Case Study: Fiberglass Structures and Systems are Dependable, Safe in Wastewater Plants

0511-Baton RougeFiberglass troughs, ladders, handrails and walkways at the city of Baton Rouge Wastewater Treatment facilities have provided trouble-free service since 1987. The fiberglass materials are cost effective and require little maintenance compared to steel structures. Four of the city’s wastewater plants required expansion and city engineers knew that fiberglass would have a longer service life than metal in the highly corrosive wastewater environment, so fiberglass equipment was used wherever possible.

TECHNICAL DATA
Product: Fiberglass Handrails, Platforms, Troughs, Weirs, Ladders, Stairs
Process: Pultrusion
Materials:

  • EXTREN® Series 525 fiberglass reinforced polyester, fire retardant
  • DURADEK® T-5000 2" fiberglass reinforced polyester grating, fire retardant (currently DURAGRID®)
  • Molded fiberglass round bottom troughs and weirs
Sizes: Square bottom troughs—525 lineal feet
EXTREN® structural shapes:

  • 1/4" Plate
  • 2" x 2" x 1/4" Angle
  • 3-1/2" x 1-7/8" x 2" x 1/8" Hat section
  • 1" Square tube stiffeners
  • Handrail—6000 lineal feet
  • Five ladders
  • Four platforms with stairs
  • Trench covers—500 sq. ft.
For: City of Baton Rouge Wastewater Treatment Facility

Strongwell fabricated structures using EXTREN® fiberglass structural shapes, DURADEK® fiberglass grating and molded fiberglass round bottom troughs and weirs for various expansion
phases at the Baton Rouge facilities.

A spokesman for the engineering consultant on the job stated, “The fiberglass platforms and walkways were designed to give workers safe access to equipment in the plants. Fiberglass structures are well suited for this purpose because they are resistant to chemical corrosion and are structurally sound. Installation was easy and the structures are holding up fine.”

Installation supervisors from Cajun Contractors of Baton Rouge reported that fiberglass structures at the wastewater treatment plants were easy to install and looked attractive. Pitman Company, another contractor on the job, reported, “Our crew had never worked with fiberglass structures before and was very surprised at how easy it was to install.”

View Printable PDF of this Case Study