Pipe Manufacture
With a history of manufacturing quality products, James Hardie is well equipped to provide today’s market with high performance, highly durable drainage products specifically designed for above and below ground stormwater drainage applications. Supported by the Australian Standard for ‘Fibre Reinforced Concrete Pipes and Fittings’ AS4139 -2003, FRC™ pipe products are readily accepted by local and state government authorities, civil and hydraulic consultants, developers, and plumbing and drainage contractors.

FRC™ pipe products are manufactured using the mazza process. This involves building up a number of thin laminations of a slurried mix of Portland cement, ground sand, cellulose fibre and water, onto a steel mandrel under high pressure. The use of a polished mandrel ensures a very smooth pipe bore and a consistent internal diameter across the various pipe strength classes.

When the desired wall thickness is achieved, the mandrel is removed and the pipe is initially cured in a steam chest. The final curing, which is done in a high pressure steam autoclave, changes the chemical structure of the cement/silica matrix producing a more chemically resistant and stronger material. The pipe ends are then machined on a lathe to produce the various joint profiles.

An extensive range of fittings are manufactured to support each of the FRC™ pipe systems and to provide complete solutions for drainage applications. Fittings are fabricated through a process of cutting, machining and epoxying sections of pipe together.