Orangeburg pipe is a compressed wood pulp and bitumen pipe used in water, sewer, and electrical conduit systems from the late 1800s to the 1970s. It was first used in an experimental Boston water supply line in 1867 and later produced by the Fiber Conduit Company in Orangeburg, New York. While efficient, it had weaknesses such as susceptibility to solvent degradation and plant root intrusion. Joining solutions are available for repairs or joining to modern PVC and ABS piping.
Orangeburg pipe is a broad term describing a selection of pipe products made from compressed wood pulp and bitumen. First used in the late 1800s, bituminous fiber pipes were widely found in water and sewer lines and electrical conduit until the 1970s when ABS and PVC pipes became the standard. Orangeburg pipes were available in a number of sizes ranging from 2 inches (51 mm) to 18 inches (457 mm) and in round or oval profiles. While generally efficient, the Orangeburg system has been shown to have several significant weaknesses, including susceptibility to solvent degradation and plant root intrusion.
The bitumen-coated pipe that would come to be known as Orangeburg pipe was first used on an experimental Boston water supply line in 1867. The 1.5-mile-long pipe, constructed of sections of pipe made of compressed cellulose fibers treated with coal tar , was successful and remained in service for 60 years. Building on the success of the Boston Waterline, large-scale production of bituminous piping began with the formation of the Fiber Conduit Company in 1893. The company was located in Orangeburg, New York, and would later become the Orangeburg Manufacturing Company , which gave piping bitumen its generic name. Although the company had several competitors in all phases of its operation, it was by far the largest producer of bitumen-sealed cellulose pipes.
During the days of the Fiber Conduit Company, the tubing was used solely as electrical conduit. Millions of feet have been installed in high-rise buildings and subway systems, and for the telephone and telegraph industries. Though brittle and easily compressed, the oval-shaped duct was popular due to its light weight and the fact that it cut easily with a hand saw. The severe shortage of metals and the housing boom after World War II created a demand for an alternative to cast iron drainage and water supply pipes, and the newly formed Orangeburg Manufacturing Company began manufacturing a larger version of the conduit for that purpose . Orangeburg pipe was available in a range of sizes up to 18 inches (457 mm) in diameter, round in cross section with stronger walls, and suitable for joints free of gaskets and adhesives. Although larger, the same pitch sealed compressed wood pulp construction has been used in all tube variants.
While marketed as something of a wonder product during this period, the Orangeburg piping system had several significant weaknesses. Any solvents in the wastewater such as acetone or kerosene tended to degrade the pitch or bitumen used to seal the pipes, thus leading to leaks and failures. Despite being widely advertised as “root proof,” the pipes were also susceptible to compression failure and tree root intrusion. This has led to owners of buildings that still contain Orangeburg piping facing constant pipe failures. Fortunately, joining solutions are available for Orangeburg piping systems that can be repaired or joined to modern PVC and ABS piping.
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