Better, Stronger, Faster: Comparing UV Spot Repairs for Sewer Pipes to Cured in Place Pipe (CIPP) Methods

Repairing sewer pipes is a less-than-glamorous, but necessary form of ongoing maintenance for most communities. Luckily, science is developing new materials and technologies to make these repairs like Steve Austin's bionic alter ego: better, stronger and faster.

Trenchless technologies (subsurface construction works that don't require digging long trenches) have gained popularity for infrastructure repair work because of the minimal disturbance to the environment. One of the newest methods for repairing sewers is the quick seal UV spot repair system.

This brief article below from MWEA Matters gives an overview of the quick seal UV spot repair and compares it to traditional cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining methods. Reviewing the practical considerations of the quick seal UV system, the article also includes case studies in two municipalities.

Here's a quick rundown of the pros and cons of the quick seal UV spot repair method:

Pros
+ Cure time is reduced from 6-8 hours for CIPP to 10 minutes for UV spot repair, which means that final inspection can happen within minutes, rather than the following day.
+ It's temperature independent, making it possible to install any time of the year.
+ The UV cured liner is strong and a fraction of the thickness of traditional felt liners, allowing for future full lining repairs.

Cons
- The quick seal UV method is more costly.
- The UV spot system can only be applied to 6" to 27" diameter pipes.

Comparing UV Spot Repairs for Sewer Pipes to Cured in Place Pipe (CIPP) Methods

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