Tag: Standard Pipe Repair Kit

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Case Study: Burst Copper Pipe Repair in Portable Horse & Dog Shower Unit

A copper pipe burst during freezing winter weather undergoes repair with a SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit

Replacement? Hold your horses – the repair of a burst copper pipe which had a horse shower running again in no time

When freezing winter weather led a copper pipe in a portable horse and dog shower to burst, it required a quick and simple repair method capable of being effective inside the cramped space of the unit.

Case Study Data

Site
Portable horse and dog shower
Location
United Kingdom
Repair Type
Leak repair
Defect
Split in copper pipe caused by freezing temperatures

Products Used

Superfast Copper Epoxy Putty Stick
Fast-working epoxy putty pushed into the crack in the copper pipe to seal it

SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage
Composite repair wrap applied over Superfast Copper to reinforce the initial repair

SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit
Superfast Epoxy and SylWrap HD are supplied together in the Standard Pipe Repair Kit

Case Study PDF

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Case Study Details

Showerking are a Sussex-based supplier of portable hot shower units designed for horses and dogs. Units are typically stored in unheated outbuildings. Although designed to handle winter weather, copper pipe in the unit which has not been fully drained becomes prone to bursting during periods of exceptionally cold weather.

When temperatures in the United Kingdom dropped as low as -15°C, several Showerking owners reported burst pipes which rendered their units unusable. If they turned the shower on, water would spray out of the large crack created in the copper pipe.

Freezing temperatures had created a split in the copper pipe

Fortunately, Showerking had already contacted Sylmasta about the possibilities of pipe repair for horse showers. The SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit provided the most suitable method as units would be turned off in the event of leaks or bursts, meaning no pressure to the pipe.

It had been established that the smallest Standard Pipe Repair Kit (SYL-106-NP) was ideal for application because of both the cramped space inside the unit and the difficult shape of the pipework. There were many bends which were unrepairable with a clamp.

Through the relationship between Showerking and Sylmasta, users whose horse showers had suffered burst pipes were directed to the exact product they needed to fix the problem, and had the straightforward repair process explained to them.

Superfast Copper Epoxy Putty used to repair a burst in a horse shower copper pipe caused by freezing temperatures
Superfast Copper Epoxy Putty was used to cover the split

Loose material was removed from the burst copper pipe before repair. Superfast Copper Epoxy Putty Stick was then used to seal the crack. Enough putty to cover the crack was cut from the stick and kneaded by hand until it turned a uniform colour.

Whilst soft, the putty was pushed onto the pipe, encompassing the entire crack. This completed the first stage of the repair. The second stage involved applying a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage over the Superfast Copper.

A burst copper pipe in a portable horse shower unit repaired and reinforced with SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage
The repair was finished with reinforcement via a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage

SylWrap HD is a composite repair wrap with a water-activated resin which sets rock hard. The bandage was wrapped and smoothed around the pipe as the Superfast Copper began to harden, forcing the putty into the crack to create a permanent, watertight seal.

Within five minutes of SylWrap HD being applied, the bandage had cured to form a rock hard shell reinforcing the pipe, and which also offered protection from expansion in the future. The completed repair was resistant to 30bar, making it more than capable of holding the pressure the horse shower unit operated at.

The repair took less than 30 minutes from start to finish and the SYL-106-NP Standard Pipe Repair Kit cost under £25 including delivery, returning the £180 Showerking unit to service the same day.

For more information about portable horse and dog showers, please see the Showerking website.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

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Case Study: Boat Owner Repairs Pinhole Leak in Rubber Hose Connected to Engine

A rubber hose connecting to a boat engine undergoes repair using a SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit

Plain sailing – a rubber hose connected to a boat engine undergoes repair after developing a pinhole leak

A boat owner keeps their vessel afloat by making a repair to a pinhole leak on a difficult to access section of hardened rubber hose which played an important role in the cooling of the engine.

