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There are several variations of sheet pile sections manufactured today. You have PZ, AZ, PZC, NZ, Hoesch and several other types of sheet pile. Each manufacturer has designed sheet pile to meet a wide range of section modulus'. There are sheet pile with low section modulus and sheet pile with high section modulus. What happens when your design calls for a high section modulus, but you can't find a sheet pile section that can meet the design? One solution is to weld a cover plate to the face of the sheet pile.

A cover plate is a strip of steel plate that is welded onto the front face of the sheet pile. The plate extends the range of the sheet pile by increasing the moment capacity in the area where the design moment exceeds the capacity of the sheet pile. A thicker plate will typically increase the section modulus of your sheet pile. The length of the plate is dependent upon the moment curve.

You will need to consult with your engineer to figure out the specifics for the exact dimensions of the plate needed to increase the section modulus of your sheet pile. The engineer will design the plate size (thickness, length, width) and weld detail. As mentioned above, the thickness of the plate is where your section modulus increase will come from.

From time to time we have used sheet pile listed with cover plate already attached. You can view our steel plate and sheet pile inventory anytime. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call 1-800-541-7998 or email us at sales@eiffeltrading.com.

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. He has worked extensively with sheet pile during wastewater treatment plant, dam and flood protection construction.

As construction projects wind-down they become extremely chaotic trying to push through to the finish line. Everyone is focused on getting the project completed to meet the schedule (hopefully) or limit the liquidated damages (hopefully not). We all would like to think our project management skills help to bring organized chaos - more often than not - it's just plain chaos.

By thinking ahead and past the substantial completion milestone - you can help bring organized chaos by smart demobilization. 12 months prior to substantial completion - before all hell breaks loose - take some time to think about what is going to happen when the project demobilizes.

Think about the cofferdam in the middle of the river. Will you have a need for the long, heavy AZ36-700 sheet pile you bought for this specific project? Or the 250'x72'x16' ABS Deck Barge - do you need an ABS barge in the fleet when you have inland waterway construction projects coming up? What about the Cat D6N Dozer with the ripper attachment on the bank that's been idle for the past 3 months?

Planning your demobilization in advance will pay large dividends at the end of your project. By deciding what material is for sale early - you will limit double or triple handling of material. You will be able to get rental equipment off rent in a timely manner - avoiding unnecessary rental costs when the equipment is idle. Idle equipment will be removed and onto the next project making your company more money. When you sell your assets and have someone else pay to ship them off your project - you save even more on demobilization costs. We love smart demobilization!

For the assets that will not make the journey over to the next project - let Eiffel Trading help you find a new home for them. We allow our customers to list their used equipment and material at projected availability dates. You can find a Buyer for your used assets while they're still being used. To learn more, please call 1-800-541-7998 or email us at sales@eiffeltrading.com.

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. While working in Project Management and Procurement he managed the demobilization of several projects - liquidating pile hammers, cranes, sheet pile and crane trestle from projects.

Eiffel Trading 101: Purchasing a Used Crane Access Trestle

If you have ever had the pleasure of working on a project trying to procure a crane access trestle/work platform/temporary work bridge - this post is for you! Trying to purchase a used crane access trestle can be a very tricky process. The typical questions: How wide is it? What type of foundation? What model of crane was it designed?

How wide are used crane access trestles?

The majority of the used crane access trestle systems we come across are designed with either a 30' or 40' working surface. The decking material is typically comprised of 20', 30' or 40' crane mats. The 30' wide working surface system is wide enough for a crane to work. The 40' wide working surface system is wide enough for a crane and truck/light equipment passage.

What type of foundation?

Steel pipe pile is the most common type of foundation used on crane access trestle systems. Most frequently you see 24", 30" and 36" pipe piling used. The wall thickness and length of the pipe varies based on the piling capacity needed to support your system. Keep in mind, just because the superstructure of a trestle is rated for a 300 Ton Crane, does not mean you can use the same exact piling design as the person you are purchasing the used crane access trestle from. Soil conditions in Ohio are drastically different than Louisiana. Make sure you have your engineer figure out your pipe pile size and length based on where you are installing the trestle. Most commonly, you should be able to use the same diameter and wall thickness pipe, but your pile length may vary.

What model of crane was it designed?

Every used crane access trestle we've sold over the past several years has had a different engineer. However, one thing has remained the same - every engineer has designed a trestle for a specific crane. "The engineer designed our used trestle for a Manitowoc 2250, does that mean I can't use a Liebherr LR1300?" Not necessarily - here's why: Both cranes have a lifting capacity of 300 tons. However, their foot-print is a little different (26' for the 2250 and 26'-3" for the LR1300). Have your engineer review the crane girder spacing - they may make you move some stiffeners around and change the girder spacing. Regardless of moving stiffeners, it's much cheaper than designing and fabricating an entirely new system!

As mentioned above, buying a used crane access trestle can be very tricky. We have the experience to help guide you through procuring the crane access trestle superstructure, crane mats and piling needs. However, your engineer will need to be involved to make sure the used crane access trestle design will work for your specific application.

If you are reading this with a specific trestle need - check out our used crane access trestle inventory - as of the date of this posting we have over 3,000 LF of used access trestle for sale. For any questions please call 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. While working in Project Management and Procurement he managed the design, fabrication and ultimate sale of a crane access trestle.

We have been in the business of connecting buyers and sellers of used sheet pile for over 4 years now. Throughout the past several years we would get the same questions from different customers wanting to sell used sheet pile - What is my sheet pile worth? Are certain sections worth more than others? Are my short sheets marketable or should I scrap them?

What is my sheet pile worth?

The answer to this question isn't as simple as it seems. There are a range of factors that can impact the value of your sheet pile. Geographical location is one of the biggest factors in valuing used sheet pile, solely due to the cost to transport the material out of remote areas. If you are in one of the coastal regions - you're in luck - your sheets will demand top dollar!

Are certain sections worth more than others?

The short answer to this question is yes. However, it can also depend on the timeline for wanting to move the material. When you have a large section such as an AZ48-700, those aren't as common as a PZC-18 or PZ-27, which will mean you're one of the only guys on the block selling large sheets. By being the only Seller in town, you are able to demand a much higher price for your material. A word of caution - just because you can demand the higher price, doesn't mean you'll find someone needing that exact material right away. Lucky for you, I know a place where you can advertise them to a global audience.

Are short sheets marketable or should I scrap them?

The word scrap always makes me cringe when it comes to any type of used steel. Short sheets are very marketable, however they won't demand the price of a 30'+ sheet pile. You are still better off selling your short sheets at around $0.20/LB than scrapping them for $0.09/LB.

Answer the Damn Question - What can I Sell my Sheets for?!

We are nearing the end of the Q1 of 2018 and current market rates for new sheet pile are in the $0.55/LB range. In this same time frame we have moved millions of pounds of used sheet pile. On average in Q1 2018 our sellers have taken $0.32/LB to the bank.

As mentioned previously, we hate seeing any steel go to the scrap yard. Let us help you sell your used or surplus steel at www.eiffeltrading.com. For any questions please call 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. While working in Project Management he liquidated a joint venture selling assets from used sheet pile, access trestle, pipe, vibro hammers, impact hammers and other miscellaneous items. He carried over experience from the joint venture liquidation into co-founding Eiffel Trading.

We had the opportunity this week to sit down with Bill Roden, Vice President at Triumph Commercial Finance. Bill’s experience in the construction equipment industry is deep – his career spans not only the finance side of equipment, but he’s also worked at equipment auction companies such as IronPlanet and Equify Auctions. Additionally, Bill is a Master Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraiser and a Business Certified Appraiser (you can learn more about that here).

1. How did you get started in the construction equipment industry?

Answer: Well, it was a fluke, really. My first commercial finance job was working for GE on general equipment loans. But it wasn’t until I was recruited to work at Associates that I got my first taste of yellow iron. I was (and still am) amazed by the sheer size and ability of the equipment. It’s amazing that a piece of dirt can be transformed into a mine or shopping center. I always marvel at construction equipment working together at creating something that would last for a long time.

