Best Repair Techniques for Corrugated Metal Pipe

Corrugated metal pipe is used for a wide variety of projects including culverts, wastewater facilities, storm sewers, and more. The durability of this material ensures that it can withstand great amounts of corrosion. However, when it falls into a state of disrepair, it can prove catastrophic for city managers and expert engineers. 

What are the best repair techniques for corrugated metal pipe? While there are many techniques for repairing corrugated metal pipe, the best is to use Sprayroq’s revolutionary product, SprayWall. This spray-applied liner eliminates the need for a complete replacement while restoring the pipe to its original functionality. Additionally, this technique offers a great return on investment as well as an affordable cost.

In this post, we will take a closer look at the many uses for corrugated metal pipe. We will discuss the various repair and replacement techniques, including spray-applied polyurethane liners like SprayWall. We hope this information proves useful for expert engineers and city managers as they seek to restore their corrugated metal pipe structures to full functionality.

What is Corrugated Metal Pipe?

Corrugated metal pipe is a low-cost, versatile material. It is used in a wide variety of applications including wastewater technology, storm sewers, culverts, and other industrial systems in both the private and public sectors. Corrugated metal pipe is the standard material for use in several industries. It is often referred to as CMP.

Most of the industries that utilize corrugated metal pipes use them for applications in which the pipe is exposed to high amounts of corrosion-causing substances and chemicals. This necessitates a strong, durable material that can withstand the added exposure to these damaging substances. 

However, even though corrugated metal pipe is a durable material, it does begin to deteriorate over time. With many important systems across the country relying on corrugated metal pipe, it is important to investigate the most time-efficient, cost-effective repair techniques.

When CMP begins to show signs of deterioration, asset managers and expert engineers must act quickly to minimize the impact on their communities and facilities. Failure to do so promptly can result in great inconvenience, loss of income, and even physical damage to the areas surrounding the corrugated metal pipe systems.

How is Corrugated Metal Pipe Used?

Corrugated metal pipe is used in a wide variety of applications in both the private and public sectors. Some of the most common uses for corrugated metal pipe include the following:

• Wastewater Facilities
• Storm Sewers
• Storm Water Systems
• Culvers
• Escape Tunnels
• Outlet Pipes
• Bridges
• Aeration Pipes
• Caissons
• Foundation Structures
• Hopper Openings
• Pedestrian & Animal Passages
• Bulkheads
• Utility Catwalks & Platforms
• Material Conduits

 

These are just a few of the many applications of CMP. As you can tell from this list, corrugated metal pipe is used by many industries. Failure of CMP can impact not only the operations of the city or facility but also the community in which the structure operates.

Why Corrugated Metal Pipes Require Repairs

Because of its incredible durability, corrugated metal pipe is often used to conduct high amounts of corrosion-causing chemicals or substances. Over time, these chemicals begin to eat away at the CMP, creating areas of weakness. In extreme cases, corrosion may cause so much damage to the CMP that it is rendered unusable.

It is important to regularly repair damage to corrugated metal pipes to prevent a situation where they are beyond repair. Replacing a system that relies on corrugated metal pipe is not only expensive but incredibly time-consuming.

Best Technique for Repairing Corrugated Metal Pipe

Fortunately, there are several techniques for repairing corrugated metal pipes. These corrugated metal pipe rehabilitation techniques have all but eliminated the need for relying on the traditional CMP replacement methods. By routinely repairing corrugated metal pipes as they begin to deteriorate, asset managers and civil engineers can save great frustration as well as conserve their resources.

Corrugated Pipe Rehabilitation By Sprayroq

By far the best corrugated metal pipe repair technique is done using a spray-applied polyurethane lining. SprayWall, a product created by Sprayroq, works to quickly and efficiently restore the system to optimal conditions. Sprayroq trusts their team of Sprayroq Certified Partners to carefully inspect the CMP structure and identify areas of corrosion or damage.

Once this is complete, the team can begin the application process. Shockingly, corrugated metal pipe repairs using SprayWall are complete in a matter of hours. This will not only save your city or facility from great inconvenience but is also incredibly low in cost.

