{"id":60260,"date":"2026-05-14T08:00:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T23:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/norimen.net\/?p=60260"},"modified":"2026-05-16T17:06:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T08:06:45","slug":"biodegradable-grease-anchor-head-water-treatment-plant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/norimen.net\/en\/biodegradable-grease-anchor-head-water-plant\/","title":{"rendered":"No Oil Allowed at Water Treatment Plants!? A Story from a Site Where the Anti-Rust Oil Used to Treat Ground Anchor Heads Was Switched to a Biodegradable Alternative"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello, everyone.<\/p>\n

This is Enta.<\/p>\n

When preparing the heads of ground anchors or rebar inserts, you put rust-preventive oil inside the caps, right?<\/p>\n

Is that...Petroleum Products (Mineral Oils)<\/strong>That's right. Well, I'm sure you already know that, lol.<\/p>\n

Although these are naturally derived ingredients, they won't break down if they leak into the soil or water. (Common sense!?)<\/p>\n

Applying rust-preventive oil inside the head cap is a standard practice in the industry as a corrosion-prevention measure, and this is common knowledge that everyone is aware of.<\/p>\n

However, there are actually work sites where that \u201canti-rust oil = mineral oil\u201d simply can\u2019t be used.<\/p>\n

\"Head<\/p>\n

\n

A water treatment plant\u2014a facility where not even a single drop of oil is allowed.<\/h2>\n

There was this one guy at a job site I worked at before who was a total pain in the neck, lol.<\/p>\n

Water Treatment Plant!<\/strong><\/p>\n

This was a worksite where even a single drop of oil was strictly prohibited.<\/p>\n

I mean, come on\u2014you can't use a machine without oil, right?! That's the point.<\/p>\n

But since this is where they make drinking water, I get it!<\/p>\n

That's totally out of the question, lol.<\/p>\n

However, to begin with, everything\u2014from the drilling rig to the compressor to the generator\u2014runs on oil.<\/p>\n

It won't work without that!<\/p>\n

If you don't grease it, the bearing will seize up immediately.<\/p>\n

When I looked into it, the special specifications document contained just one line<\/p>\n

\"No Oils Allowed\"<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

That's it, lol<\/p>\n

Nothing has been submitted for the design cost estimate.<\/p>\n

But the special notes section just says \"strictly prohibited.\"<\/p>\n

I thought, \"This is totally crazy,\" lol.<\/p>\n

\"Drilling<\/p>\n

\n

When I looked into it, I found that there are actually quite a few \u201cbiodegradable oils\u201d out there.<\/h2>\n

So, as I looked into various things,Biodegradable Lubricants and Greases<\/strong>I realized there are actually quite a few different kinds.<\/p>\n

For example
\n\u30fbShell Naturale S2 (Hydraulic Fluid)
\n\u30fbNOK Kl\u00fcber's Kluberbio Series
\n\u30fbKyodo Yushi's BioTemp Series
\nThese are some of the standout players.<\/p>\n

There are quite a few products from overseas, and they seem to be more common abroad.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The base oil isVegetable oils such as canola oil and sunflower oil<\/strong>, or fatty acid esters derived from chemically synthesized vegetable oils, and<\/p>\n

It is ultimately broken down into carbon dioxide and water by bacteria in the soil.<\/p>\n

Data shows that plant-oil-based products have a biodegradability rate of nearly 100%.
\n(From Juntsu Net 21 \/ \"Basic Knowledge of Biodegradable Lubricants\").<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the Eco Mark certification includes a category called \u201cbiodegradable lubricants,\u201d and
\n\u30fbHydraulic fluid
\n\u30fbTwo-stroke engine oil
\n\u30fbGrease
\n\u30fbOther Lubricants
\nThe following four items are covered.<\/p>\n

In Europe, government guidelines even require the use of biodegradable hydraulic fluid in construction machinery operating on rivers, and<\/p>\n

It appears that in Japan as well, the Lubricants Technical Committee of the Japan Construction Machinery Association has established quality and performance standards for biodegradable hydraulic fluids used in construction machinery.<\/p>\n

When I looked into it, it turns out this is actually pretty common. (People who know about it are already doing it, lol.)<\/p>\n

\"Oil<\/p>\n

\n

Completely regrease all machinery before installation<\/h2>\n

So, what happened was, before we started construction,<\/p>\n

Thoroughly clean the machine once, then reapply vegetable-based grease to all grease nipples.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I did this for every single spot.<\/p>\n

Replace the hydraulic fluid with a biodegradable type.<\/p>\n

However,The hammer assembly of the core drill (inside the percussion mechanism)<\/strong>For that part alone, however, we continued to use the existing grease due to heat and impact pressure concerns.<\/p>\n

I decided that if I switched to a plant-based option here, there was a risk of it burning.<\/p>\n

Around the machine, there isLay the absorbent mats over the entire area<\/strong>\u3002<\/p>\n

It's a two-step safeguard that stops any leaks before they come into contact with concrete or water.<\/p>\n

It was a really tough job site, but since you don't get to have experiences like this very often, I personally found it pretty interesting lol.<\/p>\n

\"Measures<\/p>\n

\n

It's just so expensive\u2014biodegradable! We even had to change the design.<\/h2>\n

But you know, when it comes to biodegradable oils and greases...It's just so expensive<\/strong>That's right.
\nIt's shockingly expensive!!<\/p>\n

Based on my experience, it costs several times as much as regular mineral oil-based products.<\/p>\n

If this had been included in the design estimates from the start, there wouldn\u2019t be any problem at all, but there were no specific instructions in the design documents\u2014the special specifications just say \u201cNo oil allowed,\u201d lol.<\/p>\n

In the end, this included the cost of preparing the oil selection documentation and the labor costs for re-greasing all the machinery,Design Change<\/strong>I took it there.<\/p>\n

Neither the general contractor nor our company really knew what we were doing in terms of profit, but in the end, it was a job site that taught us a lot.<\/p>\n

Doing things like this without speaking up just drains the company's resources, so,<\/p>\n

Based on the following factors (Eco Mark certification, the standards of the Construction Machinery Association, and the location\u2014a water treatment plant),<\/p>\n

I think the right thing to do is to confidently submit a request for a design change.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, I think it would be good for government agencies and consulting firms to be aware of this as well.<\/p>\n

\n

The contents of the hair treatment cap have also been changed to \"plant-based grease.\"<\/h2>\n

Now, as for the crucial part\u2014the head\u2014
\nInside the head cap of the ground anchor used to prevent the water treatment plant itself from floating (as a measure against uplift, right?), there is,Filled with vegetable-based grease to prevent any impact in the unlikely event of a leak<\/strong>I did.<\/p>\n

In addition, the capping section is securely sealed with caulk in two or three layers to prevent water leakage.<\/p>\n

Unless something really unusual happens, I don't think there's much of a chance that oil will leak.<\/p>\n

To be honest, I learned a lot back then\u2014I was really surprised to discover that even something as simple as anti-rust oil for head gaskets could involve such a complex topic.<\/p>\n

To all you designers who simply write \u201cNo oil allowed\u201d in the specifications: Please make sure to include biodegradable oils and greases in your cost estimates as a separate category.<\/p>\n

The crew will be in tears lol<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

See you later.<\/p>\n

The final and most critical step in ground anchor installation is applying anti-rust oil to the head!<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n