2. If someone were to ask you about entering the construction finance industry, what advice would you give them?

Answer: The business of a contractor is unique. The value of the business is very dependent on the value of the equipment – both the book or depreciated value, and the actual value – which can be different numbers. And this can provide a lot of financial leverage for a contractor who knows this – in fact, Triumph has a product that takes this into account called the Contractor Revolver. So advice that I would give, first, is that it is imperative to understand the uniqueness of your customer and their business plan and how it operates.

Second, personal relationships with decision makers make a difference. Being absolutely honest with your customers and bringing value beyond the price of your service or product is important. If a contractor knows that you understand his business, then he’ll know that you’ll be able to understand him as he goes through business cycles.

3. What is the future of the construction equipment business?

Answer: The business is becoming a lot more efficient. Online marketplaces and the Amazons of the world are adding more transparency to the industry – which is great for the customer.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bill Roden, Vice President at Triumph Commercial Finance, is a great asset to any of our customers interested in talking to someone very knowledgeable about construction equipment and finance.

He’s got the industry expertise, the technical knowledge and the friendly, positive attitude to get the job done. You can find him on his LinkedIn Page at https://www.linkedin.com/in/billroden1/, email him at broden@triumphcf.com, or call him at 214-770-6264.

The Project: Huge Improvement

Traffic in the Northeast United States is historically congested - add to that a functionally obsolete bridge and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, the contracting authority recognized the problem and submitted a bond authorization of $475M. The bid package included approach improvements, noise abatement walls, a pedestrian/bike path, an electronic toll system and a new 6-lane bridge.

Bidding the Smart Way

Prior to the bidding phase of the project, an ENR Top 400 contractor reached out to Eiffel Trading about the availability of secondary steel. They were planning to build temporary structures - cofferdams, retaining structures and an access trestle for a 330 ton crane. The team at Eiffel Trading immediately provided solutions of material that would be available to fit the timeline of the project.

When the bid date came, our customer was awarded the contract at just under $400M.

Immediate Realization of Savings

The contractor that won the project contacted Eiffel Trading to secure all of the temporary materials that were quoted at the time of the bid. The most important item was 1,500+ LF of access trestle for the 330 ton crane that they planning to use to build the bridge. To build a new access trestle of this size, it would have cost over $2.5M, which doesn’t include the design cost. The solution that was recommended by our team came in at just over $1M.

Bottom Line: By using our online marketplace to source [access trestle](https://www.eiffeltrading.com/marketplace/heavy-civil-material/trestle/139cc737-126d-c0d9-2607-e4df6831f12c), the contractor saved $1,500,000 - within the first two months of the project.access trestle, the contractor saved $1,500,000 - within the first two months of the project.__

In addition to the access trestle, the contractor needed pipe piling to build the trestle. The contractor had received new mill pricing for the pipe piling which came out to approximately $385,000. Eiffel Trading's online marketing had a used pipe listing for $258,000 to cover their needs.

Bottom Line: By using our marketplace to source [pipe piling](https://www.eiffeltrading.com/marketplace/heavy-civil-material/pipe/8f1ca80e-1a4f-4ba9-5de2-581148e9d372), the contractor saved $126,000.pipe piling, the contractor saved $126,000.__

The final item the contractor needed in order to finish the procurement of their temporary materials was sheet piling. Used sheet piling can be a difficult material to locate - but not for us! We had plenty of options that the contractor’s engineers could use to design their cofferdams and retaining structures based on the used material availability. The new material would have cost the contractor in the neighborhood of $162,000.

Bottom Line: By using our marketplace to source [sheet piling](https://www.eiffeltrading.com/marketplace/heavy-civil-material/sheet-pile/6cd073b3-2996-28d3-ad4c-c6cd4b6f2557), the contractor saved $75,000.sheet piling, the contractor saved $75,000.__

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Eiffel Trading - Your company's competitive advantage

Huge selection of options

When you are bidding your next project, give Eiffel Trading a call at 1-800-541-7998 or browse our marketplace - our large selection of quality used and surplus inventory will be your competitive advantage and win the project.

Consider us a part of your team

We will work with your estimating and engineering staff to build out a plan for optimizing used material in your temporary structures. Our marketplace has listings with projected availability dates so you can find exactly what you need when you need it. We have millions of pounds of steel that can help you save millions of dollars!

