Remote drainage repairs reduce impact on 24/7 operations

Many logistics sites are continuous operations, remaining open and operational around the clock. This presents headaches when planning maintenance work.

When it comes to drainage systems, with pipes running under aprons that give access to loading bays, this is of particular concern.

Ideally, pipe repairs should be carried out remotely, while not digging and replacing sections, a process that could hamper the operational efficiency of warehouse sites.

Central to this approach are two related technologies, remote structural repairs, known commonly as patch lining, and full lining of pipes, a process known as pipe rehabilitation.

Both techniques can also be used to decommission sections of pipe system, as part of redevelopment of large commercial sites, like logistics parks, by blocking connections.

Patch lining is the most common remote access pipe repair technology associated with warehousing.

The weight of lorries can distort or partially collapse pipes. The process can be exacerbated by root ingress or water logging of the ground, which may be caused by poor drainage.

With patch lining, glass fibre sleeves impregnated with resin are positioned inside the pipe across the damaged area, then inflated with a packer to force it against the pipe wall.

When the resin has cured, the sleeve forms a tough new inner wall.

On logistics sites where drains are in a poor condition, dozens of these patch liners may have to be installed.

If pipes are damaged over longer stretches, or they need to be strengthened, for example to withstand an increased volume of HGV traffic, a process of full lining may be needed.

The technology best suited to logistics parks is the installation of an ultra-violet (UV) cure in place pipe (CIPP).

UV light is used to cure a specialist resin in the sleeve, which can be up to 200 metres long. Lateral connections are then reopened with robotic cutters.

With UV lining, installation equipment is relatively minimal. The process is quick. Access is only needed at the two ends of the section of pipe being lined, so impact on operational space is minimised.