PIPE DOCTOR BRANCHES OUT INTO LATERAL REPAIR

Tue, Jan 14, 2014 16:07 CET

A unique new product for rehabilitation of lateral junctions has been launched which provides a strong, permanent repair, whilst offering a more affordable option to contractors and water companies than robotic systems. The Pipe Doctor Lateral Repair is an addition to the Pipe Doctor no-dig patch repair range. Source One Environmental, the product’s manufacturers, claim it will be the most cost efficient and effective repair method for lateral junctions in the market.

“A key focus of our development work was to ensure that the product would be available with minimal investment for contractors,” explained Jon Crean, Managing Director of Source One Environmental. “This affordability puts the product within reach of most contractors. We hope the use of this technology will become widespread within the industry, keeping repair costs lower than current options for infrastructure managers.”

Defective lateral connections are a huge problem within the UK’s sewer network. It’s estimated that there are around 54 million connections within the water companies’ responsibility since the Transfer of Private Sewers Initiative. Contractors have reported to Source One Environmental that around 30% fall into the industry’s guidelines for immediate repair.

All defective pipework systems cause problems and lateral connections are highly susceptible to damage. Exfiltration from the network can contaminate groundwater. Infiltration can lead to blockages within pipelines from silt and other materials. It can also lead to the unnecessary and costly treatment of groundwater along with the sewage in the system. In turn, this additional water can cause overloading of treatment plants.

“We recognised a growing need for a robust method of repairing these lateral connections,” commented Jon. “At the same time, our current Pipe Doctor users were asking if there was a way to use Pipe Doctor to make these repairs. We took this idea and worked hard to develop the best repair method for the market and we are convinced the product we’re offering will provide a long-term solution for both water companies and contractors.”

No-dig technology offers network managers cost savings and reduced disruption compared with techniques involving excavation. In addition, in contrast with other no-dig lateral junction repair products, the Pipe Doctor Lateral Repair was developed as a manual system, with no robotic intervention required. Robotic systems require high cost upfront investment from contractors, which is then passed on to infrastructure owners in high repair charges. The installation kits offer a turn-key solution to contractors and are very flexible, with no costly extras required.

The system uses the same proven resin used in other products in the market-leading Pipe Doctor range, although other components represent advanced developments of the patch repair technique. “All the developments associated with the Pipe Doctor Lateral Repair are designed to either lower repair costs or ensure that the repair is robust and long-lasting,” stated Jon.

Features of the new product include:

Designed for manual repair
Can be installed onto damp substrates
Advanced flow-through packer technology for host pipes of 200mm – 800mm so sewer can remain live during repair
Bespoke air control unit offering greater control over inflation and deflation of packer & bladder, assisting successful repair
Longer resin curing time enabling greater surety of patch position
Temperature controlled strip on resin bag to aid contractor to confirm cure time
Coloured stitch in top hat profile, also to help with alignment during installation
Dissolvable cable ties, so nothing impeding flow after repair
Works within lined pipes, increasingly required as aging network is refurbished
Only 2mm depth of repair giving minimal bore reduction and effect on hydraulic flow

“The Pipe Doctor Lateral Repair provides long-term rehabilitation with a 50 year design life,” Jon continued. “The repairs achieved are water and airtight and 100% resistant to root ingress, leaving the patched area stronger than the original host pipe. The product design and the support we offer contractors are planned to ensure a right first time solution for these complex repairs.”

For additional confidence for network owners, the product is supported by a mandatory training course, with product only available to fully trained operatives. The course is provided at Source One Environmental’s own Skills Centre – the only training centre with an authentic drainage layout, allowing trainees to install the products in a safe yet realistic environment. The course is based on the Energy & Utility Skills certified course offered for the standard WRc Approved Pipe Doctor product.

Source One Environmental have been working on the final version of the product in close partnership with a select number of contractors since mid-2013. Experience gained during this time has been used to make final adjustments to the product, ready for its launch in January 2014.

During this time, the product has become the only system approved by the Strengthening Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT) in New Zealand for lateral repair in the post-earthquake rebuilding programme. Over 100 successful lateral repairs have been carried out for SCIRT, with over 1,000 more planned.

-ENDS-

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Pipe Doctor Lateral Insert: Following preparation, a Pipe Doctor Lateral Repair is inserted into the damaged pipeline