22 Sep Hera Group includes FITT Bluforce RJ in its technical specifications: a strategic decision that rewards PVC-A (PVC-HI)

The installation of the first 700 meters of FITT Bluforce RJ DN 160 PN16 has begun: the pipe with restraint joint system that officially enters the technical specifications of Hera Group, one of Italy’s leading multi-utilities and the country’s second-largest operator in the Integrated Water Service (IWS).
This strategic decision confirms the reliability of the polymer alloy PVC-A (PVC-HI) in ensuring water service continuity for 3.6 million inhabitants across 227 municipalities.

With a key role in water distribution and treatment in Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Marche, Hera is recognized as one of the most solid and innovative players in the Italian water sector.

A decision that establishes PVC-A (PVC-HI) as a reference material

The inclusion of FITT Bluforce RJ in Hera’s technical specifications – a multi-utility that has long employed PVC-U pipelines for drinking water transport and therefore has extensive knowledge of PVC-based materials – represents a significant acknowledgment of the quality of PVC-A (PVC-HI).
This choice follows about seven years of successful field applications, using both traditional installation methods and Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD).

When compared with commonly used alternatives such as ductile iron and PE, PVC-A (PVC-HI) has proven to be a far more effective solution, thanks to its distinctive properties:

• Flexibility: the combination of PVC-U and CPE results in a highly flexible yet mechanically robust material. This flexibility allows the pipeline to follow alignment and elevation variations without requiring fittings or mechanical bends, reducing excavation volumes, site footprint, installation times, and costs.
• Impact resistance and ductile fractures: PVC-A (PVC-HI) behaves in a fully ductile manner, as demonstrated in the C-Ring test. Fracture is progressive, visible, and non-catastrophic, reducing operational risks and simplifying inspection and maintenance.
• Corrosion resistance: FITT Bluforce RJ pipes in PVC-A (PVC-HI) require no protective coatings or treatments. The material is chemically inert, impermeable to contaminants, and immune to electrochemical corrosion. It does not suffer from stress cracking or oxidative degradation. Moreover, its high resistance to chlorine dioxide, used in water disinfection, makes Bluforce the ideal solution for water distribution.

FITT Bluforce RJ: anti-pullout technology for IWS networks

FITT Bluforce RJ is the first thermoplastic pipe in Europe equipped with an integrated and permanent mechanical sealing system.
The Bulldog® joint, with the seal mechanically hot-inserted in advance during the socket forming phase, ensures long-lasting hydraulic and mechanical tightness, eliminating the need for thrust blocks.

This system allows installation even in steep or unstable soils and makes FITT Bluforce RJ particularly suitable for trenchless applications, such as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), which drastically reduce excavation, environmental impact, construction time, and costs.

The inclusion of FITT Bluforce RJ in Hera Group’s technical specifications goes beyond a simple product choice: it represents a concrete recognition of the quality and reliability of FITT Bluforce RJ and of the distinctive performance of PVC-A (PVC-HI).
It also confirms the trust of one of Italy’s main Integrated Water Service operators, consolidating a long-standing partnership based on innovation, sustainability, and shared goals for the benefit of water networks and the communities they serve.