Case Study Data

Site
Boat
Location
United Kingdom
Repair Type
No pressure pipe repair
Defect
Pinhole leak in rubber hose connected to boat engine

Products Used

Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty Stick
Fast working steel epoxy putty used to seal the pinhole leak in the hose

SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage
Composite wrap applied over the sealed pinhole leak for reinforcing the repair

SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit
Superfast Epoxy and SylWrap HD are supplied together in the Standard Pipe Repair Kit

Case Study PDF

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Case Study Details

The hose was connected to the engine, carrying water as part of the cooling process. Once the pinhole leak had developed, water was able to spray out at high pressure whenever the engine was in service. This was dangerous and unsustainable.

Repairing the leak was made challenging by the pinhole being located on a bend in the rubber hose. The hose itself was in a confined space below deck, surrounded by other pipes and engine components. A pipe repair clamp could not be fitted because of the constraints.

The hose was in a confined space making a repair difficult

The boat owner contacted Sylmasta seeking a versatile repair method capable of sealing the leak despite the difficulties in accessing the hose. A SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit containing all the products needed to repair a pipe when pressure can be turned off was recommended for the application.

First, the pinhole was sealed using Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty. The putty was kneaded by hand and whilst soft, applied over the pinhole leak. It easily adhered to the rubber. After 5 minutes when the putty had started to harden, it was overwrapped using a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage.

SylWrap HD is a composite wrap with a water-activated resin, which sets rock hard in five minutes. As the Bandage was wrapped and smoothed around the hose, it forced the Superfast Steel as it cured further into the pinhole, completely sealing the leak. Once SylWrap HD had set, it formed an impact resistant sleeve to increase the repair’s effectiveness.

Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty used to repair a rubber hose in a boat engine system suffering with a pinhole leak
A rubber hose connecting to a boat engine wrapped with SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage
Superfast Steel was used to seal the pinhole. The repair was reinforced with SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage

When used together, Superfast Steel and SylWrap HD create a repair with pressure resistance up to 30 bar and temperature resistance to 200ºC. When the boat engine was started, no water was escaping from the hose. The vessel could return to the sea.

Completing the boat pipe repair took under 30 minutes and cost less than £25, including delivering of the SylWrap Kit. This represented a significant cost saving compared to quotes offered by specialist marine engineering contractors to fix or replace the hose.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

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Case Study: Leaking Hydrogen Line Pipe Repair at Power Station in Puerto Rico

A hydrogen line at a power station in Puerto Rico undergoes leak repair and reinforcement after it was discovered to be leaking

Helping hand with hydrogen – The leaking hydrogen pipe repair that put a power station cooling system into service

When a hydrogen line newly installed as part of upgrades to a power station cooling system in Puerto Rico was discovered to be leaking from two joints, repair and reinforcement was needed before the pipe went into full service.

Case Study Data

Site
Power station
Location
Puerto Rico
Repair Type
Leak repair and pipe reinforcement
Defect
Two leaking joints on a 600mm section of hydrogen line

Products Used

Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty Stick
Fast working epoxy putty applied around and over pipe joints where it forms a steel-like material for sealing leaks

SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage
Composite repair wrap with a water activated resin which sets rock hard to encompass pipes with an impact resistant outer sleeve

SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit
Superfast Steel and SylWrap HD can be purchased together as part of the Standard Pipe Repair Kit

Case Study PDF

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Case Study Details

The power plant had previously stored hydrogen used for cooling in an off-site tank. Procuring hydrogen, refilling the tank and then keeping vast amounts of gas was an expensive process.

It was also inefficient. It could take up to four days to deliver refills to the tank, sometimes causing interruptions to power output as turbines at the plant had to be shut down when hydrogen supply ran out.

To overcome this, the plant took the decision to install a new cooling system, including an on-site hydrogen generator capable of supplying gas as and when it was needed.

Pipes would carry hydrogen from the generator to the areas of the plant it was required for cooling purposes, eliminating the need for the plant to buy and then store gas away from the site.

Because gaseous hydrogen consists of such a small molecule, very small leaks are common. These tend not to be dangerous as the tiny amounts of hydrogen being released are not enough to cause a flammable mixture in the air. Problems arise only when the gas can accumulate in a confined area.

