The company’s main focus is on R&D and as a result the company embarked upon a program to look closely at the pipeline rehabilitation market. This sector had previously relied upon total replacement with polyethylene pipe, or in the early days cement linings, and more latterly epoxy resins lining, to offer non-structural long term protection to the pipe.
In situations where water quality issues rather than structural concerns have been the main driver, non structural spray lining offered a minimum cost alternative to renewal with polyethylene pipe.
The non-structural spray lining process utilising epoxy resin was adopted by many water companies during the 1990s, however the process was disadvantaged by the slow setting characteristics of epoxy resin, which required a minimum 16-hour cure period before commencement of return to service procedures. This often resulted in 36 hour shut-down periods, during which consumers would be without water supplies.
Acknowledging the drawbacks associated with the use of epoxy resins, E.Wood developed a revolutionary rapid setting polymeric lining, Copon Hycote 169, which following its introduction in 1999 has transformed the non-structural rehabilitation strategies of the majority of UK water utilities.
Due to the rapid setting characteristics of the product, shut-down periods are dramatically reduced, resulting in same day return to service. The company has now lined in excess of 15,000 km of pipeline in the UK with this technology.
Recognising the gulf that exists between non-structural lining and total renewal techniques, E.Wood has now expanded on the product, developing Copon Hycote 169HB, a semi structural lining product.
This next generation rapid setting polymeric lining now offers a semi-structural spray lining alternative to conventional polyethylene replacement technologies without the large scale disruption and lengthy time usually taken to install these systems.
Copon Hycote 169HB is a tough and ductile material that can be sprayed onto cast iron, ductile iron, and asbestos cement pipelines at a single pass thickness of 3 mm for pipes operating up to 10 bar pressure .
The product is sprayed into the host pipe and the operating pressures and external loads are withstood by composite action, except where the lining is required to span any local damage zones which may manifest themselves after application of the lining
This semi structural lining is designed to maintain its longitudinal continuity even in the event of transverse (back break) fracture of small diameter pipes.
One of the main advantages is that during spraying, the product does not block service connections, meaning that following the application there is no need for any secondary work to re-establish the connection, or re-open the connection.
The product has been fully tested and evaluated to establish its mechanical performance and properties, and the product has approval under Regulation 31(4)(a) of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations. Copon Hycote 169HB has a minimum 50-year design life.
Copon Hycote 169HB is now becoming recognised as a true alternative to pipeline replacement, and the short period of time to install without the large scale traffic management issues means that semi structural lining is now considered to be the way forward for water companies in the future.
E.Wood Ltd can be contacted at Standard Way, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, England DL6 2XA, on the web at www.ewood.co.uk or via email at in-situlinings@ewood.co.uk