Installing CIPP Liner Using Inversion vs. Pull-In-Place

Both are acceptable methods that meet industry standards, but the particulars of your lining job will determine which one is the best fit

Installing CIPP Liner Using Inversion vs. Pull-In-Place

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“I was shopping for a lining system at a trade show but left not buying anything. One vendor told me inversion was the only way to install a liner as it would travel farther than pull-in-place. Another vendor told me that a pull-in-place liner was better because it didn’t squeeze out resin while installing it. What is the right answer?”

It sounds like you ran into salespeople who were excited about selling their systems without actually educating you about their processes, as well as what other systems are out there and how they work.

Let’s start with the basics. Both systems are approved for using CIPP lining to rehabilitate pipe. The inversion method is described in ASTM F1216. The pull-in-place method can be found in ASTM F1743. Either method can meet the standard to give the customer a 50-year design life, chemical resistance and the durability of essentially providing a new pipe inside the old pipe. Each has its pros and cons.

The inversion method is performed by saturating the tube with resin and inserting it into a device that turns the material inside out as it’s installed into the old pipe. It may be installed through only one opening — shooting to a stopping point without having to dig up and access the other end. This method is often used when installation lengths are longer than what the pull-in-place method can accommodate. The reason is that the friction found in the pull-in-place method is not there. Using the inversion method, with enough air capacity, you can install virtually any length you need.

The pull-in-place method has less of an equipment investment. There are only a few parts needed and you employ basic winches and cables. You need to have two ends open. Both methods have been used for years and are both acceptable for installing CIPP liner. 

Here’s the bottom line: Sometimes pull-in-place makes sense, especially with shorter lines where friction doesn’t defeat the process. Sometimes inversion works better, when the lines are longer and you need the ability to go farther. Even when our customers have an inversion system, we also train them on pull-in-place so they can use it when necessary. If you own an inversion system, it doesn’t mean you need to use it for every single job no matter what.

About the Author

John Heisler is the owner of Pipe Lining Supply and Quik-Lining Systems. He has more than 20 years of experience in the CIPP lining industry and 40-plus years in the underground construction industry.



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