WHAT YOU NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT
MANHOLE REHABILITATION
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MANHOLE REHABILITATION
WHAT IS MANHOLE REHABILITATION?
Manholes are essential access points used to service the extensive underground infrastructure that supports our daily lives here above ground. Over time, manholes begin to suffer from the wear and tear of their use and from exposure to harsh environments that may include corrosive chemicals, groundwater, or microbes, extreme temperatures, and caustic gasses. To keep workers safe and avoid dangerous or disruptive consequences on the surface, manholes require repair and rehabilitation to maintain their structural integrity and prevent material failure caused by chemical or biological corrosion. Instead of long and expensive full manhole replacement, trenchless manhole rehabilitation using technologies like polyurea or polyurethane allow for effective repair and reinforcement without investing significant time or money.
TRENCHLESS MANHOLE
REHABILITATION TECHNIQUES
Rehabilitating manholes with more direct and comprehensive access via large-scale excavation is highly effective, but requires significant expenditures of time and money, as well as all but guarantees sustained disruption around the site. Trenchless rehabilitation refers to methods of repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of existing underground infrastructure with minimal excavation requirements. Trenchless manhole rehabilitation technologies like polyurea or polyurethane spray elastomer technology offer a cheaper, faster, and easier means of effective and reliable manhole rehabilitation.
Manhole Coating
Manhole coatings, or manhole linings, are applied to the surface of manholes to insulate them from corrosive environmental conditions. Manholes degrade over time as they age, which can be accelerated by exposure to water, chemicals, certain microbes, and sewer gasses. By coating manholes in manhole linings made of robust materials like polyurea or polyurethane, manholes receive a boost in strength and with new protection from their most common causes of deterioration.
Grouting
While corrosion typically poses the greatest risk to manholes, they’re also at risk of structural failures caused by their local environments. Saturated soils or leaky sewer pipes risk water infiltration, which can cause soil erosion and destabilize foundations that increase the risk of collapse. Grouting injects specialized materials into soil or cracks in infrastructure to prevent water intrusion, and its myriad of dangerous consequences.
Rehabilitation Lining
Rehabilitation linings are similar to manhole coatings, except they’re used for manholes that have already suffered significant deterioration. These linings are usually made of materials like fiberglass or specialized composites, and are installed directly into existing manholes for in-situ repair and protection. While it’s always best to apply protective coatings before any degradation, they can also be used to strengthen existing structures and help prolong their lifespan.
Joinmt Sealants
While we tend to think of manholes as nothing more than big holes in our cities, they’re actually complex structures connected through a series of joints. Like the rest of a manhole, these joints can degrade over time and with exposure to corrosives, which risks infiltration by water, debris, or other unwanted materials. Joint sealants are used to fill any spaces that may emerge, preventing any infiltration while also improving the strength of manholes.
