La mayoría de los sistemas de drenaje se entierran y se olvidan hasta que fallan. Por eso, ingenieros, ayuntamientos y promotores diseñan hoy las infraestructuras con una gran pregunta en mente: ¿durarán?
Whether it’s a new subdivision, a stormwater network under a commercial site or a city’s long-range utility upgrade, the best projects are built not just for now but for the next 50, 75 or even 100 years. And that kind of staying power doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with smart planning, trusted materials and picking the right pipe from day one.
Infrastructure That Outlasts Its Designers
When municipal engineers approve a drainage system, they’re not just thinking about next season’s stormwater. They’re thinking about long-term maintenance, lifecycle cost and how much trouble this system might cause 30 years from now. If it needs to be dug up prematurely, someone pays for that—whether it’s taxpayers, developers or contractors with reputations on the line.
Increasingly, municipalities are requiring a 100-year design life in their specifications. That doesn’t just mean putting in heavy-duty pipe. It means choosing pipe that’s been tested, documented and proven
over the years.
Durability Is More Than Strength
When people hear “100-year infrastructure,” they often picture reinforced concrete or steel. But while those materials once dominated long-term installs, they come with trade-offs—cost, weight, installation time, corrosion and in some cases, unexpected early failures.
That’s why more engineers are turning to advanced plastic pipe—specifically dual-wall HDPE and HDPP—as a long-lasting, lower-maintenance alternative. Fratco’s products, like SmoothCorr, ProCorr and FlexCorr, are made with long-term performance in mind. They’re tough enough to handle heavy loads and harsh conditions, yet lightweight and easy to work with, which reduces installation time and labor costs.
They don’t rust, rot or crumble from exposure to water or chemicals. And unlike some rigid materials, plastic flexes with the soil around it, which helps prevent cracking and joint separation over time.
Built to Last and Tested to Prove It
How do we know plastic pipe can last 100 years? We don’t just hope—it’s been tested to the best of our ability to ensure we manufacture the longest-lasting plastic pipe possible.
Fratco’s HDPE and HDPP pipes are manufactured using resins and processes that meet or exceed the standards set by PPI, ASTM and AASHTO. Independent studies, including long-term stress-crack testing and oxidation resistance evaluations, have shown that properly installed corrugated plastic pipe can maintain structural integrity for a century or more.
In addition to third-party testing, Fratco runs its own quality checks throughout production to make sure every batch of pipe performs consistently. Dimensional checks, resin certification, joint integrity tests and in-plant inspections all help ensure that the pipe going into the ground today won’t become a problem in the future.
Designing for Generations
When infrastructure fails, it usually comes down to two things: improper installation or the wrong product for the job. That’s why early design decisions are so critical. Developers who choose pipe based on price alone often end up spending more in the long run. The same goes for municipalities that don’t consider long-term maintenance costs. The smart move is to choose products that reduce risk from the start.
Fratco’s dual-wall lines are built to resist the kind of wear that creeps in slowly over time—things like joint leakage, root intrusion, sediment buildup and pipe deformation under load. These products are designed to maintain flow efficiency and structural integrity across a wide range of site conditions, helping extend system life and reduce the risk of long-term failures.
A Good Install Is Just the Beginning
Long-term performance depends on more than material. A well-designed system with the right grade, support and outlet control is what really sets a project up for the long haul.
That’s why Fratco offers more than just a product. Their team provides support to contractors and engineers through product guidance, installation resources and insights based on decades of industry experience. While Fratco doesn’t design systems, their knowledge helps customers make informed decisions that support long-term performance.
Thinking Beyond the Warranty
Pipe is often one of the first components installed in a job and the last thing anyone wants to replace. That makes choosing the right system now one of the most important decisions on the project.
Fratco doesn’t just manufacture products to spec. They design products to last. From the formulation of the resin to the shape of the joint, each detail is built with long-term durability in mind. For projects that are expected to serve future generations, shortcuts
don’t suffice.
The Bottom Line
No pipe lasts forever, but the right pipe, installed correctly, can outlast most of us. That’s the goal with every piece of Fratco pipe that leaves the plant: to be part of an infrastructure that works today, tomorrow and long after it’s been forgotten about.
When you’re building for 100 years, every choice matters. And choosing a pipe that’s tested, trusted and built to endure—that’s the kind of decision you only need to make once.
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