"Culvert Grade" refers to steel pipe that is suitable for structural and drainage applications where Prime Grade (new) pipe is not required. By utilizing secondary or rejected pipe, contractors can realize substantial savings on projects like driveways, casing, and agricultural fencing.
Option 1: Smooth Wall (Secondary Steel)
This is often referred to as "Reject" or "Limited Service" pipe. It may have failed a high-pressure test at the mill, but it is structurally perfect for gravity-fed drainage or structural posts.
Key Advantages
- Heavy Wall: Much thicker than corrugated pipe, making it ideal for shallow burial under heavy trucks.
- Cost: Typically sold at a steep discount compared to Prime pipe.
- Strength: Robust enough to be driven or hammered as piling.
Best Uses
- › Driveway Culverts (Heavy Equipment)
- › Bollards & Bumper Posts
- › Road Boring Casing
- › Fence Corner Posts
Option 2: Corrugated Metal Pipe (CMP)
For municipal drainage and storm sewers, Corrugated Metal Pipe is the engineered standard. The corrugations (ribs) allow thin galvanized steel to support massive soil loads.
- Profiles: 2-2/3" x 1/2" (Standard) or 3" x 1" (Heavy Duty).
- Coatings: Galvanized (Zinc) or Aluminized Type 2 (75-year lifespan).
- Shapes: Round or Pipe-Arch (Squashed profile for low clearance areas).
Common Applications
Culvert grade pipe is highly versatile. Here are the most common ways contractors utilize these products:
Road Boring
Pushing a smooth steel casing under a highway to safely run utilities without trenching.
Temporary Bridges
Bundling large diameter pipes to create a robust water crossing for logging or construction trucks.
Pipe Bollards
Filling short pieces of reject pipe with concrete to protect buildings and gas pumps.
Agricultural
Using reject structural pipe for rugged corral panels, feed bunks, and fence posts.
Important Note on "Culvert Grade"
Please consult your dealer. "Culvert Grade" or "Secondary" often means the pipe has no mill test reports (MTRs) and cannot be used for high-pressure fluid applications. It is sold "As-Is" strictly for structural or gravity-flow use.
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