Human senses cannot detect small hydrogen leaks as the gas is colourless, odourless and tasteless. To ensure that the newly installed cooling system was in good working order before it was put into full service, the plant therefore used portable hydrogen detectors to analyse the pipes.

It was discovered that a section of the line was leaking, suspected to be from two joints between two valves around 600mm apart. Although the hydrogen leaks posed little threat, the plant decided to repair and reinforce the pipe for efficiency reasons as well as their own peace of mind.

The line was isolated and Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty Stick applied to the joints at either end of the pipe. The required amount of Superfast Steel was cut from the stick and kneaded by hand.

Whilst soft, it was pushed tightly onto the pipe around both joints. Within 10 minutes, the putty hardened to form a steel-like material to plug any gaps in the pipe through which hydrogen could be leaking.

The line was then further reinforced with a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage applied along the entire 600mm section. SylWrap HD is a composite repair wrap with a water-activated resin which sets in minutes, curing to form an impact resistant sleeve around pipes and structures.

Despite the pipe being positioned close to a wall, the maintenance team at the plant were able to wrap the pipe effectively with a 50 percent overlay.

The Bandage was smoothed with water as the application continued. Once set, it provided a rock-hard, chemically inert outer shell over the leaking joints strong enough to prevent further hydrogen molecules escaping.

24 hours after the repair and the hydrogen pipe was repressurised. With the hydrogen detector now finding no gas in the air, the application had been a success and the new cooling system could be put into full service.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

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Case Study: Repair of a Leaking 150mm Steel 90 Degree Elbow Bend at a Quarry Wash Plant

A 150mm steel pipe elbow bend leaking at a quarry wash plant undergoes repair with a SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit

When clamps don’t work – the repair of a 90 degree pipe elbow bend at a quarry wash plant

When a quarry in the UK was unable to repair a leaking 150mm steel pipe in their wash plant using a clamp due to the pinhole being located on a 90 degree elbow bend, they instead turned to Sylmasta for an alternative, versatile solution.

Case Study Data

Site
Quarry wash plant
Location
Hampshire, United Kingdom
Repair Type
No pressure pipe repair
Defect
Pinhole leak in a 150mm steel pipe elbow bend

Products Used

Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty Stick
Fast working steel epoxy putty used to seal the pinhole leak in the pipe

SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage
Composite wrap applied over the sealed pinhole leak for reinforcing the repair and further protecting the pipe

SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit
Superfast Epoxy and SylWrap HD are supplied together in the Standard Pipe Repair Kit

Case Study PDF

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Case Study Details

The 150mm steel pipe was located in the wash plant of the quarry, passing across a lake. Wear and tear had caused a pinhole leak to appear in the line around 50mm away from a 90 degree elbow bend, leading foul water to escape into the lake below.

Normally when pipework failed on site, the quarry would fit a pipe repair clamp over the problem area. This was not possible in this case because of the location of the leak area being so close to the elbow.

Seeking a more versatile repair method capable of being effective on the bend, the quarry contacted Sylmasta. Once it was established that pressure could be easily shut off, a SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit was delivered to the site.

A leaking elbow bend on a 150mm steel pipe at a quarry wash plant before undergoing repair with a SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit
The steel pipe was leaking close to an elbow bend

The pipe was cleaned as best it could be before the repair began. Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty Stick was used to seal the pinhole. The required amount of putty was cut from the stick and kneaded by hand.

After around two minutes of mixing and whilst still soft, the putty was pushed into the hole in the pipe. Within 10 minutes it had hardened, forming a material as hard as steel which now filled the pinhole.

To further reinforce the repair, a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage was applied around the leaking section. SylWrap HD is a composite repair wrap with a water activated resin which sets rock hard in minutes.

Completed repair of a 150mm steel pipe on an elbow bend
Completed repair finished with a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage

SylWrap was wrapped and smoothed around the pipe, curing to form an impact resistant sleeve. This would help protect the pipe from future breakages, a common occurrence due to the abrasive nature of operations at the quarry.

The entire application was completed in under 30 minutes by a member of the operations team at the quarry. No training was required; they simply followed the instructions provided with the Kit to make a permanent pipe elbow bend repair.

