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Young Japanese engineers learn the advantages of stainless steel water pipes from retired
engineers
by T. Kohga
Nickel Magazine, July 2007 -- There are many advantages of using
stainless steel water pipes in countries where water resources are scarce and in countries such as Japan
where water leakage is a problem. For example, the fact that longer-than-normal lengths of pipe can be used
means fewer connections are required, and that in turn means the risk of leakage is lower. There is also a
lower risk of leakage between the connections, owing to the proven ability of stainless to resist corrosion,
both internally from the water and externally from the soil. All of which serves to conserve scarce water
resources.
Japan has a long history of using stainless steel pipes to distribute potable water in areas prone to
earthquakes. Some of the first such applications of S30400
and S31603
stainless steels were in Tokyo in the 1980s, and there are many other parts of the country where stainless
steel pipes could still be used to great advantage.
Recognizing this potential, a group of retired Japanese engineers banded together to educate the younger
generation of engineers who are designing new systems. In 2000, the retirees formed the Stainless Steel
Piping Club (SSPC), which today boasts 13 members whose ages range from 65 to 80. Most had worked for
stainless steel associations and were involved in activities related to water-piping systems.
Both the Tokyo office of the Nickel Institute and Showa Rasen Seisakusho Co. support the SSPC financially.
Regular meetings are held to discuss issues concerning stainless steel, and leaflets are published to bring
information from pipe manufacturers to stainless steel users.
The club also organizes annual seminars on selected topics. The first seminar was held in Tokyo in late
2000 under the theme of stainless steel in the present and in the future. Among subsequent themes were the
corrosion environment in Okinawa and stainless steel (at a seminar in Naha, Okinawa, 2001), stainless steel
and waterworks (Tokyo and Osaka, 2002), and trends in stainless steel pipe (Tokyo, 2005).
The 2006 seminar on “Stainless Steel Pipes in Buildings," was held in Tokyo in late 2006. Four
representatives from the construction and stainless steel manufacturing sectors gave talks on the design of
stainless steel pipes for condominiums, prefabricated stainless steel for construction, fire sprinkler water
piping, and the microbiologically influenced corrosion of pipes.
"We have worked to promote uses of stainless steel for waterworks and indoor piping systems based on the
experience and knowledge we have obtained over 30 years,” says SSPC President Dr. Osozawa Koichiro, who was
formerly with the Nippon Yakin Kogyo Co. Ltd. “And we will be communicating more with young engineers and
enlightening each other in order to promote the continued wise use of stainless steel in the water
industry.”
T. Kohga is the manager of the Nickel Institute office in Japan.
Photos: Nickel Institute.
T. Kohga
Manager
NIckel Institute
Shimbashi Sumitomo Bldg. IF
5-11-3, Shimbashi, Minato
Tokyo 105-8716
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