Total Cost of Ownership

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The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) serves as an estimation encompassing expenses related to the purchase, installation, operation, and retirement of an infrastructure asset. TCO is not just the initial purchase cost. TCO provides a comprehensive assessment of the total expenditure throughout the structure’s entire lifecycle. This approach offers a more accurate basis for evaluating the cost versus return on investment (ROI) of an asset. The TCO equation involves the cost of acquisition, operation, and maintenance over the asset’s lifetime, subtracting any salvage value gained at the end of its operational use.

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In many cases, FRP infrastructure needs no maintenance for the first 40 years of its design life. The first maintenance point required is a reapplication of ultraviolet (UV) protection for outdoor structures. FRP composites have proven to produce excellent ROI through reduced maintenance, inspection and replacement cycles saving potentially millions over the lifetime of a new structure.

At Wagners, our FRP structures have a 100-year design life, allowing asset owners to enjoy reduced long-term capital expenses associated with replacement. This robust TCO performance makes FRP structures a compelling choice, not just based on initial cost but for the entirety of their life cycle. Our Cattana Wetlands Boardwalk Project shows in real money terms exactly how TCO works:

Wagners EPD Helps Asset Owners Reduce Carbon through FRP

Wagners own independently verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) gives asset owners the tools to be able to calculate the environmental impact of a project and contribute toward decarbonisation in construction by choosing to use products with reduced global warming potential – such as Wagners FRP – while at the same time meeting your own carbon reduction targets.

Find out more about Wagners CFT’s EPD.

Actual Cost of Ownership

All FRP products at Wagners are protected with a fluoropolymer paint system for its pedestrian structures, which retains gloss and colour fastness while providing the structure with a block against UV. This paint comes with an expectation to reach 40 years before the first maintenance is required, after which an inspection regime is recommended.

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Material Comparison: FRP vs Steel

Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) is a widely accepted alternative to steel and other materials. The performance advantages of FRP have been well received by many different industries, including aerospace and marine. FRP is acclaimed for its corrosion resistance, reduced maintenance costs and wide structural applications in a range of extreme environmental conditions.

A reinforced polymer is naturally lightweight while still meeting all stiffness criteria, does not rot or shrink and is resistant to termites and borers. This composite material is also non-conductive, and due to its lower modulus of elasticity, it has a level of impact resistance. The polymer matrix is capable of withstanding and distributing a heavy working load.

Steel products are known to permanently deform under working load or impact, especially in cold environments. Steel is not the right choice in corrosive environments and is simply not the right material for coastal environments. Steel requires painting or galvanising to be suitable for some environments and is heavy in weight, making transport and installation more difficult or costly.

Pultruded FRP structural profiles have a higher tensile strength than traditional steel. In fact, a glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebar has a 20% higher tensile strength in comparison to a steel rebar. FRP reinforcement has therefore become a popular alternative to steel reinforcement, especially with its added bonuses of being lightweight and resistant to corrosion.

FRP Asset Maintenance Efficiency

Our composite structures are uniquely suited to withstand the harshest environments while providing a low maintenance, long life asset. FRP material is a durable material with an expected 100-year design life.

Our walkways, boardwalks and bridges have proven time and again their unique durability and strength, perfect for coastal, marine, and environmentally sensitive areas.

FRP Asset Reliability and Longevity

A Wagners CFT structure built with our pultruded FRP has a design life of 100-years. For an asset such as a boardwalk, this shows exceptional longevity.

At Wagners, we have overseen the full replacement of a wetland boardwalk structure that was in place for only 34 years. Thanks to the inert and durable nature of FRP, one of our structures is designed to last for nearly 3 times longer.

In addition, our electrical infrastructure has an 80-year design life, lasting up to 30 years longer than its counterpart materials. A timber jetty is showing wear and tear after as little as 10 years with a possible full replacement in just 15 years. With Wagner’s FRP, our marine infrastructure has a 50-year design life.

Wagners CFT Unique and Superior FRP

Even our manufacturing process keeps your TCO at the forefront. Using the ‘pultrusion process’, Wagners CFT manufacture structural FRP sections that are similar in geometry and shape compared to traditional cold-formed steel ‘Rectangular Hollow Section‘ (RHS).

Wagners CFT FRP sections are made from fibreglass reinforcements (or glass rovings) and vinyl ester resins. This particular material combination has been chosen by Wagners CFT to provide the best structural solution for an economical cost. Electrical-Corrosion Resistant (ECR) type glass has been selected as the initial building block for all Wagners CFT FRP products. This high grade material has been selected for its impressive strength performance and workability. ECR type glass is also widely reported as having excellent chemical resistant characteristics.

To bind the glass fibres together, Wagners CFT uses Vinyl Ester (VE) resin. VE resin has been selected over unsaturated polyester and epoxy resins because it provides strength and chemical resistant properties similar to epoxy resin to a significant cost advantage. Start a conversation with your local Wagners CFT Business Development Manager today about using Fiber Reinforced Polymer on your next project.

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FRP VS STEEL: TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP