Extending patch lining capacity to meet short length renovation demands

For some years now, where pipelines have required only localized repairs and not full manhole to manhole renovation, contractors have often utilized short-length, patch repair technology. This technology uses inflatable packers to position and apply short-length, resin impregnated liner sections directly over the pipeline defect to give a localized repair that is both cost and time effective.

More recently, contractors have also taken to utilizing this technology to complete 'full length' repairs in straight pipes that are simply short in length. This is because the system enables renovation to be completed without the need to mobilize a full size manhole to manhole lining rig and its support equipment.

Installing a packer with a prepared liner into a lateral access manhole.

To meet the growing demand across the pipeline renovation industry for this capability, Trelleborg epros recently announced the international expansion of its inflatable packer range to include units that have the capacity for this type of work.

The new packers come in lengths up to 5 m and are applicable to pipe diameters from 100 mm to 600 mm. The materials and resin used with the system provide a fast installation whilst producing a fully structural rehabilitation. The system has been in use across Germany for some time where it proved to be highly successful in completing such short-length repairs.

All training required to operate the system safely and efficiently is provided by Trelleborg epros with stocks of the new packers being available through the company's Gateshead office.

A recent example of the very efficient operation of the new packers was a project in Hong Kong where the system was applied to a residential housing development with deteriorated lateral connections. Complete renovation of up to 5 meters lateral lengths, from main sewer to the house or the full lateral length, were completed each day using just one three man team of operators.

Commenting on the new packers Ian Ramsay, International Sales Director for Trelleborg epros said: "The potential to utilize 'patching' in this way has been apparent for some time and some contractors have been using the shorter packers to achieve an end result with multiple installations in the one pipe. This is no longer necessary with our new longer packers. This will enable very efficient installations to be made that will provide excellent high quality structural renovation results in a very short time frame. With increasing focus being made on laterals, their condition problems and how we overcome them, our new packers can now offer a quick simple and cost effective solution that was not previously available over the lengths now being achieved."

August 2008

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