Compared with corrugated metal pipe, reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) used in highway storm drains is generally chosen when the designer wants:

1. A pipe that relies only on a very light cover and has no structural strength
2. A rigid pipe with high inherent strength and abrasion resistance under deep cover or heavy live load
3. A pipe that cannot be used with a headwall
4. A substitute for a sanitary building drain inside a dwelling