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CSI - Fiberglass Manholes
While the ultimate life span of a fiberglass manhole would be dependant on the types of chemicals present in either the ground water or the wastewater, it is possible to state that fiberglass will far out last concrete in virtually every application. This benefit is immediately perceptible to owners that have had problems in the past with the degradation of traditional concrete manholes.
Lightweight and structurally sound to withstand HS-20 axle loads, fiberglass monolithic manholes from Containment Solutions resist the effects of hydrogen sulfide gas and minimize the amount of infiltration and exfiltration through the treatment system. Our manholes offer an economical and effective solution to your wastewater system needs. CSI Manholes and Wetwells come with a 20-year structural and corrosion warranty, the most comprehensive warranty in the industry.
Containment Solutions (CSI) Fiberglass Manholes were developed over thirty years ago. Since then, thousands of our manholes have been installed in the U.S.A., in many different types of soil, and in many different effluents, without a single failure. Our manholes have stood the test
of time.
This should not be surprising. CSI Fiberglass Manholes have the corrosion resistance, strength, monolithic design, and light weight which make them ideal for any manhole application. They can withstand the most severe conditions found in a sewer environment, whether they are under a busy street or a peaceful backyard.
Quality is built into each manhole. We start with a time-proven design which distributes loads evenly to reduce stress. We use only the finest quality resin and glass. Plus, we add chemically enhanced silica to improve corrosion resistance, strength, and overall performance. These materials are then centrifugally cast to form the very best manhole available today.
Formerly a division of Owens-Corning, the world’s largest fiberglass producer, we are committed to continuing our tradition of excellence. After all, we have been manufacturing underground tanks and manholes for over thirty years and we want to continue to earn your trust, just as we have for over a quarter of a century.
- Corrosion resistance
- Structural strength
- Lightweight
- Monolithic design
- 20-year corrosion and structural warranty
- PVC stubouts
- Fiberglass watertight bottoms
- Fiberglass benches and inverts
- Twelve inch high cone neck extensions
- Top and bottom flanges
- Ladders
Eliminates Corrosion and Eliminates Costly Maintenance/Rehabilitation
Corrosion is the mortal enemy of ordinary manholes, but not of fiberglass. Even decades of attack by hydrogen sulfide has no effect on fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) manholes. As a result, you avoid the street closings, service disruption, and costly repairs and maintenance associated with ordinary manholes.
Structurally Sound - Exceeds H-20 Load Rating
Our manholes have been in service for more than thirty years. Many of these installations are in busy streets. CSI manholes are designed to withstand the rigid requirements of AASHTO H-20 Axle Loads. Based on ASTM D3753 requirements, manholes must withstand a minimum eccentric load of 40,000 pounds. Meeting this standard means that our manholes will withstand far more weight than a fully loaded cement truck.
Ease of Installation
CSI manholes are far lighter than concrete – about 60 pounds per vertical foot. This allows for an easier, safer and less costly installation. There is no need for heavy equipment. Less manpower is required to move the manhole.
Reduce Infiltration
In most cases, ordinary concrete manholes are installed in sections, otherwise they would be too heavy to move. This creates a joint – the source of most leaks – every three feet. CSI manholes have no joints. They are available in standard one-piece lengths which prevents infiltration or exfiltration. The monolithic design also makes installation easier by reducing the time necessary to complete joints between sections.
Will Not Float
CSI manholes are installed in a concrete base (6’ x 6’ x 6” for 42” and 48” - refer to Manhole Installation Instructions). The combination of manhole weight, slab weight and weight of the soil wedge on the protruding 12”of slab more than offset the buoyancy by a factor of more than five to one.
When the Public Works Director for the city of Lake Jackson, Texas installed their first fiberglass manhole in 1971, the city didn’t know it would last this long. Their goal was to outlast the concrete manholes currently in use. The fiberglass manhole succeeded.
CSI manholes perform so well because of the quality in design and manufacturing. More importantly, fiberglass is virtually impervious to the hostile environment common in sewers. That is critical because that environment becomes increasingly more hostile each year.
Materials such as concrete, brick, and mortar, which were expected to last fifty years or more, are often destroyed in less than a decade. Corrosion, structural fatigue, and infiltration are quickly making these traditional materials obsolete.
As our cities expand outward, millions of gallons of sulfide rich effluents must spend long periods of time in our sewer systems before they reach a treatment plant. The combination of these effluents, a warm, humid atmosphere, and long retention times create perfect conditions for microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC). MIC destroys concrete, and mortar quickly, but it does not affect fiberglass manholes.
Our manholes also resist structural fatigue better than either concrete or brick manholes which can be seriously weakened due to movement caused by traffic, shifting soil, temperature changes, and cyclic groundwater loading. As a result, FRP manholes will not crack, crumble, or leak during their normal design life. That’s why so many people say fiberglass manholes are the permanent solution to your manhole problems.
Actual experience has proven to city managers, public works officials and hundreds of others who are responsible for municipal wastewater collection systems that CSI manholes are the very best you can put in the ground.
Our fiberglass manholes are made in one integral piece – so there are no sidewall seams, joints, or sections to let groundwater in or wastewater out. Many years of in-use experience have proven that our manhole’s water-tight construction stops infiltration and exfiltration.
Safe, Strong, and Durable
FRP manholes are much lighter than concrete, so they are easier and safer to handle. The weight of a fiberglass manhole is less than 60 pounds per linear foot compared to the 880 pounds per foot of concrete.
CSI manholes have been engineered to withstand a 16,000-pound vertical dynamic wheel load. That means they comply with AASHTO H-20, but it also means that they will support 30 percent more weight than the legal limit on most roadways in the United States. In addition, they meet all the requirements of ASTM specification D3753 for glass fiberreinforced polyester manholes.