Frequently Asked Questions

Over 1000km of AQUA-PIPE®  with 60,000 service connections have been installed over the past two decades throughout 500 towns and cities in North America and Australasia.

Any pipe internal diameter from 100 – 630mm.

The watertight membrane fused to the inner jacket prevents the epoxy from being in contact with the water inside the pipe.

No, the AQUA-PIPE® epoxy is made of 100% solids. No VOCs or styrene is present.

Yes, AQUA-PIPE® is certified by Underwriters laboratory (UL) and by NSF to NSF/ANSI Standard 61 and also meets WRAS BS6920 and NQ 3660-90/2003 requirements.

AQUA-PIPE®  is specifically designed for water distribution systems but other pressure pipe systems such as force mains can also be rehabilitated using AQUA-PIPE®.

In general, existing fittings, such as bends can be lined. Valves can also be replaced at their original location (requiring an access pit at that location) or relocated into another access pit to reduce costs. Hydrants and their branch lines can be replaced if requested by the owner or, if they are to be maintained, the tee is excavated and the location is used as an access pit.

AQUA-PIPE® is a trenchless technology and therefore greatly reduces the carbon footprint of the project. AQUA-PIPE®’s GHG emissions have been quantified according to international standards. It has been determined that for each mile of renewed pipe, AQUA-PIPE® reduces GHG emissions by 378 tons or 84% compared to traditional open cut replacement. These quantities do not include GHG savings due to other impacts such as traffic detours and increased vehicle idling that are commonly observed using the traditional open-cut replacement.

Gate valves and hydrants can be lined through, with the bonnets removed and throat sections cut back. Butterfly type valves have to be excavated.

This can be done but it is not recommended. When reopening lined tees, the opening is not complete due to the curvature of the tee. Also, when tees remain in the section to be lined, it allows the epoxy to escape and accumulate in a puddle at the bottom of the pipe which may hinder the use of the shutoff valve on the branch line. Finally, at these locations some infiltration between the liner and the host pipe may sometimes occur.

Yes, the service connection may be damaged during cleaning when using non-recommended equipment or procedures. The use of high pressure nozzles and reamers (rotating chains) is recommended to clean the pipe as opposed to rack bore or winch-pulled scrappers. The lining procedure will not cause any damage to the service connections.

Yes, AQUAPIPE® has been successfully used to rehabilitate asbestos cement pipe.

During the cleaning process, it is necessary to remove the cement lining which may be loose. The cement remaining in place will not hinder the lining process. However, special care must be taken to scrape or chip away the cement layer at the extremities of each cut away section of pipe. This will assure that the liner will properly adhere to the host pipe and create a proper seal.

An AQUAPIPE® installer is trained and certified by Sanexen and is provided with continuous technical support. The fact that Sanexen is also an installer reassures both Water Utilities and Installers of the high quality of training and support provided. Sanexen is present during the licensed installer’s first installation project and provides ongoing support with regards to product and process standards.  Having its own installation crews since 2000, has allowed Sanexen to develop and continually improve its products, tooling and procedures.

Installation is typically guaranteed 1 year from the date of installation.

Yes, within reason. AQUAPIPE® is designed to be slightly larger than the interior of the host pipe to compensate for such variations. When the pipe diameter is smaller than that of the liner, a longitudinal fold or wrinkle will be visible. This is completely normal and assures and indicates contact with the host pipe. For large diameter changes, for example 150mm to 200mm, the reducer shall be excavated and the excavation shall be used as an access pit to line two diameters in each direction.

The AQUAPIPE® product was designed oversized so that the liner can compensate for changes in internal diameter. The allowed diameters are specified by the minimum and maximum allowable diameter for a specific pipe (ex. a 200mm liner will be suitable for pipes ranging from 197mm to 213mm internal diameter).

AQUAPIPE® can easily be designed for operating pressures up to 20 bar. Specialist designs can be done for greater pressures.

