PE100 RC pipe with protective sheath
The Renovation VRC T3 structure
The innovative structure of Renovation VRC T3 consists of a tube made entirely of PE100 RC (polyethylene with very high resistance to cracking), compliant with UNI EN 12201-2 standards, improved thanks to the action of an external protective sheath. The pipeline is specific for the distribution of water for human consumption, including the transport of water before treatment.
The additional layer, having a minimum thickness of 0.8 mm and designed with a specific high-performance polyolefin formulation, is perfectly adherent to the external surface of the service tube but is not structurally connected to it (it can in fact be removed if necessary). This pipe conformation corresponds to Type 3 of the PAS 1075 specification, the technical reference for polyethylene pipe installations through alternative techniques. Compared to the Type 1 (Renovation VRC) and Type 2 (Renovation VRC+) variants of the PAS 1075 specification, which provide for single-layer and multi-layer PE100 RC structures respectively, the characteristic outer sheath of Type 3 allows to obtain an exceptional abrasion resistance and an excellent shear resistance in the axial direction between it and the service pipe, ensuring maximum reliability both during laying operations and during the operation phase of the underground network.
The main purpose of the outer sheath is to systematically prevent the PE100 RC service pipe from being damaged by scratches accidentally caused by handling and laying activities, resulting in localized weakening of the pipeline.
Specific for applications with No-Dig technologies
Thanks to their excellent resistance characteristics to slow fracture propagation, the use of Renovation VRC T3 pipes is foreseen in traditional open-pit laying without the need for a bed of sand embankment but rather with the reuse of excavation materials, with evident economic and environmental benefits. Renovation VRC T3 pipes are able to withstand loads, both localized and distributed, more effectively due to their exposure to rock materials that can trigger fracture processes.
Long-term durability, especially with the use of modern installation methods, increasingly oriented towards trenchless (no-dig) techniques, is thus safeguarded.
In fact, trenchless techniques have emerged as the best solution to problems both in restoring the functionality of pipelines that have become defective or even unusable over time, and in new underground installations of water and gas pipes.