Since the repair, the quarry group have taken further stock of SylWrap Pipe Kits, knowing them to be capable of making more versatile repairs than heavy, bulky pipe repair clamps.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

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Case Study: Repair of a Cracked 90-year-old 70mm Malleable Iron Water Supply Pipe

A SylWrap Pipe Repair Kit is used to seal a crack on a 90-year-old malleable iron water supply pipe

Helping towards a century – the malleable iron pipe repair that kept a 90-year-old water supply line in operation

With replacement fittings of the required size and type no longer manufactured because of the age of a 90-year-old malleable iron water supply pipe, when the pipe became cracked a repair solution was needed to avoid digging out and replacing the entire line.

Case Study Data

Site
Domestic property
Location
United Kingdom
Repair Type
No pressure pipe repair
Defect
Cracked 90-year-old malleable iron water supply pipe

Products Used

Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty Stick
Fast working epoxy putty used to seal all holes in the pipe

SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage
Repair area was overwrapped with a SylWrap HD Bandage for reinforcement and protection

SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit
Superfast Steel and SylWrap HD were provided together in the Standard Pipe Repair Kit

Case Study PDF

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Case Study Details

The 70mm malleable iron pipe connected a property with the public supply network. When the property owner was alerted to a potential leak, excavation revealed that an awkward-shaped large crack and several smaller holes had developed, through which water was now escaping.

Because the pipe was 90 years old, replacement fittings of the correct size and type were no longer manufactured. The crack and holes therefore had to either be repaired, or the entire section would need to be dug out and replaced with a new line at considerable expense.

Sylmasta recommended a SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit for the application. All products in the Standard Kit have WRAS approval, meaning they are certified as safe to use for the repair and maintenance of pipes carrying drinking water.

Pressure was turned off and the malleable iron pipe cleaned and dried as best it could be prior to the two-stage repair.

A large crack and several holes in a 70mm malleable iron water supply pipe prior to being repaired with a SylWrap Pipe Repair Kit
Holes in the pipe included a large, awkward shaped crack

First, Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty Stick was used to seal the pipe. Superfast Steel is a fast working putty in an easy-to-use stick format which makes permanent repairs to steel, iron and other ferrous metals.

For the smaller holes, the required amount of epoxy was cut from the stick and kneaded by hand. It was pushed into all visible holes in the pipe, where it hardened within five minutes to plug all leaks.

To seal the large crack, Superfast Steel was formed into a disc bigger than the area of the pipe the crack covered. This guaranteed that no part would be missed when sealing.

This disc was then stretched over the entire crack area. Once in position, the edges of the disc were pushed tightly down onto the pipe, forming a good seal with the surface.

Repair of a 90-year-old cracked malleable iron water supply pipe made using a SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit
The completed repair prior to the pipe being re-burried

Once the putty had become firmer but not completely cured, the entire repaired section was tightly wrapped with a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage to compress the putty into any remaining gaps.

SylWrap HD is a composite repair wrap with a water activated resin which sets rock hard in minutes, providing an impact resistant protective layer around the pipe.

Once the application was completed, pressure was turned back on. The pipe had ceased leaking and could therefore be re-buried. The repair had cost less than £25 to complete, including delivery of the SylWrap Kit and the property owner described it as going “fantastically well.”

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

+44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

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Case Study: Repair of a Cracked Copper Pipe in a Camper Van Boiler System

A copper pipe in a camper van boiler system undergoes repair using Superfast Copper Epoxy Putty and a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage

Carry on camping – a difficult-to-access copper pipe in a camper van boiler system undergoes repair

A camper van owner manages to repair a crack in a copper pipe located within the van’s boiler system, despite the leak area being extremely difficult to access

Case Study Data

Site
Camper van boiler
Location
United Kingdom
Repair Type
Leak repair
Defect
Crack in a copper pipe

Products Used

Superfast Copper Epoxy Putty Stick
Fast-working epoxy putty pushed into the crack in the copper pipe to seal it

SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage
Composite repair wrap applied over Superfast Copper to reinforce the initial repair

SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit
Superfast Epoxy and SylWrap HD are supplied together in the Standard Pipe Repair Kit

Case Study PDF

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Case Study Details

The boiler system provided heat and hot water to the camper van. A deep crack appeared in a copper pipe located underneath the cover of the boiler, causing a pressurised jet of water to spray out whenever the boiler was turned on.