Bottom Line: [Get started today](https://www.eiffeltrading.com/page/buying-with-eiffel)Get started today__

The most commonly utilized I-beam used in the United States is the wide flange beam. The wide flange beam differs from the two other fairly commonly utilized I-beams because it comes complete with flanges that have virtually parallel surfaces.

Wide Flange Beam Grade and Ranges of Yield Strength

A contractor interested in utilizing wide flange beams on a project necessarily needs to become familiarized with both beam grade and ranges of yield strength. At the present time, wide flange beams most commonly are available in grade ASTM A992. This grade has essentially replaced the older ASTM grades used to classify wide flange beams, which were A572 and A36.

Taking into account all possible grades of wide flange beams, the ranges of yield strength available today are:

A36: 36,000 psi (250 MPa)

A572: 42,000–60,000 psi (290–410 MPa), with 50,000 psi (340 MPa)

A588: Similar to A572

A992: 50,000–65,000 psi (340–450 MPa)

Because of its wide usage, A572 remains the most common type of wide flange beam found in buildings today. However, and as was noted, the A992 derivation is taking the place of nearly all options utilized today.

History of the Wide Flange Beam

The method of producing a wide flange beam, and any type of I-beam, depended upon the process of rolling the beam from a single piece of steel. This process was patented in France, in 1849, by a many named Alphonse Halbou, associated with a French company called Forges de la Providence.

In time, the process developed in France was put into use by Bethlehem Steel in the United States. By the mid-20th century, Bethlehem Steel had become the leading supplier of rolled structural steel of different types, including wide flange beams, in the United States. These beams were integral parts of major skyscraper and bridge projects in the country.

Benefits of a Wide Flange Beam

There are a number of benefits associated with a wide flange beam. Chief among them is the fact that these beams are produced to be equal or nearly equal in width and depth. This reality renders the wide flange beam far better oriented vertically to carry an axial load in a construction project. For example, this makes a wide flange beam better suited to use in in multi-story construction projects.

Common Composition of a Wide Flange Beam

In the United States, and most other nations in which the wide flange beam is in use, the beam typically is constructed from rolled steel. To a lesser degree, wide flange beams are produced using aluminum.

In more recent times, wide flange beams are being made from other substances, although on a limited basis and usually for certain residential construction projects. Alternative substances from which wide flange beams are being made include wood containing fiberboard as well as laminated veneer lumber.

Noting that other substances are being used to create wide flange beams, it is important to note that steel wide flange beams remain the industry standard. This is in part due to the strong nature of steel beams, which obviously is crucial in construction projects. In addition, there is significant concern about the potential for rapid loss of strength of wood-based alternatives in the event of a fire. Rolled steel alternatives are much better equipped to maintain their integrity during a fire.

Design Criteria and Wide Flange Beams

Wide flange beams, and other types of I-beams, can be used in construction on their own or with some other material. More often than not, the other material paired up with wide flange beams on a construction project is concrete.

When it comes to the design of any type of I-beam, including a wide flange derivation, certain criteria is taken into consideration. This criteria includes deflection. Deflection represents the stiffness of the beam itself, to minimize deformation.

Vibration represents another consideration. Vibration involves a consideration of the stiffness and mass. This analysis is important in order to prevent unacceptable vibrations. This is particularly necessary in settings that are more sensitive to vibrations, including offices, schools, and libraries.

Another component in the set of design criteria is a consideration of potential shear failure. Shear failure occurs when the web itself fails, the web being the support structure that includes I-beams. Slender web networks can fail by buckling or rippling. This is called tension field action. It is important to note that shear failure is resisted in part due to the flanges contained on the wide flange beam, and on other types of I-beams.

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Jessica Kane is a writer for OSHA Campus Online, where you can complete a variety of OSHA training courses 100% online at your convenience.

What is the Jones Act?

On June 5, 1920 the 66th United States Congress passed the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, which is commonly referred to as the Jones Act. The Jones Act prohibits foreign built and foreign flagged vessels from moving cargo port to port in the United States. By reserving the domestic shipping for vessels that are built, owned, crewed and flagged in the United States, Congress maintained that it strengthened national security by supporting the U.S. merchant Marine.

The Jones Act is enforced throughout the United States including Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico. The US Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Northern Mariana Islands have been exempt from certain parts of the law. The US Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security and Coast Guard all help enforce the Jones Act.

