Düker - Cast Iron Piping Material

Düker is a privately owned manufacturer with a century-old background in Bavaria, Germany. Düker produces various types of cast iron piping material in its two foundries in Karlstadt and Laufach.

The Karlstadt factory manufactures grey cast iron drainage pipe systems for water evacuation from buildings as per EN 877. SML cast iron sewage pipes, also called soil pipes, are distinguished by their high sound insulation and non-combustibility. High-quality materials and coatings guarantee longevity and easy installation.

The Laufach works offer ductile iron fittings as per EN 545 for pressure pipelines in water supply and sewage systems. A large range of products, combined with various coatings and connection systems, makes Düker the top choice for water suppliers and pipeline constructors with special requirements. A range of gate and butterfly valves completes the offer.

FIRE PROTECTION WITH CAST IRON DRAINAGE PIPES

"Cast iron products, in accordance with this European standard, are non-flammable and non-combustible. When exposed to fire they will maintain their functional characteristics and integrity for several hours i.e. their walls will remain impervious to flames and gases and there will be no fracture, collapse or significant deformation. The integrity of connections through walls and ceilings is maintained."

This quote from Annex F of the EN 877 standard highlights the most important characteristic of cast iron drainage pipes - non-combustibility. A decisive advantage compared to combustible plastic pipe systems – the safety of which can be questionable as shown by a recent fire test at the material test institute MPA in Erwitte, Germany.

In the fire test, plastic drainage pipes and fittings were installed with fire collars as per the manufacturer's installation instructions. This should have prevented the fire from spreading through the ceiling to the upper or the lower floors. Unexpectedly, the fire collars below the fire source did not close themselves, and burning plastic material fell through to ignite the plastic pipes in the lower storey.

Düker cast iron pipe material passed a test under the same circumstances without problems. To prevent excessive heat from spreading through the metal pipeline, mineral wool mattresses can be installed in the ceiling passthrough. Düker is also developing a special heat-insulating fitting (Düker BSF 90) to be installed in the ceiling.

NOISE PROTECTION WITH CAST IRON DRAINAGE PIPES

In tests concerning noise protection, cast iron drainage pipes have achieved better results than even noise-reduced plastic pipes. The superior weight and the particular structure of cast iron with lamellar graphite are ideal for noise protection purposes. When installed correctly, avoiding contact to the masonry, and easing the water flow in the pipeline, noise protection is not normally a problem for cast iron drainage pipes. If very low noise levels are required, the horizontal lines can be equipped with special noise-absorbent fixings, so-called SE fixings.

DÜKER SML AND OTHER PIPE COATING VARIANTS

In most cases you will find the reddish-brown Düker SML pipe coating material. SML is equipped with an interior epoxy coating that significantly surpasses the requirements of EN 877. It is used inside of buildings for pipes containing normal sewage or rainwater.

In the case of more aggressive wastewaters or environments, other coating variants should be used: MLK or MLetec® for aggressive wastewater (e.g. from large kitchens), TML or MLK for underground installations, MLB for bridge drainage and VML where protection from condensed water is necessary. For more extensive information on these varieties please refer to our website.

DÜKER SML REFERENCES

Düker SML has been used in numerous building sites in Great Britain, including the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Hilton Hotel, Birmingham Airport and the Norwich and Norfolk Hospital.