Problematically, the crack was located at a point where the pipe angled towards the back casing of the boiler. It faced towards the side of the casing with access extremely limited.

  • A crack in a copper pipe which was part of a camper van boiler system before undergoing repair using a Sylmasta Pipe Repair Kit
A jet of water escaped the copper pipe whenever the boiler was put into operation

The confined space meant that there was no room to fit a pipe repair clamp, nor apply Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape with enough stretch for it to self-amalgamate effectively.

Because the boiler could be turned off, Sylmasta recommended to the camper van owner that they use Superfast Copper Epoxy Putty Stick to plug the crack in the pipe.

Superfast Copper comes in a 114 gram stick format and has a work time of 5 to 10 minutes, enabling rapid repairs to be made to copper and other non-ferrous metals.

  • Superfast Copper Epoxy Putty being applied to repair a crack in a pipe which formed part of a camper van boiler system
Superfast Copper applied to the crack in the pipe

Before the application began, the pipe was cleaned and dried to aid the adhesion of the putty to the metalwork. The required amount of putty was cut from the stick and kneaded by hand.

Whilst soft, the putty was pushed into the crack in the copper pipe where it hardened, sealing the hole. Enough putty was used to cover the section of pipe both above and below the crack to improve the chances of success.

To reinforce the putty, the entire section of pipe was then covered with a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage. SylWrap HD is a composite repair wrap with a water activated resin which sets rock hard in minutes to provide an impact resistant layer of protection.

  • Superfast Copper Epoxy Putty used to seal a hole on a copper pipe in a camper van boiler system
Superfast Copper and SylWrap HD successfully sealed the crack

Typically, SylWrap HD would be wrapped around the pipe. The space constraints meant that this could not be done effectively in this particular application, and so the bandage was cable tied to the pipe whilst it cured.

Once the copper pipe repair was completed, the boiler was turned back on. Water was no longer escaping from the crack, denoting a successful boiler pipe repair and saving a considerable amount of money for the camper van owner compared to the cost of fitting a replacement pipe.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

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Case Study: Leak Repair of a Pierced 300mm Plastic Pipe in a Quarry Wash Plant

A pierced plastic pipe in a quarry wash plant undergoes a leak repair using a SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit

Keeping it clean – a pierced plastic pipe in a quarry wash plant undergoes a rapid leak repair

A quarry in the United Kingdom needed to carry out a leak repair after a plastic pipe feeding the aggregate wash plant became pierced during day-to-day operations at the site.

Case Study Data

Site
Quarry
Location
United Kingdom
Repair Type
Leak repair
Defect
Pinhole leak in 300mm plastic pipe

Products Used

Superfast Copper Epoxy Putty Stick
Fast-working epoxy putty used to seal the hole in the plastic pipe

SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage
Composite wrap reinforced the repair and protected the pipe from further damage

SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit
Superfast Epoxy and SylWrap HD are supplied together in the Standard Pipe Repair Kit

SylWrap Pipe Repair Contractor Case
Contains enough products to make up to six live leak repairs, the perfect kit for keeping on-site in harsh environments like a quarry

Case Study PDF

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Case Study Details

One of the plastic pipes feeding the aggregate wash plant in the quarry had become pierced, resulting in a jet of highly pressurised water shooting out of a pinhole leak.

The quarry needed to carry out a repair to keep downtime to a minimum. To replace the damaged section of pipe would have been extremely disruptive to operations on the site.

A pierced plastic pipe in a quarry wash plant before undergoing a rapid leak repair with a SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit
Pierced plastic pipe prior to undergoing repair

Sylmasta supplied the quarry with a SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit. The Standard Kit enables any user to fix a leaking pipe where water pressure can be turned off.

Superfast Copper Epoxy Putty Stick was used to seal the pinhole in the plastic pipe. The epoxy putty is supplied in a pre-formatted stick which is kneaded by hand and pushed into the hole whilst soft.

