Internal Pipe Coating
Proper pipeline maintenance is crucial to the success of your pipeline system. Not only should pipeline maintenance be beneficial to your pipe’s functionality, but it should also be cost-effective.
Let’s say your pipes are tuberculated, which has severely restricted your water flow. One option you might consider is replacing your pipes. While replacing your pipes is a surefire solution, it can be costly. Additionally, you will likely encounter the same issue in these new pipes.
So, how can you maintain your pipes without needing to replace them? Through preventative measures like internal pipe coating, you can avoid emergency pipeline replacement jobs that take weeks to complete
Keep reading to learn more about internal pipe coating, who benefits from it and how American Pipeline Solutions can help.
AMERICAN PIPELINE SOLUTIONS’ INTERNAL PIPE COATING PROCESS
Before coating a pipe, American Pipeline Solutions must first determine if the project is feasible. This is done by performing a visual inspection of the pipeline. The results of this inspection tell the APS team what issue your pipeline is facing, such as tuberculation. Additionally, this helps APS with the next step, which involves cleaning your pipeline.
Cleaning the pipeline helps to prepare it for coating. This step can involve flushing the pipeline to remove any debris within it. If your pipeline is tuberculated, for example, then APS would use the proper descaling processes to ensure the pipeline is clean.
Once the pipeline has been completely cleaned, it must dry. After the pipeline has dried, it is ready for coating.
Using the Picote technology, APS applies anywhere from 3 to 6 coats of the epoxy coating. The number of coats your pipe requires will depend on the size of your pipeline. The larger the pipe, the more coats are recommended for the best results.
After the coating process is complete, the pipeline is left to dry for 48 hours. Once the coating is dry, the pipeline is ready to be placed back into use.
APS responded to a call for a failed fire flow test. The condominium complex had a heavy tuberculated pipe, and therefore not getting the pressure they needed for their fire suppression system. APS was able to clean the line with limited access and limited water service interruption. After the completion of the project, the flow rate increased by 290%! This is a great solution for pipes with low flow caused by heavy tuberculation.
WHAT IS INTERNAL PIPE COATING?
Internal pipe coating is the process of spraying an epoxy material to the pipe’s interior using Picote technology. The main differences between internal pipe coating and replacing your pipes are cost and project scope. The cost of coating your pipes is less than the cost of replacing them.
This cost difference is partly due to the scope of each solution. When replacing your pipes, you’ll need to dig up your old pipes, which takes time, especially when digging through sidewalks, concrete and other material. Digging up your pipes also results in a much longer shutdown period for your water. Additionally, replacing your pipes will tend to provide the short-term solution you seek. Your new pipes aren’t damaged, but they can become so over time because you have no preventative measures in place.
In comparison, the process of coating your pipes will only take a few days to complete. Plus, the epoxy coating we use helps prevent damage to a pipe’s interior. It is also NSF-61 approved, the same standard that NASA uses on their water mains. As a result, your pipes can last for another 30-50 years. During that same time, a new pipeline can become damaged or clogged, just like your previous pipeline did. So, the most efficient solution would be to coat your pipes because it costs less and helps prevent future damage.
WHAT TYPES OF PIPES & PIPELINES CAN BE COATED?
All types of pipeline material can be coated. Examples of these pipelines include:
PVC, which must be sanded first to ensure that the epoxy coating will stick to the pipe’s interior.
Cast iron
Ductile iron
Steel
PVC
HDPE
Additionally, American Pipeline Solutions can coat different types of pipeline systems, which include:
Water lines
Fire lines
Sewer lines
Drain lines
Clarifier drains
Feed pipes
Grease traps
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Customers are welcome to contact the APS team to determine if pipe coating is the best choice for their pipelines.
WHO NEEDS INTERNAL PIPE COATING?
American Pipeline Solution helps various types of buildings and businesses protect their pipelines with internal pipe coating. These building types include:
Apartments
Hospitals
Schools
Office buildings
Condominiums
Multifamily residential buildings