The United Kingdom has a pipe problem. A July report from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee said that the country could run out of water by 2040 unless something is done to reduce the three billion litres that are lost to leaks on the public supply network every day.
When a leak occurs it can be hugely disruptive and expensive to repair, involving either bulky pipe clamps designed for one pipe diameter or having to replace sections of pipe, causing prolonged interruption of supply to households and businesses and traffic disruption. If the leak occurs on a joint or a bend, then attempting a live leak repair becomes even harder.
This is when Sylmasta’s range of SylWrap composite pipe repair solutions come in, allowing anyone to permanently repair a leaking pipe of any diameter inside 30 minutes without having to turn off the pressure.
The need to stockpile and carry specific pipe clamp sizes or waiting for parts to be ordered no longer exists – simply keep a SylWrap Contractor Case to hand and you have the materials to make cost-effective leak repairs on a range of pipe diameters.
A SylWrap live leak repair is a simple, two-stage process which begins with sealing the leak using Wrap & Seal pipe burst tape, then overwrapping with a water-activated SylWrap composite repair bandage. As well as live leaks, repairs can also be made when pressure is turned off, with pressure resistance up to 30 bar, on pipes carrying water and most other fluids.
With the water industry regulator Ofwat having told the UK’s water companies that they must reduce leaks by 16% over the next five years, SylWrap pipe repair solutions have been used and approved by the likes of Southern Water, Anglian Water and Affinity Water.
More water companies are set to follow. Before the disruption caused by Covid-19, Sylmasta was on a nationwide pipe repair roadshow visiting clients’ premises.It performed live leak repairs using its mobile test rig to demonstrate to users how the technology worked.
Water companies were shown that by equipping their vans with SylWrap Contractor Cases, their contractors could fix difficult live leaks within 30 minutes of arriving on site, regardless of pipe diameter.
When a repair is especially challenging, Sylmasta offers technical consultation and advice. One recent project saw Sylmasta provide assistance for sealing a joint on a water main which had been leaking heavily for 15 years.
The 400mm carbon steel main was in a tightly confined space which could only be accessed by a single person; there was no room for heavy equipment and the water main was of such importance that it could not be shut off while a repair or replacement was carried out. The leak was considered unrepairable.
Using a SylWrap composite repair changed all that. In less than an hour, the water main, which had been losing water every day for a decade-and-a-half, was successfully repaired.
The reach of SylWrap is not just restricted to the UK. In 2019 Sylmasta demonstrated its technology to the largest water company in Malaysia, which has subsequently approved SylWrap Pipe Repair Kits for repairing live leaks on Kuala Lumpur’s vast pipe network without having to cut off large areas.
Sylmasta works with companies globally, from Argentina to Abu Dhabi. One repair to a contaminated water pipe in a power station in Puerto Rico was so effective that it survived Hurricane Maria, a category five storm which was the most devastating natural disaster in the island’s history. Keeping the power on in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria was central to the relief efforts.
The Puerto Rican repair highlights that SylWrap has uses stretching far beyond the water industry. Pipework can develop leaks anywhere and anytime; quickly and permanently fixing leaks as soon as they occur can save any business money.
Wastewater treatment plants, quarries, farms, nuclear power stations, freight ships, oil rigs, petrochemical plants and automotive factories all use SylWrap Pipe Repair Kits. Other users include hotels, leisure centres and even breweries. If a business relies on pipes, then Sylmasta can help when leaks occur.
Saving water is going to become an increasingly hot topic over the coming years for everyone. With its pipe repair technology, Sylmasta is leading the way when it comes to fixing leaks.
www.sylwrap.com | sales@sylmasta.com | +44 (0)1444 831459