Following the application of the epoxy putty, the pipe was then wrapped with a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage SYL633HD for pipe diameters 150mm to 300mm.

SylWrap HD is a composite repair wrap with a water-activated resin which sets rock hard in minutes, providing an impact resistant layer of protection to pipework.

When used in conjunction with Superfast Copper, SylWrap HD creates a reinforced repair with pressure resistance up to 30 bar, more than enough to withstand the pressure that the plastic pipe operated under.

Pierced plastic pipe at a quarry wash plant repaired using a SylWrap Pipe Repair Kir
Completed repair overwrapped with SylWrap HD

With pipe failures at quarries being a frequent occurrence due to the abrasive nature of the contents of slurry being moved around, Sylmasta have since recommended that the quarry take stock of the SylWrap Pipe Repair Contractor Case.

Each Case contains enough products to make up to six emergency live leak repairs in under 30 minutes. The Case is easy-to-store on-site, meaning that next time pipework at the quarry is damaged, all the materials needed are at hand for an immediate repair.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

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Case Study: Leaking Cast Iron Wastewater Pipe Repair at a London Hotel

Pipe repair carried out to a wastewater pipe made of cast iron in a central London hotel

Getting a room – Sylmasta solve the problem of a leaking cast iron wastewater pipe in an iconic London hotel

An iconic central London hotel faced having to shut one of its most prestigious rooms after a cast iron wastewater pipe located in the ceiling above developed a large circular crack which initially proved impossible to repair.

Case Study Data

Site
Hotel
Location
London, United Kingdom
Repair Type
No pressure pipe repair
Defect
50 x 25mm hole in a cast iron wastewater pipe

Products Used

Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty Stick
Superfast Steel was formed into a disc shape and used to seal the crack

SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage
The Superfast Steel was overwrapped with a SylWrap HD Bandage, reinforcing the initial seal

SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit
Superfast Steel and SylWrap HD can be purchased together as part of the Standard Pipe Repair Kit

Case Study PDF

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Case Study Review

Several attempts had been made to repair the leaking cast iron wastewater pipe, but its location within the hotel made it particularly troublesome. The pipe was crammed into a gap between the floor of one level and the ceiling of another, leaving virtually no room to work.

The hotel’s initial repair attempt had seen them try and wrap the pipe with a repair bandage. Although the crack was successfully covered, it was not successfully sealed and so began leaking again once pressure was turned back on.

A cracked cast iron wastewater pipe repair which had failed at a hotel in the United Kingdom
The failed first repair of the pipe
A 50 x 25mm crack in a cast iron wastewater pipe which required repair
The 50 x 25mm crack was located on an elbow joint

The 50 x 25mm hole therefore required an alternative repair method. To complicate the repair further, the crack in the cast iron wastewater pipe was on an elbow joint.

Sylmasta decided that the most effective pipe repair product to seal the hole would be Superfast Steel Epoxy Repair Stick. The size and the position of the crack still possessed some challenges, which were eventually overcome by some out-of-the-box thinking by the Sylmasta technicians.

The Superfast Steel Stick was hand kneaded as normal, but rather than being pushed immediately into the crack it was instead formed into a disc larger than the hole in order to completely cover it. This disc of epoxy putty was then attached to a strip of polythene sheeting.

Steel epoxy putty used to seal a crack in a leaking cast iron wastewater pipe
Superfast Steel formed into a disc and applied over the crack

The sheeting would support the epoxy putty whilst it was stretched over the crack in the pipe. Once in position, the edges of the disc were pushed tightly down onto the cast iron pipe to form a good seal with the surface of the pipe.

Once the epoxy putty was in place, the whole repair was overwrapped with a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage. SylWrap is water activated and sets rock-hard to provide an impact resistant layer over the initial repair. It does not need to be stretched for an effective application, meaning that it could easily be applied to the cast iron pipe despite the space constraints.

