Tip-Grip lining, a product that protects concrete, has made its manufacturer, Technical Industrial Plastic LLC (TIP), a prominent player in the construction industry.

Tip manufactures linings using polyethylene resins to provide an effective isolating barrier against concrete corrosion. Concrete, the world's most commonly used construction material, requires protection from aggressive media, whether it is used to construct a sewer pipe, a tunnel, a wall in sewerage installations or civil foundations in corrosive conditions.
In sewer systems, the culprit is hydrogen sulphide and in civil foundations the main agents of breakdown through infiltration and crystallisation are saline soils containing chlorides and sulphates.
Tip-Grip linings protect concrete by isolating it in the long term from the insidious and continuous threat posed by these agents.
“TIP is the only company in the region manufacturing PE liners for concrete structures, pipes, manholes and water reservoirs,” says Tony Rouphael, general manager for sales and marketing. “Our liner thickness ranges from 1 mm to 3 mm and Tip-Grip and Tip-Plain lining isolate and protect concrete against the most servere exposures,” he said.
“We have invested in the most advanced in-house laboratory in the region and equipped it with the latest testing equipment and instruments including computerised hydraulic pressure test equipment and other sophisticated testing means.
“Our products are approved by Abu Dhabi and Al Ain municipalities, Abu Dhabi Sewerage Projects Committee (SPC), Adwea, ADDC and many other clients and international consultants in the region including Qatar Drainage department and Qatar Petroleum.
“We have supplied and installed our products to several projects in the UAE and Qatar.”
The Tip-Grip lining system is a continuous, extruded and homogeneous plastic sheet membrane of flexible polyethylene that is especially compounded to provide maximum resistance against chemical attack.
Describing the product, a company spokesman says: “The lining is extruded with T ribs spaced 64 mm apart on one side of the sheet. The Ts anchor the lining into the concrete, thus making it integral to the structure. Whether it is a concrete pipe or wall, during construction the lining is attached to the forms and secured in place. The T ribs are always in contact with the poured concrete, which flows around them and is then vibrated to ensure a dense, void-free structure with the Tip-Grip secured to its face.
“The Tip-Grip lining isolates and protects the concrete against most severe exposures whilst being unaffected by immersion in water or when subjected to high humidity. Furthermore, it exhibits excellent weathering and aging. Tip plastic linings remain flexible and extensible enough to withstand even abnormal movements in the concrete, so they easily bridge any cracks that occur.
“Tip-Grip linings ensure concrete protection for over 100 years.” The company has listed Tip-Grip’s physical and chemical characteristics as under:
They are an ideal protection for concrete against corrosive mediums in structures and transmission pipeline systems; suitable for lining potable water systems such as tanks and pipelines; a perfect solution for storage tanks, treatment plants, industrial structures and utility networks; have a temperature resistance exceeding 60 degrees C making the linings suitable for use in hot environment and heat generating systems; they have a low coefficient of friction and high resistance to abrasion; they have excellent retention of flexibility throughout their lifetime and suit complex shapes.
They also have resistance to fuels and other petroleum products; they serve as an ultimate sealing property ensuring zero penetration of highly corrosive hydrogen sulphide gas in sewerage concrete pipelines and structures; they are designed to withstand hydrostatic back pressure of 4 bar or ground water head of 40 m; they are perfectly weldable at all times making it the optimal solution for an economic installation and have overall chemical resistance against acids, alkalis, salts, etc.