Imagine a chemical plant with a piece of processed sewer line installed in the 1940’s had failed. Now imagine the top of the pipe had become so thin from corrosion that it had collapsed and caved in creating a sinkhole (a collapse of the surface area). This has actually happened, and the company was faced with deciding what was the most efficient method for resolving the situation. Management realized a 50-foot section of pipe and two manholes needed to be quickly repaired. Had they chosen conventional means of intervention, the plant would have had to close. Fortunately, the company was able to continue operations because management chose to use a CIPP (Cured In Place Pipe) method to fix the problems.

Had the company in the above story chosen to resolve their situation in the traditional manner, it would have cost money well above and beyond the cost of repairs. Closing the plant would have affected both consumers and employees in negative ways. Because of the choice to use modern plumbing technology, the repairs took a total of two days and the plant could remain operational.

Reasons Your Pipes Could Collapse

There are a variety of reasons your industrial pipes can collapse. Within every day use and the high demand placed on industrial pipes, they are more susceptible to issues which means that when they are not properly taken care of, they will become severely damaged. Common reasons your pipes could collapse include tree root invasion, misaligned, pipes, and weak pipe materials.

• Tree roots seeking water are drawn to sewer pipes and grow into the pipes through joints. They weaken the joint and cause wastewater to escape. This process eventually causes a belly which creates collapse.
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• Offset or misaligned joints can also allow wastewater to escape from the pipe. This damage allows the pipe to leak more and more. This leads to erosion of soil around the pipe which leads to collapse.
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• Weak materials like orangeburg pipe is made from compressed tar paper that will not withstand and support the needs of your industrial pipes. In addition, other weak pipe materials may include clay and terracotta.

Soil erosion, flooding, mold and mildew are also reasons your pipes could become severely damaged and eventually collapse all together. When it comes to your industrial facility, lost production is a major concern of pipe collapse in industry. Complex plumbing allows for sophisticated manufacturing, but it also sets up the potential for major problems. The health and welfare of staff and management can be at risk if this type of problem happens. Getting the problem under control in a timely way is critical for the safety of the industry.

Solutions to Severely Damaged Pipes

While traditional plumbing practices are still needed today, they can be costly, time consuming, and disruptive to your industrial property. Modern trenchless technology has revolutionized the plumbing field over the past several decades allowing for more practical methods of sewer and drain repair to be utilized more. Because an industrial pipe collapse can be so detrimental to business, resolving the problem quickly and efficiently is key. At Environmental Pipe Cleaning, we provide trenchless methods which can resolve a variety of pipe issues with accuracy and precision.

Companies which choose traditional plumbing methods may lose time and money if their businesses are forced to shut down. At Environmental Pipe Cleaning, we can help you repair your industrial pipes with ease. We service industrial properties in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Washington D.C. Call us today for more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our industry experts.