PERMACAST® is an effective alternative for Replacement Manhole Covers. It is a rehabilitation system that seals, protects and structurally enhances defective Sewer Manholes and chambers. A Portland cement mortar fortified with micro silica is applied centrifugally to the manhole walls with a spinning head to the desired finished thickness. PERMACAST® seals, protects and structurally reinforces the Manhole Covers in a safe and cost effective manner.
Click the link to see how Permacast Manhole Rehabilitation works.
Manholes are underground chambers built to provide man-entry access to service and maintain sewer and drain lines, water valves and meters, and communication and power equipment. They are subject to erosion from ground water intrusion, corrosion from liquids and gases, dynamic traffic loads as well as general deterioration from age and wear. Many towns and Cities across the world have Manhole Repair problems. Out of sight, their degradation is not easily monitored. When neglected, complete collapse is likely.
Occurring at least every 100 to 300 feet (50-100 meters), they become an integral part of each piping system. Studies in the USA show that more than half of all pipe defects occur within 10 feet (3m) of either side of manholes. And, since they are in direct contact with the surface, they are often the first segment of the sewer system to result in major damage.
With the advent of effective pipe repair technologies, the defects and problems in manholes are now receiving increased attention. The leaks that are prevented by lining pipes are redirected to the next weakest part of the system, which usually the manholes. Engineers and cities worldwide are realizing the benefit of effective Repairs to Manholes. They know that neglecting such an integral part of the system, by concentrating on the pipe, only shifts the problem so effective Manhole Lining is now paramount. Having any part of the system fail means that the whole system has failed. The good news is that Manholes are the easiest segment to investigate and the most effective and least costly to repair.
A visual Manhole Inspection should be made to determine the location and extent of all defects. Common areas are the bench, channel, wall and mortar joints, the casting, and the casting-chimney joint and pipe/wall penetrations.
The four major criteria for determining the thickness of the new liner are:
The most appropriate thickness can be selected based upon the condition and size. Since cementitious Manhole Liners depend on the underlying integrity of the existing manhole, surface preparation and application are just as critical to effective Manhole Repairs as the material to be used.
Criteria for material selection should include:
The Manhole Sealing procedure works as follows: Once the interior surface has been prepared, pipe inlets entering at any point higher than the bench should be temporarily plugged. The mortar is mixed while the robotic spinner head is positioned within the centre of the chamber next to and slightly above the bench.
As soon as a batch is properly mixed, it is pumped to the spinner head and centrifugally cast onto the interior wall. The spinner head is then raised and lowered through the centre axis of the Defective Manhole Cover, casting a uniform and dense layer of PERMACAST® mortar evenly throughout. Multiple passes can be made until the specified thickness is attained.
Because of the patented capabilities of PERMACAST®, the thickness can be easily varied from one manhole to another or verified at any point within the same manhole. For instance, immediate traffic loading requires a thicker wall in the top 18” (600mm) near the casting. In deep manholes, ground water pressures require thicker walls in the bottom portion.
When the specified thickness is obtained throughout, the operator may enter the manhole to make Manhole Bench Repairs, remove any temporary pipe plugs and perform a final interior Manhole Evaluation. The lid is immediately repositioned to prevent accelerated evaporation of the mix water.
The newly lined manhole provides the very best prepared surface possible since bacterial regeneration has not begun and since the textured mortar surface provides an interlocking surface for the epoxy to bond. Both the mortar and the epoxy then cure together to form an impermeable barrier against future corrosion.
For more information on Manhole Inspection and Manhole Sealing contact USA/USSR Ltd. on +353 1 4564991.
