation, and superior products have made us an industry leader in pipe supplies for North Alabama and Central Tennessee. Our culvert pipes are manufactured using only superior materials and are of the highest quality to meet the most stringent industry standards.
Call us at (256) 757-7473 or click HERE for a free quote today.
