Fiberglass is corrosive resistant to many chemicals and most often, fiberglass is preferred in environments where salt water or fresh water exists, or any place corrosive chemicals are used.  Fiberglass is also lighter in weight and easy to install because it requires less heavy equipment.  Some of the environments best suited for fiberglass include:

• Waste Water Treatment Facilities
• Water Treatment Plants
• Chemical Plants
• Food & Beverage Plants
• Fertilizer and Dairy Processing Plants
• Paper Mills
• Coastal Areas
• Industrial Plants

Points to Consider:

• Fiberglass is less than half the price of stainless steel
• Fiberglass requires less maintenance.  Steel will oxidize and corrode unless galvanized or painted.
• Fiberglass is lighter in weight, less expensive to ship and easier to install.
• Fiberglass structures are easily taken apart and moved.  Welded steel structures cannot be unassembled easily.

CORROSION RESISTANCE

Fiberglass materials are corrosive resistant to many chemicals, ideal in applications where wood will rot and metals will rust.

WEIGHT

Structural fiberglass materials typically weigh only 25% of their steel counterparts.

STRENGTH

Fiberglass structural shapes contain a high strength-to-weight ratio, distributes impact loads that prevent surface damage – even in cold temperatures, and does not permanently deform under impact.

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY

Fiberglass is non-conductive to electricity and can provide a safe option for such environments.

THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY

Fiberglass is very low in thermal conductivity and does not expand or contract with temperature changes, unlike metal and wood.

EMI/RFI TRANSMISSIONS

Fiberglass is transparent to both radar and radio waves and is often used in cellular or antenna shielding.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Fiberglass consumes less energy and emits less greenhouse gas reducing its environmental impact.  Fiberglass can even be recycled.

LIFECYCLE COSTS

Fiberglass materials will typically have a longer lifespan that steel with little maintenance required.  In some cases, it will cost more initially, but will be less expensive than steel for the life of the product.

What is the Benefit of Building with Composites?

Fiberglass is one of the most popular composite materials, engineered from two materials with different mechanical characteristics, compression strength and tensile strength.  Fiberglass is constructed of glass fibers, either unidirectional or multidirectional, and a resin matrix.  Alone these two materials have average strength and durability, but when combined they create a nearly indestructible material.  When the glass fibers are saturated with the liquid polyester resin they are bendable and moldable, which allows them to be formed into complex geometries.  Once the material is allowed to cure, the matrix hardens and you have a very durable, strong shape that can be used for many applications.

So why should you chose fiberglass?

For one thing fiberglass is lightweight and strong.  Its strength to weight ratio is much higher than metals or concrete and can be used for many of the similar applications, like using fiberglass manhole covers instead of cast iron, and using fiberglass for manholes and sewer lines instead of concrete.

Fiberglass doesn’t conduct electricity or block any telecommunication signals, making it the perfect building material for enclosures and shelters to protect equipment.

Fiberglass won’t rust like metals do when exposed to water and chemicals.  Unlike concrete it will not crumble when exposed to moist underground environments.

You may save a little money purchasing a non-fiberglass product initially, but those savings are short-lived.  Fiberglass will typically out last other products and cost less to install due to its light weight.

Here at VPC we offer special turn-key packages, which by definition are ready to use when delivered on-site.  Our fiberglass metering manhole packages will couple perfectly with existing pipelines, and don’t require laborious pouring of concrete.  We offer flumes with our manholes or sold separately that come ready-to-go with flow meter, sensor brackets, staff gauges, and mounting clips.  Our entire line of shelters can be outfitted with any equipment imaginable, the sky is the limit.  We will install everything in our facility and ship it to your site.

Call us today at 888-290-9522 for a quote on your next project.

VPC Fiberglass is here to offer the most durable, economic, and easily installed staff gauges.

Monitoring water levels is a concern in many areas of municipal, agricultural, and natural open flow channels.  Tracking flood levels, monitoring drinking water supply, and determining flow rates all require measuring equipment.

Staff Gauges must be extremely durable to withstand the corrosive effects of water and chemicals.  Oils and sediment can soil wall mounted gauges and make them unreadable.  Our staff gauges are oil and corrosion resistant, and are guaranteed not to chip, crack, or rust.

Staff gauges are available an array of colors and graphics, customized to your specific application.  Our staff gauges easy to mount, with pre-drilled holes to aid in installation. Drilling new holes or cutting the gauge will not affect the integrity of the product.

They are made out of polyester painted aluminum with a black thermoplastic bonded core, coated with an extra 5 mils of clear polyester to provide optimum chemical, abrasion, and UV protection.

Large bold graphics, with the correct background color provide clarity at greater distances, and give optimum contrast.  Staff gauges are available in customizable sizes, up to 12” in width, and they are precision cut for stacking, allowing for almost infinite length.  All of our flumes and metering manholes are available with adhesive backed staff gauges that are installed during manufacturing, so all products are ready for use on arrival.

Other available products are horizontal staff gauges, calipers and measuring tapes.

Please contact us with any questions about staff gauges or flow measurement devices.  VPC Fiberglass is here to help you find the right product for any application.  Please call toll free: 888-290-9522 today and talk to one of our design experts.

VPC Fiberglass was contacted recently by a company that needed help in replacing part of their existing handrail system.  This 8’ section of safety handrail needed to be removable so workers could access equipment for maintenance and repair.  After a review of drawings, brackets and discussions with the project manager, VPC was able to come up with a cost effective solution.  The handrail was fabricated precisely to fit on the existing brackets saving both time and money.  The project manager was very impressed with how smooth the installation went saying, “Product arrived to the job site fully assembled allowing a seamless transition.”  He went on to say, “The handrails fit perfectly over the brackets.  This upgrade will be highlighted in our safety meetings and I will recommend that all our facilities consider your handrail system.”  Lightweight and easy to remove, fiberglass handrail can withstand drastic and unpredictable environment challenges.  This handrail meets or exceeds OSHA Safety Standards and will not warp, crack or rust.

VPC Fiberglass can provide design and engineering solutions for any fiberglass handrail system, stairways, ladders, platforms, and walkways.  Call 888-290-9522 today and talk to one of our design experts for your next project!