SPR®EX
The Quick, Close Fit Liner
EXPANDA®
Product Overview
SPR®EX technology, incorporating the Expanda® spirally wound system by RIB LOC®, is a unique process for restoring the efficiency, reliability and structural integrity of aging sewers, stormwater pipes and culverts.
SPR®EX / Expanda® liners can structurally rehabilitate brick, concrete, glass reinforced plastic or corrugated metal sewer and stormwater pipelines with diameters from 150 mm (6 inch) to 1050 mm (42 inch).
The plastic profile that forms the liner is provided in a range of sizes and thicknesses.
The appropriate profile is selected to provide a liner with sufficient stiffness to meet the design requirements for the project.
Features and Benefits
Flow advantages
- Installed to fit tightly against the existing pipe wall – minimum loss of cross-sectional area.
- Flow efficient, smooth bore with circular cross section.
- Usually greater hydraulic capacity than the host pipe.
- Winds smoothly around large radius pipeline bends.
A strong flexible liner
- Can be designed as a structural liner, a range of PVC profiles are available to meet design requirements.
- Lines even the worst pipes – including those with missing inverts, obverts or other structural defects.
- Structurally efficient circular cross section – even when the host pipe is misaligned.
- Constant wall thickness even when negotiating voids in the host pipe.
- Machine installed, liner installation does not depend on the standard of workmanship in difficult conditions.
Fast installation with minimum community disruption
- Rapid set up.
- Uses existing access chambers, no need to excavate launch pits.
- No on-site pipe storage required.
- Small support vehicles – less disruption of traffic.
- Safe work sites.
- Can operate with some flow in the existing pipe and the line can be immediately returned to service after winding.
- Installation possible from difficult to reach access chambers – support vehicles and equipment can be placed remotely.
Proven pipe material
- Made from a similar grade of PVC as new sewer and drainage pipe.
- Cell Classification of 13354 in accordance with ASTM D1784.
- Profile sealing materials are tested to confirm suitability in high ambient temperature sewer environments.
- Factory manufactured, with consistent material properties.
Process Overview
A smooth winding and expanding process
The pipeline is first cleared of debris and obstructions, cleaned and inspected. Locations of lateral connections or branch lines are logged. The SPR®EX / Expanda® winding machine is lowered to the base of the access chamber through a standard opening. The PVC profile is fed through into the machine from an above ground spool. The SPR®EX / Expanda® profile is wound in at a diameter smaller than the host pipe. The liner is held together at the smaller diameter by the secondary lock.
Winding is stopped when the wound pipe reaches the upstream access chamber. The end of the SPR®EX / Expanda® liner is then torsionally restrained. Expansion of the liner commences by pulling the cutting wire, severing the secondary lock.
As the wire is progressively removed, more profile is wound into the line. The lubricating sealant in the primary lock allows adjacent profile wraps to slide relative to each other. In response to the additional profile, the liner expands in diameter to fit tightly against the inside wall of the deteriorated pipe. The process continues until the liner has been expanded for the full length of the deteriorated pipeline between access chambers. Then the lining is complete.
The ends of the liner at both access chambers are sealed and rendered to make them smooth with the host pipe. Lateral connections can be immediately reinstated by robotic cutting. The connection between the main pipe and the lateral can then be sealed.
Project Experience
SPR®EX / Expanda® has been used to rehabilitate sewers and stormwater lines around the world. It has proven capable of providing a structural liner for severely deteriorated pipelines, and has been installed under difficult site conditions with minimal community disruption.
