July 2025 Vol. 80 No. 7
Rehab Technology
SIPP watermain lining in North America
Mark Knight, Ph.D.
In 1982, trials for watermain pipe rehabilitation commenced in the United Kingdom using the spray-in-place pipe (SIPP) lining method with slow-cure epoxy. In the early 1990s, Dr. Ian Robinson at E Woods developed a SIPP lining material with a 16-hour cure time. Subsequently, over 100 SIPP rigs were used to rehabilitate watermains across the United Kingdom.
In 1999, Dr. Robinson received approval for the first fast-cure SIPP resin, facilitating same-day return to service. It is estimated that, to date, 10 percent of the UK's water network has been rehabilitated using the SIPP lining method.
In 2007, 3M acquired E. Wood and subsequently introduced SIPP lining to the North American market. Between 2007 and 2017, when 3M discontinued its SIPP division, the company successfully lined 10 to 15 miles of water mains annually.
In 2019, Dr. Ian Robinson, affiliated with Resimac Ltd in the UK, developed Resiline 320. This third-generation SIPP material obtained NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 approval in 2020, and trials began in Canada.
Resiline 320 is distinguished by its remarkable properties, including a rapid cure time of 15 minutes for launching a CCTV camera and a one-hour return-to-service. It exhibits excellent mechanical performance in both dry and wet conditions, with build thicknesses ranging from 1 to 3.5 mm. Furthermore, it has received NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 approval for lining thicknesses up to 14 mm. Testing has demonstrated that a 3-mm thick, 6-inch Resiline 320 liner possesses a short-term burst pressure of 255 psi, which meets or exceeds the performance of commonly installed 6-inch CIPP liners.
Resiline 320 SIPP liners, unlike other CIPP pressure liners, do not develop folds or wrinkles that reduce the short-term burst pressure by 50 percent. Resiline liners can also be manufactured insitu to meet NSF/ANSI/Can 61 standards, with thicknesses ranging from 1 to 14 mm. The one-hour NSF approved return-to-service permits same-day return-to-service, with or without a temporary water bypass system. Eliminating temporary bypass can cut project costs by 30 to 50 percent and reduce disruptions for homeowners and businesses. Additionally, up to 550 feet of watermain pipes, 6 to 24 inches in diameter, can be cleaned, lined and restored within a day.
Coming to America
In 2024, SIPP Americas LLC was established in Dallas, Texas, to introduce Resiline SIPP products to Canada, the United States and Mexico. SIPP Americas is now the exclusive distributor for Resiline in North America. Michels USA, Canadian Induracoat Corporation, and WaterTight Lining Solutions are SIPP Americas LLC approved applicators.
SIPP Americas is poised to revolutionize the North American watermain rehabilitation industry by leveraging a network of highly skilled applicators capable of renewing watermains effectively and economically. These applicators employ state-of-the-art equipment, methodologies, and materials to produce superior SIPP liners, thereby enhancing the longevity of watermains. Furthermore, SIPP Americas offers comprehensive technical support and training to its certified applicators and clientele. The year 2025 is projected to herald a new era in watermain rehabilitation across North America.
The Resiline 320 initiative in North America began in the fall of 2020, when the Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Sault Ste Marie hired Canadian Induracoat Corporation (CIC) to line 777 feet of a 6-inch water main. The purpose of this project was to assess the effectiveness of the Resiline 320 product for water main lining and to evaluate the feasibility of same-day cleaning, lining, and service restoration.
The PUC also retained Dr. Mark Knight from the University of Waterloo for third-party product evaluation. Dr. Knight and his team developed a test program, monitored lining activities, and tested field samples. His testing confirmed that Resiline 320 material's mechanical properties were as reported by the manufacturer, the product performed as described, and same-day cleaning, lining, and return-to-service were possible. It also indicated that Resiline 320 can meet AWWA Class III and, potentially, Class IV liner requirements.
Building on success
The successful 2020 lining project prompted the PUC to retain CIC and Dr. Knight in 2021 to SIPP line an additional 1,378 feet of 6-inch water main, to test the technology's limits. This successful project led the PUC to form Watertight Lining Solutions (WTS) as a wholly owned subsidiary of PUC Inc. WTS is a SIPP Americas LLC approved Resiline 320 applicator that provides same-day watermains rehabilitation to the Ontario and Manitoba Canada markets.
In October 2024, WTS, in partnership with CIC, successfully completed the cleaning, lining and same-day return-to-service of 1,592 feet of 6- and 8-inch watermain without requiring a temporary bypass. The project was divided into five pipe segments, each ranging from 265 to 353 feet, and was executed over six days.
Since 2020, CIC has successfully rehabilitated hundreds of meters of watermains with Resiline 320 SIPP in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. An example of how fast the SIPP process is, in 2024, CIC cleaned and lined two 300-foot sections of 6-inch cast iron pipe in Victoria, BC, within eight hours. On another project in BC’s interior, CIC cleaned and lined over 2,600 feet of 16-inch cast iron pipe in eight days and was praised for saving the small community roughly $7.2 million.
The first use of Resiline 320 for potable water pipe rehabilitation in the United States was completed in Marina del Rey, Calif., in 2024 by Michels Pipeline. This project included the trenchless spray lining of 5,800 feet of 18-inch, mortar-lined corrugated metal pipe. The project was located in the busy harbor area of Marina del Rey providing an upgraded transmission main for this rapidly growing seaside community.
In summary, SIPP Americas LLC now is capable of providing North America with a reliable, efficient and cost-effective solution for the rehabilitation of aging and deteriorating water mains. This method ensures minimal disruption to the public and businesses.
About the Author: Mark Knight, PhD, consulting engineer, P.Eng, FIAM, ASCE, AWWA. For the past 27 years, Knight has served as a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo, located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. He now serves as Chief Technical Officer for SIPP Americas.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
SIPP Americas, (519) 581-8835, sippamericas.com
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