Why use cast iron ?

As a leading manufacturer and the world’s top-ranking exporter of cast iron pipe systems for building drainage applications, Saint-Gobain PAM is an essential partner for wastewater and rainwater drainage system designers. PAM Building cast iron products are safe, easy to install and effectively meet project managers’ requirements. We provide different ranges to suit all building types and specifications.

Cast iron products for building drainage systems are made of an alloy of natural elements: iron, carbon and silicon. Cast iron is a natural product manufactured entirely from recycled raw materials: scrap iron and cast iron which are enhanced by a second melting process.
PAM Building cast iron combines the traditional longevity of iron with outstanding technical and mechanical properties which remain stable over time in all climates. Its robustness limits breakages and damaged supplies, and its nature and density confer thermal and acoustic properties guaranteeing safety and comfort in use.

• Quick standard installation with mechanical couplings assembled with simple tools, without gluing or welding,  which can save time and labor costs.
• No expansion joints which facilitates the design and saves on expensive thermal limiters.
• No systematic fire protection or fire collars due to its fire behavior.
• Less protection for acoustic insulation due to its acoustic properties, resulting in plasterboard savings while achieving the same performance.
• Less embedment than other materials in buried applications where ground disturbance or extra loading is likely.

Cast iron has a proven 70-year lifespan due to its outstanding mechanical properties and safety margin in operation.

• Cast iron systems withstand cleaning operations, even at high pressure. They also withstand traditional unblocking chemicals and enzymes without damage: PAM Building is continuously carrying out research on its coatings to maintain such qualities.
• Cast iron in exposed sections of the drainage system, i.e. basement car parks, is more resistant to damage than other drainage materials. It is also less sensitive to cracks and breakage prior to installation.
• Cast iron below ground offers greater resistance to ground movement, and is less likely to fail in unfavorable conditions.

With our networks, maintenance operations are limited.

• Cast iron drainage requires minimal maintenance during the lifetime of the building under normal conditions, making it the first choice for concealed, built-in or otherwise inaccessible systems, where repair or maintenance would cause major inconvenience to the occupants.
• Where necessary, removable mechanical couplings make repairs easier and cheaper without cutting into the stack. An extensive range of access parts provides ease of maintenance at vital points in the stack to relieve any blockages which may occur.
• In the event of destination changes in the premises or the addition of devices, the PAM systems, whose junctions are not glued or welded, can be modified without having to break or cut them, by simply removing the joints.