Many municipalities struggle with outdated water supply, sewage, and wastewater systems that, due to their age, often require extensive modernization work. These are not only costly but also invasive, so it’s no wonder that trenchless pipe repair (relining) is increasingly being chosen. Foam concrete, used as a filler material for the spaces between the old and new pipes, is perfect for such applications thanks to properties like lightness, fast installation, and thermal insulation.
Replacing underground infrastructure can be very troublesome, primarily because it requires deep excavations. In densely built-up areas with intense economic activity, this would result in significant disruptions for residents, such as restricted trade and pedestrian and vehicular traffic, as well as bothersome noise, dust, and dirt. However, there are less invasive methods that eliminate the need to excavate and remove old pipelines while allowing for their complete repair. Relining – trenchless pipe repair – is one such technology. It involves inserting new pipes of a smaller diameter into the old pipeline. The connection of individual pipes into longer sections is carried out in an initial excavation and, if necessary, outside of it, depending on the site’s accessibility. As a result, the renovated pipeline is completely renewed, and the old pipe no longer plays any role in the existing pipeline system. Foam concrete works perfectly as a filler in trenchless pipe repair.
Trenchless Pipe Repair (Relining) – Foam Concrete as a Filler
In the final stage of relining work, foam concrete is injected between the old and new pipes, serving as a filler in the empty space. Why choose this material? With other filling masses, sections of up to 50 meters can be installed at a time, while with foam concrete, it can be up to 300 meters, resulting in significant savings. The quick installation process also reduces investment costs, as foam concrete is pumped using special aggregates. Foam concrete also performs well in trenchless pipe repair for other reasons. The resulting casing allows the installation to function despite changes in temperature or pressure and ensures operational safety by reducing vibrations. Foam concrete is lightweight, so it does not burden the installation and has thermal insulation properties, protecting pipes from freezing. Its low density also ensures the linearity of newly laid installations. Other injections used on the market, often with a density above 2000 kg/m³, cause the new installation to lift, disrupting its path and causing rapid silting, and in the long term, damage. The relining technology itself is eco-friendly and minimally invasive – it does not disrupt the lives of residents or business owners and employees. For this reason, it is increasingly chosen over conventional excavation methods.
Foam Concrete in the Decommissioning of Installation Networks
Foam concrete is also effective when it is necessary to decommission existing water supply networks. According to regulations, unused networks should be removed from the ground, except for clearly specified legal cases where this is not necessary. In such cases, all elements left in the ground must be filled with an appropriate material to prevent soil structure degradation and eliminate the risk of misuse or infiltration by groundwater and rodents. Due to its ease of application, foam concrete is perfect for this situation, allowing empty spaces to be quickly, tightly, and cost-effectively filled, ensuring that the filled installation does not start to sink into the ground.