National Association of Steel Pipe Distributors

2010 Annual ConventionFebruary 26, 2010

Loading Pipe on Rail

• Safety• Damage• Innovations • Problems• Solutions

Center Beam Cars – Alternative Loads

• Too Many Centerbeams, Building Industry down

• How to better utilize the asset

Challenges for Alternative Products

• Specially designed cars for building products• Load limit considerations• Damage to equipment and future loadings• Load/unload from two sides (tarps)• Centerbeam and height of same cables

TESTING

Railway Assn of Canada

Impact tested – structural steel, small diameter pipe, rebarField Testing – Limited amount account limited shipper interest

BNSF/AAR

VTU test procedures using pipe on Centerbeams

Based on AAR Testing Procedures, AAR Open Top Loading Rules Committee:

- Approved Rigid Pipe of 12”, 16” and 24” - Did not Approve Smaller diameter “flexible” pipe - Got the opportunity to see Cord Strap perform under dynamic testing

More to come.

Pipe Loads in Open TopsUsing Non-Metallic Strapping

• Ductile Pipe with Cord Strap

• Coated Pipe under test

DUCTILE PIPE PERFORMANCE All Shippers - BNSF

YEAR CommoditySetout

Incidence %

2002 CASTING 11.3

2003 CASTING 18.9

2004 CASTING 21.0

2005 CASTING 20.9

2006 CASTING 11.4

2007 CASTING 15.4

2008 CASTING 16.8

Ductile Pipe HISTORY – Band Failures

Examples of “Approved” Devices

Problem not resolved

So How do we solve this?

Answer: John Blackman

“Non-metallic strapping - Strength of steel with someElasticity.”

• Innovative J hook

• Polyester Strapping

• Doesn’t Crack/Break as easily

• Cost competitive

• Virtually eliminated Service Interruptions

• Safer to Use

CordStrap Performance

• Initially tested on over 100 loads – no strap breakage

• ACIPCO using since January 2009, less than 5 loads with broken straps

• ACIPCO Setout Incidence 1st qtr 2009 – 2%

• Steel band ductile pipe shippers – 12.3%

PIPE IN GONS

• Older Figures (pre-1960)• Allows 12-inches of end clearance• Standard Draft Gear Equipment• Setout incidence up to 16%• Impact Test to determine amount of load movement

Impact Test

Impact Test Conclusions

• Pipe moves more than 12 inches• Repeated impacts, even at low speed will produce shift over end of cars• Existing Figures need to be changed in-line with “reality”

Impact Test Conclusions

• A timeline has been established to incorporate changes to Figures

October 2010 is the target date

• AAR TAG is working on the problem

Thank You