< Return to Guideline Search

Renovation / Repair

Renovation allows new linings or coatings to be installed within existing pipes or tunnels with minimal surface disturbance and often using only the existing manholes or other access points to the utility system. The term “renovation” as used here also implies that the main fabric of the existing pipe is incorporated into the upgraded system and is in some measure enhanced by providing a structural lining to renew the structural capacity or a protective layer to prevent future corrosion. The term repair denotes methods that are targeted at local defects in a pipe – even if those local defects are widely distributed within the pipe system. The main difference from “renovation” is that, in repair-focused techniques, the main body of the pipe does not receive a structural or corrosion-protection enhancement.