Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Where They Rely on Fiberglass Components

Material selection decisions in wastewater treatment often revolve around specific factors, such as: what can withstand the chemistry? Wastewater treatment facilities can face severe chemical corrosion, high moisture, and heavy structural loads. Hydrogen sulfide gas from anaerobic tanks can form sulfuric acid when it meets moisture, which can eat away at standard steel or concrete. High levels of chlorine, ozone, or other treatment chemicals can also degrade metal pipes and tanks.

Fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) changes that calculation. Below, learn more about fiberglass and why wastewater treatment facilities rely on it for different components.

Chemical Resistance for Corrosive Environments

FRP is able to resist harsh chemicals in wastewater applications. It doesn’t rust, corrode, or break down when exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas, sulfuric acid, and other aggressive chemicals common throughout collection systems and treatment processes.

The specific chemistry matters for material selection. Glass fibers can be molded in with different resins. These can include:

• General-purpose resins. Suitable for standard wastewater exposure.
• High-temperature resins. Useful for applications with elevated process temperatures alongside chemical exposure.
• Vinyl ester resins. Optimal for aggressive chemical environments, including high H?S concentrations or acids.

With a custom fiberglass manufacturer, you can match the resin and construction method to the application environment before fabrication. This can include layering for thickness and factoring for curing and finish needs.

Cost Savings and Lifecycle Performance

The engineering argument for FRP extends to lifecycle cost. FRP lasts longer than vinyl or wood, and its lower thermal expansion can prevent warping. Its maintenance requirements are generally minimal and may include periodic inspection and basic cleaning. For procurement teams calculating the total cost of ownership across longer facility lifecycles, that can prove significant over time.

FRP is also lighter than steel, especially so with large components. For projects where installation labor is billed by the hour, weight can become a notable cost variable.

The Specification Standard for Doors

Fiberglass doors are a reliable choice for wastewater applications. Facility managers who have watched doors rust at the hinges within 18 months of installation in high-H?S environments know this first-hand. FRP doors aren’t prone to rusting or warping, and they hold their dimensional integrity through repeated washdown cycles.

When specifying fiberglass doors for wastewater applications, the following are several elements that can contribute to overall performance:

• Molded, void-free construction to eliminate internal moisture infiltration points
• Utilizing corrosion-resistant hardware throughout to prevent rust
• Custom sizing to accommodate layout and functional requirements

Contact CMDT Manufacturing to Get Started

CMDT fabricates doors and other components to specifications. For aging infrastructure replacement or retrofitting projects, that flexibility can contribute to installation as well as maintenance. New components requiring mold development can ship in approximately 10 to 12 weeks from the approval of drawings. With an existing mold, production can run one to two weeks. We fabricate in-house, and our team can assess whether a given application is the right fit for fiberglass before you commit to a design direction.

If you’re specifying components for a wastewater project or replacing materials that haven’t held up, contact our team today or request a quote for your project to get started.