Prior to choosing a building material for an infrastructure project, there are a few important things to take into account. Engineers need to make sure that the decisions they make will benefit the end users of the project as well as the individuals within their agency who will be handling the material.
Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) is one such material that has several advantages for both users and builders. Find out how this special material can benefit you.
Time for production and installation
The amount of time required for the project as a whole as well as for each individual step in the process should be taken into consideration when designing your overall infrastructure plan. Saving time obviously results in savings, but efficiency shouldn't come at the expense of quality. FRP can offer the perfect balance, saving crucial production time while maintaining the required level of strength, durability, and quality.
Weight
According to the FRP manufacturer, the weight of FRP goes hand in hand with a faster installation time. It is well known that FRP is lightweight. Since FRP is actually roughly eight times lighter than reinforced concrete, it requires less equipment and requires less personnel to use and install. Additionally, this material requires less labor to remove.
Corrosion and Maintenance
FRP is long-lasting and reduces the need for constant maintenance because it offers great strength and durability as well as dependable corrosion resistance. In addition to saving high labor and material costs, the absence of routine maintenance and repairs also shields end users from annoyance because repair downtime is reduced.
Additionally, FRP has lower long-term costs because to its durability and corrosion resistance.
Even though FRP does initially cost a little more per square foot during installation, there are numerous long-term cost savings opportunities with this material. FRP reduces the need for future expensive repairs or reconstruction because it is more durable than other materials and puts less strain on the infrastructure. For instance, 15 to 20 years after first installation, bridges and platforms made of materials like steel, wood, or reinforced concrete frequently collapse, necessitating costly repairs or sometimes a complete rebuild. Contrary to many other building materials, FRP is long-lasting and won't corrode over time.
Cost savings
Although FRP structures require very little upkeep and are very dependable, they are not maintenance-free. Rarely, repairs that call for field service will need to be made. It will be possible to make sure such problems are discovered before they become an issue by doing routine inspections once a year, at the very least. A field service professional will be dispatched to finish the repair if a problem (such as cracks, crazing, discoloration, excessive wear, etc.) has been found and reported.
As previously indicated, brick and tile, as well as constructions composed of steel, concrete, and wood, sometimes require repair work; this is another application for fiber reinforced polymer (FRP). Patch repairs on bridge decking can be made of fiberglass, and culverts, pumps, storage tanks, and pipes can all benefit from having liners put on them to prevent future damage to less durable materials. FRP is even suitable for covering the columns and piers of bridges.
FRP repairs result in long-term financial savings. When maintaining and repairing existing structures, the material is a perfect choice because it is resistant to corrosion and has a longer service life. View our short case study to find out more about how FRP repairs cut expenses.
Design flexibility
