A damaged or even broken pipe can wreak havoc on surrounding infrastructure, public spaces and highways, local businesses, and so much more; causing leaks, floods, and unstable foundations.
And that’s before you consider the extensive and costly process of removing the damaged pipe and replacing it with a new one. Nobody wants to be held up in traffic caused by flooding and excavation work, just like no business or household wants to suddenly find itself without water.
To cut a long story short, traditional pipe replacement costs time and disruption – not to mention exceptionally high costs.
As a result of this, more and more local councils and engineers are turning to trenchless pipe repair as an alternative to pipe replacement. But what is trenchless pipe repair and how does it work?
What is Trenchless Pipe Repair?
Trenchless pipe repair is a solution which continues to innovate the engineering industry, despite Insituform having released the very first CIPP liners more than 50 years ago.
The underlying concept of trenchless pipe repair sees pipes being rehabilitated as opposed to replaced; enabling engineers to work on restoring the pipe to full function without digging up the ground surrounding the pipe.
The CIPP liner is fed into the pipe and activated from ground level. Drying in record time, the pipe can then be used as normal again – with Insituform’s leading solution recognised for adding 50+ years to the lifespan of a formerly damaged pipe.
Here’s how the process works in three simple steps.
Step 1: Identifying the Right CIPP Solution
The first step is to identify the damage, its location within the pipe system, and the right CIPP liners to plug the gap and stabilise the pipe’s infrastructure.
This is typically done using state-of-the-art technology which allows cameras to be fed into the pipe to isolate the damage and to determine how extensive the break or crack is.
Once engineers have assessed the damage and the scale of the problem, Insituform’s team of experts can help them ascertain which CIPP liner is the best tool for the job.
Step 2: Preparing the Pipe and Inserting the Felt Liner
Using the hands-on expertise of Insituform engineers, or our thorough training to upskill local engineers, the team of CIPP handlers can then insert the felt liner into the damaged portion of the pipe without needing to excavate it.
The pipe needs to be cleaned prior to this to ensure that the surface is suitable for the resin to fix, using jet and pressure washers to clear away any debris prior to CIPP repair work.
Step 3: Activating the Resin and Letting it Set
The final step involves flushing the pipe with hot water or steam, which activates the resin that’s built into the felt and allows it to fix to the inner wall of the pipe.
Custom-made to the diameter and material of the pipe’s interior, this resin creates a brand new layer which doesn’t repair the damage but also allows for a smooth and even more seamless movement of water/waste through the pipe.
This solution fixes and improves existing pipe systems and is both effective and efficient to use in all situations and scenarios. As such, it’s little wonder why more and more engineers and local councils alike are choosing Insituform and leading CIPP solutions over costly and time-consuming replacement work.
Find out more about the history and future of CIPP solutions by following our latest articles and updates.