Does my ship fall under the jurisdiction of the Jones Act?

If you are attempting to move commercial cargo from port to port in the United States or its territories, then it is likely that your vessel falls under the jurisdiction of the Jones Act. The Act covers accommodation barges (floatels), deck barges, spud barges, floating crane barges, drilling ships, oil rig platforms, passenger ships, push boats, oceangoing cargo vessels, small service ships and other commercial vessels. The Small Passenger Waiver Program allows for ships carrying no more than 12 passengers to be exempt. Customs is authorized to issue other waivers, but will not do so if The United States Maritimes Administration finds domestic ships to be available.

Has the Jones Act ever been waived?

Since the enactment of the Jones Act, there have been four times when it has been waived. The Department of Homeland Security will review requests on a case-by-case basis and will only grant waivers on the grounds of national defense. The Secretary of Defense has granted waivers in times of national emergencies. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Jones Act was waived for vessels carrying oil and natural gas from September 1 to 19, 2005. In January 2012, the Jones Act was waived for an emergency shipment of gasoline from Dutch Harbor, Alaska to Nome. Also in 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security issued a waiver for 12 days from November 2 to 13 after Superstorm Sandy. After Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the Jones Act was waived for 7 days from September 8 to 15, 2017.

What does waiving the Jones Act mean for Puerto Rico?

Earlier today, President Trump waived the Jones Act for 10 days to help Puerto Rico recovery efforts. The waiver covers all products moving into Puerto Rico. In addition, it will help expedite delivering equipment to repair the infrastructure that was damaged during the storm.

Question: When you are awarded a project in a land-locked lake, but need to work from the water on a 100’x40’ barge, what do you do?

Answer: Sectional barges.

Sectional barges are designed to be transported from project to project via tractor trailer. The barges are typically 40’x10’ and 20’x10’ with a couple of depth variations from 3’-2” up to 10’. Once they arrive onsite, they are assembled to make the exact barge size needed for your project.

Sectional barges aren’t limited to land-locked lakes. In fact, they are used in all types of waterways. Due to their versatility, they are extremely useful assets to have in your marine equipment fleet. For example, they can be used as cranes barges, pile driving barges, dredge barges, elevated platforms, floating docks, expedient bridging, ferries and transports, and drilling barges. There are many brands and fabrication shops that manufacture sectional barges. The popular brands are Flexifloat, Poseidon and Shugart.

Flexifloat Barges

Paul Robishaw founded Robishaw Engineering, Inc. in 1956, which is the manufacturer behind Flexifloat sectional barges. The first series was labeled Model J and were 30’ long x 7.5’ wide and 42” deep. Flexifloat developed a unique locking system that is completely self-contained without any loose parts. There’s an upper and lower connection point with male and female connectors that is locked in place by a vertical locking bar which is confined in the structure of the female interlock. As the construction industry evolved, so has the Flexifloat product line. The modern product line includes H-50, S-50 and S-70 series barges. Each product line is only compatible with components from the same product line.

H-50 Series includes Quadrafloat (30’ long x 7.5’ wide x 3.8’ deep) and Duofloat (15’ long x 7.5’ wide x 3.8’ deep) which have a deck bearing capacity of 3,500 PSF and a bottom bearing capacity of 2,500 PSF. Spuds and spud wells come in 12” or 20” diameter options. These barges can transport legally on a flatbed trailer.

S-50 Series includes Quadrafloat (40’ long x 10’ wide x 5’ deep) and Duofloat (20’ long x 10’ wide x 5’ deep) which have a deck bearing capacity of 5,000 PSF and a bottom bearing capacity of 3,500 PSF. Spuds and spud wells come in 20” diameter. These barges require a permit load to transport due to the over-width dimension.

S-70 Series includes Quadrafloat (40’ long x 10’ wide x 7’ deep) and Duofloat (20’ long x 10’ wide x 7’ deep) which have a deck bearing capacity of 5,000 PSF and a bottom bearing capacity of 3,500 PSF. Spuds and spud wells come in 24” diameter or 24” square. The S-70 Series is also the only Flexifloat series that can become a self-elevating platform, sometimes called a jack-up barge. In order to become a jack-up barge, you will need the elevating spudwell and elevating column attachments. These barges require a permit load to transport due to the over-width dimension.

