Property management teams for hotels, hospitals, and shopping malls may find that they are faced with sewer line repair issues a bit sooner than they were expecting, regardless of occupancy rate or amount of foot traffic. Newer builds are more likely to have newer gas lines and sewer systems, but investors who purchase commercial properties that are more than about 35 years old may find that they need to rehabilitate or repair existing systems.
Along with “no-dig” trenchless sewer repair options, CIPP — “cured-in-place-pipe” –repair options are becoming more regularly performed for commercial properties. CIPP refers to the process of relining an existing pipe, often with epoxy resin, reestablishing the integrity of the water, sewer, or gas system from the inside. CIPP installation is increasingly used in cities where pipes can bend at right angles underground.
Experts say that CIPP technology should allow aging pipes to function properly for about 50 years; since newly installed pipes are expected to work without the need for replacement for about the same time frame, some property management teams take advantage of the opportunity to repair instead of replace systems that see frequent use.
What may be opportune for commercial properties investigating the possibility of CIPP sewer, water, or gas line repair is the fact that the process may be used on pipes that have diameters ranging from four inches up to just over nine feet. Prior to contracting for CIPP, an aboveground visual inspection along with a camera drain inspection is typically conducted.
After evaluating the health of the utility and drainage pipes that service a commercial property, CIPP contractors can discuss the timing of the repair process with the investors and management team involved. Long-term maintenance for commercial properties that contract for CIPP repair is highly recommended, and local contractors may be able to help develop a schedule for routine diagnostic checkups.
