Located in regional Victoria, local utility GWM Water discovered that one of the network drains had been badly damaged by an external source. The drain had a diameter of 375 mm, and damage was only the top third of the pipe.
The repair proposal offered up several different options with varying cost and different degrees of difficulty accompanying each.
It was important to work through the different scenarios with the client and look at what was going to deliver the best value for money, cause the least disruption, and generate the greatest long-term outcome.
There was the option of setting up a bypass line over a train line, which instinctively brings with it a complete set of complications that must be worked through, as well as the planning process and time restraints.
By using this methodology, there were options to restore the line by either cutting it out and replacing it in its entirety or installing a new top section of host pipe and then patching the area using a bladder in the network.
The second option of patching also brought its own challenges around formation of the patch, managing the host pipe repair under inflation, and the team would still have the bypass line to work through.
The suggestion was made to rebuild the line using Smart Lock. This was something the utility had not seen or used before on its network. Smart Locks can be installed to rebuild the line under flow, in this case removing the requirement of bypassing and managing the bypass across a train line.
Once GWM Water saw the way that Smart Lock works, the client realised this was the best option on this desperately needed repair. GWM Water was impressed by how the stainless-steel banded together with the silicate impregnated fibreglass to restore the pipe’s shape and build structural integrity back into the line.
Work commenced and the damaged pipe was rebuilt using 5 Smart Locks, each locking into the previous one by managing the pressure used to blow out the packer. Once all the Smart Locks were joined together under live flow, CCTV footage of the drainage system was taken, and the outcome was demonstrated to be successful. The section of the pipe was covered in concrete to alleviate the same mistake happening again.
The finished product came up extremely well with little interference to the network and definitely a great saving to the client.
How it works
The Smart Lock is an innovative solution that is quick and easy, completed in three simple stages: load, lock and leave. By wrapping the stainless-steel sleeve with fibreglass and silicate resin and sending the packer down the pipe and into position, the Smart Lock solution is loaded before being locked into place by the innovative ratchet system to complete the repair.
With an average installation time of only 20 minutes, the installation team can leave to get to the next job as the resin impregnated fibreglass matting is left to cure behind the stainless-steel sleeve.
Smart Lock is ideal for localised defects such as cracks and holes, root infestation, water infiltration, displaced joints and redundant lateral connections. All can be repaired by installing a Smart Lock directly at the location. The solution provides a cost-effective alternative to excavation, relining or pipe replacement and is a permanent and structural repair.