Case Study: AG 585 Insulated Compact Pipe Shoes at Clyde North Honour Village
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
Item
Detail
Client
Fulton Hogan
Location
Clyde North Honour Village, Victoria
Asset
DN450 mild-steel-cement-lined (MSCL) water main running parallel to a bridge
Scope
Support system for 38 pipe shoes on cantilevered steel and concrete pile-caps
Manufacture
Swift Metal Australia – Griffith plant
Timeline
Fabricated and delivered within the programme window
Here’s how these pipe shoes enhance the project:
Challenge
Fulton Hogan needed a support that could:
Carry a 450 mm water main across a bridge without blocking the shared walkway.
Allow thermal expansion and contraction along a long exposed span.
Limit vibration from vehicles to protect pipe integrity and the bridge deck.
Stand up to wet-zone corrosion and stay visually unobtrusive.
Solution – AG 585 insulated compact pipe shoe
Feature
How it met the need
316 stainless steel, pickled and passivated
High chloride resistance in coastal and splash zones.
3 mm PTFE slide on 6 mm neoprene pad
Low-friction movement plus galvanic and coating isolation.
12 mm EPDM base pad
Damps traffic-induced vibration and spreads load on concrete and steel.
50–80 mm overall profile
Keeps pipe centre-line tight to the deck, preserving pedestrian clearance and sight-lines.
Single detail for steel and concrete fixings
Simplifies installation and reduces part count.
A minor dimensional tweak to the standard AG 585 gave Fulton Hogan a seamless fit to both the cantilever brackets and the pile-cap saddle plates.
Delivery
Fabrication and QA were completed at Griffith under ISO 9001.
All units were packed and shipped to site inside the planned delivery window, preventing schedule slippage.
The Swift Metal Team coordinated directly with Fulton Hogan’s site team to confirm torque specs and pad locations before first fix.
Outcome
Objective
Result
Maintain walkway clearance
No deck-level clashes reported during hand-over inspection.
Allow thermal movement
Post-install survey showed free axial movement within expansion range.
Smooth installation
A reliable, fit-for-purpose solution was supplied to give the installation team a problem free install.
Dampen vibration
Operator feedback noted no measurable increase in pipe noise or loosened fasteners after the first month of traffic.
Lessons for future bridge spans
Standard parts with small tweaks beat full-custom Faster lead time, easier spares.
Early pad material selection cuts re-work Agreeing on EPDM early avoided last-minute supplier changes.
Single drawing for mixed substrates reduces errors Fitters had one sheet, not two.
Next steps
If you are planning a pipeline crossing that needs low-profile supports with high corrosion resistance, get in touch with the Swift Metal technical team for a specification review.