Aquapipe’s maximum burst pressure is greater than 50 bar.

Yes, AQUAPIPE® will resist a full vacuum. This has been verified by third party testing performed by the City of Toronto and the University of Waterloo.

A standard AQUAPIPE® liner thickness will withstand operating pressures up to 20 bar depending on all site specific requirements. Some diameters may withstand greater pressures and are treated on a case by case basis. Specialist designs can be done for greater pressures.

AQUAPIPE® can negotiate bends of up to 90° either vertically or horizontally. The number of bends that can be negotiated in one section will depend on the length and diameter of the section. This can only be answered on a case by case basis.

Technically, up to 600m/day (2 liners). However, access pits may be strategically located at street intersections, valves, fire hydrants, or changes of direction and therefore will dictate the actual length of each liner to be installed on a given day. Statistically, 180m/day is typical.

Two AQUAPIPE® resins are available. One with a 2 hour at 20°C pot life and a second, when specific conditions are required, with a 4 hour at 20°C pot life. The curing process starts when the resin and hardener are mixed on site. The process is slowed by working in a refrigerated environment.

The longitudinal fold does not affect the flow properties of the rehabilitated pipe. It is well known that the flow in water mains is of the laminar type and is therefore not affected by the location of the fold.

The structural liner can resist and survive extreme ring fracture conditions to help it withstand soil movements, settlement and beam conditions. This is attested by ring fracture testing results carried out by the Trenchless Technology Center of Louisiana Tech University.

If the host pipe of a rehabilitated section breaks for whatever reason, the AQUAPIPE® liner will resist and remain water tight, given that the failure does not occur at the extremities or at the service connections. The oldest AQUAPIPE® liner was installed in 2000 and has not experienced any breaks.

Yes, the damaged section (host pipe and liner) must first be removed; once the new extremities are verified and repaired (if necessary), a new section of pipe is then installed using standard pipe and fittings.

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Yes, this type of test is performed, upon request, by certain clients. It is important that the client also considers carrying out a comparison test prior to the work before cleaning the pipe so as to demonstrate the overall performance of the rehabilitation of the host pipe. Note that rehabilitating the host pipe does not repair any leaks already present in the service connection lines and will, more often than not, show leaks in the system (service connections) that are very small and difficult to locate using conventional detection methods. It is therefore important when testing the system after the reinstatement of the service connections, to determine the proper test pressure for the pipe so as to not damage the service lines and curb stops.

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The material characteristics of the epoxy allow the AQUAPIPE® liner to bond to the host pipe. This bonding is not necessary for the liner to be structural; however it assures a watertight seal at the extremities of the lined section and at the service connection locations after reinstatement using robotic equipment. Bonding also prevents the free flow of water in between the liner and the host pipe.

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No, end seals are not required.

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Yes, the new lining can be dry or pressure tapped. The only precaution would be to make sure that the utility workers use a saddle or tapping sleeve and a sharp shell cutter, and to make sure that they have cut through the walls of both the existing pipe and the liner. The use of the appropriate procedure and equipment is recommended.

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Yes, they are generally required to maintain fire protection and water to the residents.

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They are reinstated from within the pipe.

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Preparation of the pipe is the key factor in this case. The pipe and service connection must be properly cleaned in order to ensure a good seal. The service connection will be plugged before lining to avoid resin migration up the service line and ensure the presence of epoxy, which fills all voids, around the threads of the service connection. This presence of epoxy maintains water tightness.

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No, the robot is designed to minimize contact with the inside of the service connection.

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50mm maximum.

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Between 90 and 100%.

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They are located using special void locating equipment which provides the technician with the precise location of the service connection. The service connection is then reinstated from within using the robotic equipment.

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No special fittings are required. Regular pipe and fittings are used to reconnect the 2 ends of lined pipe in the access pit.

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The pipe is disinfected as per city, state or AWWA standards. Identical to new installations.

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