As infrastructure becomes a more prominent concern for municipalities with aging water systems, trenchless rehabilitation methods are receiving more attention. Innovations in pipe remediation include a variety of polymer formulations designed to repair, protect, discourage, and mitigate damage in water and wastewater environments. But when it comes to the application of SIPP products, there are really only two options: manual or robotic.
Much like the choice of polymer, the method for its application is entirely dependent on the situation. Is it a trenchless approach that requires a cure-in-place pipe (CIPP) solution to repair damaged pipe? Or can the technician deliver a spray-in-place pipe (SIPP) application to safeguard against further deterioration?
The rise of rehabilitation
Growing demand for rehabilitation is driving innovations in spray-on polymer application. As aging wastewater infrastructure succumbs to corrosion, FOG buildups, cracks, leaks, root intrusions, and many other factors working against it, sanitary sewer mitigation and rehabilitation professionals need new approaches for prolonging the lifespan of existing pipes. Today, there are numerous polymers designed to work in specific environments — and against specific pipe condition detractors.
Every pipe rehabilitation project is accompanied by its own unique set of challenges, and the solutions are as nuanced and individual as the problems they’re meant to solve. Digging down to repair or replace a damaged sanitary sewer pipe is sometimes possible, but the disruption and cost associated with this approach are contributing to the exponential rise in popularity of trenchless remediation and repair.
Inspection and assessment are still the first steps of any pipe rehabilitation project, and it’s the first point where a pipe rehab specialist chooses between a manual approach or robotic assistance. Is manual inspection possible? And even if it is, would robotic assistance make inspection easier and/or safer for the pipe rehabilitation team?
SIPP with robotic polymer application
In situations where sanitary sewer pipes are inaccessible by digging — or when trenching is impractical — SIPP solutions are now a viable option. And robotics are key to applying polymers so they can guard against corrosion, ward off FOG, and even improve pipe flow capacity.
During SIPP applications, a coating is applied to the interior length of the pipe with either robotics or spin casting and quickly cures into a “pipe within a pipe” to effectively protect the compromised section. The benefits of this approach include:
- No long-term disruption from trenching, repair, and reburial.
- Quick and efficient application of the appropriate polymer.
- Numerous options for polymers to address a range of rehab situations.
- No human intervention required in dangerous sections (e.g., noxious gas exposure).
- Easy and safe access to underground polymer application sites.
Manual SIPP polymer applications
While SIPP and robotic applications are quickly becoming the de-facto solution for pipe repair, manual SIPP applications are also a viable option. This mode of polymer application is useful for remediation in maintenance hole structures and pipes large enough for human entry.
During a manual polymer application, a technician applies the polymer using a spray gun through a nozzle into the structure being rehabilitated. The nozzle sprays the polymer in a circular pattern to completely coat the interior of a pipe as they move back toward the source. This process is repeated as many times as necessary to successfully apply the polymer. The benefits of this approach are simple but measurable. They include:
- Faster dry and cure times than CIPP solutions.
- Cost-efficient repair and remediation for buried pipes.
- Spray-on solutions that also apply to exteriors of exposed pipes.
- Fast and efficient mode of polymer application to underground sites.
The future of pipe rehabilitation
Innovations in trenchless rehabilitation methods, and the polymer solutions that make many of them possible, are only getting more sophisticated. In a future where demand for pipe rehab will continue grow, next steps are likely to add automation to existing robotic capability. In the U.K., pipe repair specialists are already testing sewer robots for cleaning and repairing sanitary sewer systems. But while we wait for these automated solutions to reach the wider market, technicians already have options for spray-on polymer application.
The right approach plays a crucial role in successful trenchless rehabilitation. Choosing the right polymer is one thing, but applying it correctly is another. For a trusted partner who knows the ins-and-outs of both manual and robotic spray-on polymer application, contact Empipe today.