The PACA region in the south east of France was under constant threat of power outages prompting French power network Reseau de transport d’electricite (RTE) to invest in a major €200m infrastructure project. The scheme will involve the installation of three 225,000V underground lines by 2015 to guarantee security of electrical supply and RTE has specified 30,600m of 225mm Push-Fast pipe and fittings from GPS to provide a cable duct solution that will house the underground cable link between the towns of Boutre and Trans.
Traditionally, concrete or PVC would be used for this type of cable duct application and RTE considered several options before selecting Push-Fast pipes and fittings as a high performance option that could also reduce installation times. Usually employed in water infrastructure schemes, Push-Fast can withstand anticipated cable surface temperatures of up to 70°C, and also meet all RTE’s ductility, elasticity and insulation requirements, while its speed of installation helped RTE keep to programme time scales and avoid financial penalties.
Richard Graty from GPS said, ‘RTE was targeted with laying 200m of pipe each day of the project and delay penalties were applicable if they did not meet these targets. Push-Fast’s innovative end load resistant spigot and socket system enables simple push-fit joints, eliminating the need for welding and significantly reducing installation times. The result was a rapid installation and cost effective solution which has already led RTE to specify Push-Fast for further projects and also prompted other energy companies to discuss the use of Push-Fast for their schemes too.’