Poseidon Barges

Mid-America Foundation Supply, Inc. was founded in 1986 as a pile driving construction business. After 28 years in the construction business, the piling division closed and the company became known as Mid-America Foundation Supply d/b/a Poseidon Barge. Poseidon has developed barges that are compatible with other manufacturer’s locking systems. They have a product line of Poseidon I, Poseidon P1-L/P1N, Poseidon II, Poseidon III and Poseidon P10.

The Poseidon PI barge comes in 40’ long x 10’ wide x 5’ deep and 20’ long x 10’ wide x 5’ deep which have a deck point load capacity of 20,000 PSF. These barges are pinned together with a hairpin style connector. These barges require a permit load to transport due to the over-width dimension.

The Poseidon P1-L barge comes in 32’ long x 8’ wide x 3’-2” deep. The Poseidon P1N barge can also be transported on a legal flatbed trailer. They come in 30’ long x 7.5’ wide and 4’ deep. Both types come with hairpin connectors, but due to the differing depths, they are not compatible to connect. These barges transport legally on a flatbed trailer.

The Poseidon II barge product line is compatible with the S-50 and S-70 Series Flexifloats. They come in 40’ long x 10’ wide x 5’ deep (S-50 Quadrafloat compatible), 20’ long x 10’ wide x 5’ deep (S-50 Duofloat compatible), 40’ long x 10’ wide x 7’ deep (S-70 Quadrafloat compatible) and 20’ long x 10’ wide x 7’ deep (S-70 Duofloat compatible), all of which have a deck point load capacity of 20,000 PSF. These barges require a permit load to transport due to the over-width dimension.

The Poseidon PIII barge product line is compatible with Shugart sectional barges. They come in 41’-4” long x 10’-4” wide x 4’-11.5” deep and 20’-8” long x 10’-4” wide x 4’-11.5” deep which have a deck bearing capacity of 30,000 PSF. The 41’-4” model is light enough where you can fit two barges on one truck. These barges require a permit load to transport due to the over-width dimension.

The Poseidon P10 barge comes in 44’ long x 11’ wide x 10’ deep and 22’ long x 11’ wide x 10’ deep which have a deck bearing capacity of 20,000 PSF. The deeper section allows for a larger crane on a smaller foot print. These barges require a permit load to transport due to the over-width dimension.

Shugart Barges

Shugart manufacturing was founded in 1962 with a commitment to quality and service. The Shugart locking system is a pin-flange locking system that is designed so the pins will not jam due to corrosion. When the pins are installed, you can slide a standard 2x4 in the recess that will sit flush with the deck. The Shugart product line includes the regular barge, double stack and heavy-duty.

The Shugart Regular barge comes in 41’-4” long x 10’-4” wide x 5’ deep, 31’ long x 10’-4” wide x 5’ deep and 20’-8” long x 10’-4” wide x 5’ deep which have a payload capacity of 37.5 tons at 1 foot of free board (for each 41’-4” section). These barges require a permit load to transport due to the over-width dimension.

The Shugart Double Stack barge comes in 38’-9” long x 7’-9” wide x 4’-3” deep, 31’ long x 7’-9” wide x 4’-3” deep, 23’-3” long x 7’-9” wide x 4’-3” deep and 15’-6” long x 7’-9” wide x 4’-3” deep which have a payload capacity of 20.3 tons with 1 foot of free board (for each 38’-9” section). You are able to fit two of the 38’-9” barges on one truck, which transport on a legal flatbed trailer.

The Shugart Heavy Duty Barge comes in 41’-4” long x 10’-4” wide x 7’ deep, 31’ long x 10’-4” wide x 7’ deep and 20’-8” long x 10’-4” wide x 7’ deep which have a payload capacity of 59 tons at 1 foot a free board (for each 41’-4” section). These barges require a permit load to transport due to the over-width dimension.

Are these the only options?

These manufacturers are not the only option when it comes to sectional barges, there are Rendrags, Unifloats, RPS, B&R Marine and several others. When it comes to sectional barges, the most important thing to remember is to ensure that you purchase barges that have compatible locking systems.

