Corrugated metal pipe has a limited life span. When the infrastructure nears the end of its design life — in most cases, after roughly 30 years under normal circumstances — structural fatigue, infiltration and corrosion can be prevalent. Full replacement can be time-consuming and expensive. Storm Seal is an ideal alternative.
The product from The Strong Company is a Type I Portland cement mix blended with pozzolans, aggregate and admixtures with alkaline-resistant fiberglass reinforcement. It is designed to restore deteriorated substrates to original dimensions and prevent infiltration and exfiltration of the interior of corrugated metal pipes, culverts, concrete pipes, catch basins, and other stormwater structures. It’s a product that can be a time and money saver for contractors and municipalities, according to Emily Lanier, the company’s sales and marketing coordinator.
“It is less intrusive than dig-and-replace methods and requires minimal equipment,” she says. “While a deteriorated stormwater pipe may collapse, resulting in sinkholes, flooding and traffic disruptions, Storm Seal extends the life of a cement or corrugated metal pipe by creating a cementitious pipe within a pipe.”
Storm Seal is centrifugally cast using the Strong-Seal Systems mixer, pump, and spinner, which are electronically controlled for consistent product and thickness of application. It may also be sprayed manually. It is fiber-reinforced and high-strength, testing at 8,000 psi compressive strength after 28 days. In addition, it incorporates up to 30 percent recycled materials, making it sustainable. It has undergone extensive research and development as well as independent laboratory testing, making it a solution for stormwater infrastructure.
“Storm Seal was introduced to the market in the fall of 2013,” says Lanier. “The goal was to ensure a high-quality product that our certified applicators and municipalities could be confident using.”
Lanier says that feedback has been positive, as users of Storm Seal appreciate the product’s ease of use and overall efficiency.
“Our applicators agree that being able to re-establish an invert and provide a monolithic cementitious seal inside these pipes has saved thousands (of dollars) and prevented costly construction,” she says. “Being able to restore the structural integrity of the pipe without having to dig and replace means time and money saved.” 800/982-8009; www.strongseal.com.