A SylWrap Pipe Repair Bandage applied over a cracked cast iron wastewater pipe in a London hotel
The Superfast Steel was overwrapped with a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage

After the repair was completed, the hotel was able to reopen to the public the popular room which had been affected by the leaking wastewater pipe. The solution is permanent and was carried out at a fraction of the cost of hiring a plumber or replacing the damaged pipe.

It also saved time with the repair being effective in less than an hour. Sylmasta have since recommended that the hotel take stock of the SylWrap Pipe Repair Contractor Case, a kit which contains enough products to carry out up to six pipe repairs.

A Contractor Case can be easily stored on site, enabling an emergency pipe repair to be carried out as soon a pipe related problem arises for the hotel in the future. All the products included in the Contractor Case are WRAS approved, making them safe to use with drinking water.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

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Case Study: Pinhole Repair of a Steel Pipe in a Furniture Factory Sprinkler System

The repair of a leaking pipe in a sprinkler system at a British furniture company's workshop carried out using a SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit

Sylmasta’s sprinkler pipe repair saves a furniture company from burning money on a section replacement

After a sprinkler maintenance company informed a furniture company that the only solution to a pinhole leak on a tee in their factory’s sprinkler system was to replace a damaged section of steel pipe, the furniture company instead sought out Sylmasta to provide a cost-effective and convenient repair.

Case Study Data

Site
Furniture Factory
Location
Southern England, United Kingdom
Repair Type
No pressure pipe repair
Defect
Pinhole leak on a steel pipe tee

Products Used

Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty Stick
Superfast Steel was used to plug the pinhole leak in the steel pipe

SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage
SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage was wrapped around the tee junction to reinforce the repair

SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit
The repair was carried out using a Standard Pipe Repair Kit which contains both items for no pressure repairs

Case Study PDF

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Case Study Review

The furniture company needed a quick repair for a number of reasons. There were two safety elements to consider; the first being the very obvious dangers that come with a faulty sprinkler system and the second that the leaking pipe was located high up in the roof of the warehouse, next to the incoming electricity supply.

Any water which passed through the leaking section was therefore in danger of coming into contact with the electrics. There was also the danger that water escaping from the pinhole would cause damage to the furniture being stored and manufactured below.

A steel pipe in a furniture factory's sprinkler system located in the roof developed a pinhole leak
The location of the tee junction high in the roof of the factory made fixing the pinhole leak challenging

Initially, the furniture company contacted their sprinkler maintenance company. After inspecting the problem, the maintenance company decided to try and repair the leak with a pipe repair clamp. This proved impossible however due to the pinhole being directly below a tee junction in the steel pipe.

After this failed attempt, the sprinkler maintenance company advised that the only solution would be to replace the leaking section of steel pipe, at great cost to the furniture company and forcing the closure of the factory whilst the work was undertaken.

A pinhole leak on a steel pipe tee junction prior to being repaired using Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty
The pinhole leak marked on the steel pipe

Understandably, this was a road that the furniture company did not wish to go down, and so they decided to seek out alternative repair methods, leading them to Sylmasta. Because the pressure was turned off in the damaged section of the sprinkler system, Sylmasta were able to recommend a SylWrap Standard Pipe Repair Kit for the repair.

The furniture factory reached the damaged section of pipework using a tower. Once up in the rafters, a Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty Stick was mixed by hand and used to plug the pinhole leak. The Putty hardened within 5-10 minutes, after which it was overwrapped with a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage.

Repair of a pinhole leak in a steel pipe completed using a SylWrap Pipe Repair Bandage
The repair was completed using a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage

The bandage was applied over the pinhole leak and around both sections of the tee junction to provide maximum coverage and pressure resistance. One of the furniture factory’s concerns was that the pressure in the sprinkler system can be as high as 8 bar and they needed a repair method that could withstand such levels.

This was no problem for the Standard Pipe Repair Kit. The cured Superfast Steel and SylWrap Bandage are suitable for repairs up to 30 bar. Within an hour of the repair being completed, the system was put back into use at a fraction of the cost of the section replacement recommended by the sprinkler maintenance company.

Following the repair, the furniture company’s maintenance manager got in touch to say: “I found the repair putty and the bandage very easy to use and will no doubt be using Sylmasta products again.”

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com