Reasons to Consider Corrugated Pipe Rehabilitation 

There are many reasons that an asset manager or expert engineer should consider corrugated metal pipe repair over replacing the entire CMP system. Although you may assume that replacement will provide the best longevity and return on investment, this is not necessarily the case.

Using a spray-applied polyurethane liner such as SprayWall often provides a much better return on investment. Additionally, a repair technique such as this allows you to repair the system promptly, eliminating the potential for increased damage or corrosion.

Minimal Inconvenience to Community During Repairs

Repairing a corrugated metal pipe system such as a wastewater facility, stormwater system, or city utilities almost always requires system downtime. While this is necessary, it can also cause great inconvenience to your community or facility.

Additionally, if the corrugated metal pipe system is located underground, you will exacerbate the situation by digging up the CMP for replacement. From destroying good playgrounds in your neighborhood to wreaking havoc at a local event venue, the impacts can be widespread. 

When you choose to repair your CMP instead of replacing the entire system, you can cause minimal inconvenience or disruption to the surrounding community. With little downtime and no need for destruction, corrugated metal pipe repair is highly superior to a traditional replacement approach. 

Low-Cost When Compared to Corrugated Pipe Replacement

As you can imagine, replacing an entire corrugated metal pipe system comes at a high cost. Not only do you have to account for the materials but also the added cost for labor and disruption to your community. Many times, you must create a system workaround before even beginning the replacement process, something that can come at a high cost.

Choosing to repair your corrugated metal pipe system is a low-cost alternative that offers a comparable outcome. While you may have to prepare and budget for a CMP system replacement for several years, finding funds in the budget for a CMP repair project is a much simpler task. For this reason, many expert engineers and asset managers prefer to repair the existing structure over replacing it entirely. 

Improves Corrosion Resistance for Future Use

Many engineers and asset managers believe that the best way to prevent future corrosion is to replace the entire system of corrugated metal pipe. This, however, is not the case! 

By using a corrugated metal pipe repair technique, you can not only repair the existing corrosion damage but improve the corrosion resistance for future use. In this way, you gain the greatest return on your investment while saving valuable resources. 

Increases the Longevity of Corrugated Metal Pipes

Corrugated metal pipe repair techniques are not simply a quick fix until you can invest in a complete system replacement. In fact, by opting to repair damage as it occurs, you can prolong the longevity of your corrugated metal pipe systems. This will save you much frustration, stress, and money in the long run.

Offers a Quick Return to Service

Traditional corrugated metal pipe replacement techniques require weeks, or even months, to complete. Most CMP repair techniques, however, offer a much faster turnaround time. SprayWall, a spray-applied polyurethane lining from Sprayroq, for example, is complete in a matter of hours. This quick-drying formula allows your facility to return to operations with minimal disruption or disturbance.

Repairs Benefit Your Facilities Green-Initiative

In our current society, cities, utility departments, and corporations are all looking for ways to improve the world in which we live. Companies often accomplish this by establishing green initiatives to better the environment. When you choose to completely replace a corrugated metal pipe system, you are creating excessive amounts of waste. 

Repairing the corrugated metal pipe system using a rehabilitation technique will be much more beneficial to the environment. Some spray-applied polyurethane lining systems take this into account during the formulation process, using only eco-friendly components. 

In Conclusion

While there are many factors you must consider when your corrugated metal pipe system is falling into disrepair, choosing a rehabilitation technique is almost always the best option. The systems that rely on corrugated metal pipes are important to our country’s infrastructure. With so many CMP systems falling into various states of disrepair, we must continue to search for more cost-effective, time-efficient, and eco-friendly solutions. 

By choosing a corrugated metal pipe repair technique such as using SprayWall, you can not only extend the life of your facility but also create minimal disruption to service. This will save you great frustration, stress, and time. 

As an asset manager or expert engineer, it is your responsibility to further research corrugated metal pipe repair techniques that could benefit your unique situation. In doing so, you will not only provide exceptional solutions but also improve the daily operations of your facility. 

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