We keep a large stock of all types of used sectional barges from all over North America – check it out today.

Before diving into the pros and cons associated with galvanized steel pipe, you need to understand the basics of this type of pipe. At its essence, galvanized steel pipe is a type of steel pipe that is coated with another metal. An example of the type of metal that galvanizes a steel pipe is zinc.

Steel pipe is galvanized with a substance like zinc primarily to prevent rusting. Galvanizing a steel pipe to prevent rusting renders the pipe itself preferable for use in outdoor projects. Indeed, galvanized steel pipe frequently is preferred for outdoor projects when contrasted with ABS or PVC.

As is the case with any type of product or material, there are pros and cons associated with galvanized steel pipe. When you are considering the type of pipe to utilize for a project, particularly one out of doors, you do need to weigh the pros and cons before making a final decision regarding what course to take.

Galvanization Prevents Rusting

As was stated at the start of this discussion, steel pipe is galvanized with a substance like zinc in order to prevent rusting. The reality is that in the absence of galvanization, a steel pipe used out of doors and more exposed to the elements would be subjected to the possibility of rusting in relatively short speed.

The galvanization of steel pipe does not make it invincible. Nonetheless, galvanized steel pipe has a relatively long lifespan. You can expect a galvanized steel pipe, used outside, to have a lifespan of about 40 years.

Expense of Galvanized Steel Pipe and Other Alternatives

In considering the pros and cons of galvanized steel pipe, cost is certainly going to be a consideration. When analyzing cost-related issues, you need to focus on not only the initial financial investment in a type of pipe, but its lifespan as well.

An alternative to galvanized steel is pipe made from copper. For decades, copper pipe was widely recommended for use in plumbing and related projects. Copper is a good choice, but so is galvanized steel. When analyzing price, galvanized steel is a less expensive alternative. In fairness, copper pipe is likely to have a longer lifespan than galvanized steel. The lifespan of copper pipe generally does run over 50 years. With that noted, this typically is copper pipe used in interior rather than exterior settings, however.

PVC is a popular pipe alternative. One of the reasons PVC is widely used is cost. PVC is less expensive than galvanized steel. While PVC is a less expensive alternative than galvanized steel, its lifespan is far shorter. Thus, in the overall scheme of things, when contrasted with PVC, galvanized steel pipe is a more economical alternative long term.

Versatility of Galvanized Steel

Galvanized steel pipe is demonstrably preferable for larger construction projects as well as for farm irrigation systems. The two primary reasons why this is the case is because galvanized steel pipe is more durable than many other alternatives. In addition, this type of pipe can be crafted with a larger diameter than is practically possible with some other alternatives.

Weight and Handling of Galvanized Steel Pipe

Some people initially shy away from galvanized steel, despite its benefits, because it can be a bit more difficult to handle. Being made of steel, galvanized steel is heavy when contrasted with lightweight alternatives like PVC. The lightweight nature of PVC, despite some of its other limitations when contrasted with galvanized steel, has made PVC popular among home improvement enthusiasts.

Galvanized Steel and Maintenance

Overall, galvanized steel is generally as easy to maintain as other alternatives, with one possible exception. Galvanized steel pipe is more prone to mineral buildup in the pipe itself than is the case with other alternatives, including PVC or copper. However, with proper proactive maintenance, this type of buildup can be minimized.

Damaged Galvanized Steel Pipe

One difference between galvanized steel pipe and some other alternatives centers on the response to a damaged pipe. When galvanized pipe is damaged in some manner, it normally is replaced rather than repaired.

Replacement is recommended because damage to a galvanized steel pipe tends to weaken the zinc coating. The weakening of the zinc coating renders the pipe more susceptible to corrosion.

Once you have completed the process of weighing and balancing the pros and cons of galvanized steel pipe, your next step is engaging the services of a professional with experiencing in installing this type of pipe. There are professionals that have extensive experience in the installation and maintenance of galvanized steel pipe in all type of settings.

Jessica Kane is a professional blogger who writes for [Scaffold Store](https://www.scaffoldstore.com/), the favorite and trusted scaffold supplier of the largest contractors.Scaffold Store, the favorite and trusted scaffold supplier of the largest contractors.*