What Is Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP)? | How It Works & When to Use It

Rehabilitating the underground infrastructure of your private property or commercial building does not have to take so long.

Modern trenchless technology, such as the CIPP, can help you avoid long downtime.

Cured-in-place pipe lining (CIPP) involves inserting a flexible liner inside existing pipelines. The liner is inflated and exposed to heat or ultraviolet light to dry and harden.

Learn more about this pipe-lining process here, and decide for yourself whether it is fit for rehabilitating your pipeline.

What Is Cured-in-Place Pipe Lining?

Cured-in-place pipe lining (CIPP) is a trenchless solution for pipe repair. It restores existing pipes without causing damage to the property and structures around them. Existing access points are used for its installation.

The CIPP lining process involves a flexible liner that is inserted into existing pipes. The liner is then inflated and exposed to a curing element. This allows the release of a resin that hardens within the existing pipe.

When the resin is fully cured, it creates a stronger layer within the pipes. Aside from providing additional rigidity, it also seals hidden leaks.

There are many kinds of CIPP lining, and they mainly depend on the curing process and the pipe liner involved. Curing solutions include hot water, steam, and a UV light train.

On the other hand, an epoxy lining is a self-cure solution. It does not require hot water, steam, or UV to cure and harden your pipe lining.

The CIPP Lining Process

The CIPP process involves pipe-lining work that is mainly underground. It does NOT require any major digging activity.

These are the stages of how you may go about this pipe-lining process:

1. Host Pipe Cleaning - Make room for the CIPP liner by clearing the existing pipeline. A clean host pipe will also give way to a longer-lasting pipe lining. Ensure that you remove roots and dirt. You can flush debris using powerful vacuums, such as a hydro vac and a jet vac cleaning truck.
2. Bypass System Setup - The CIPP installation process requires a clean and dry pipe. You will need to set up a sewer bypass system to re-route wastewater to other nearby pipes. You may use a sewer vacuum to keep your pipe clear throughout the pipe-lining process.
3. CIPP Installation - The CIPP liner is installed into a damaged pipe through inversion or pull-in-place.
• Inversion involves inserting the resin-impregnated tube into equipment. It uses pressure to insert the liner through the length of the pipeline.
• On the other hand, pull-in-place involves pulling the liner toward the end of the pipeline.
4. Curing - This can be done using heat or ultraviolet light. Any of the two hardens the liner inside the pipeline and creates a new pipe within the existing pipe.
5. Restoration of Lateral Connections - Once the pipe is dry, you may restore the sewer service lateral connections that were disconnected. Bypass systems set up can be removed as well.

Your new pipeline is now up and running! Make sure you conduct a quality check before leaving it to operate and ensure that problem areas are covered.

The Benefits of Cured-in-Place Pipe Lining

The CIPP lining process involves minimal disruption. It keeps your property intact and allows you to save a lot of time and money.

This trenchless pipe repair method is time efficient. You can finish this in only a few hours.

This also translates to savings from labor costs. As such, it is a much cheaper alternative to a complete pipe replacement.

In addition to these benefits are the durability and versatility of CIPP linings. The CIPP lining is damp-proof, corrosion-resistant, and wear-resistant. It can also conform to traditional materials like concrete, cast iron, and clay.

The Downsides of Cured-in-Place Pipe Lining

The limitations of this trenchless method involve damages to a great extent. CIPP rehabilitation cannot accommodate heavy deterioration and corrosion.

Some irreversible damages may leave you with no choice but to use the traditional method of digging up trenches to replace existing pipes.

When Should You Use Cured-in-Place Pipes?

The cured-in-place pipe lining is flexible and versatile. Whether you are dealing with a water line, a sewer line, or a chemical pipeline, you can use a CIPP lining for most of their kinds.

In rare cases, CIPP lining may not be practical for old pipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

A cured-in-place pipe lining is a solution you can use for pipe repair and restoration:

• It is a flexible lining that you can insert into existing pipes.
• It is cured and hardened to conform to your old pipes.

This method is versatile and can be used for virtually any pipe.

However, it is best to inspect your pipelines first to make sure that CIPP rehabilitation is the best option for you.