Cities all across North America are using Pipe Bursting to maintain or improve their pipeline systems. Since the Pipe Bursting process was developed, over 7,500 miles of pipe - both mainlines and service laterals - have been replaced worldwide using this technology.

Significant Cost Savings

Without doubt, Pipe Bursting is one of the most economical ways to replace a buried pipeline. The direct costs are generally lower than the traditional dig-and-replace method and, when time, disruption, and restoration costs are factored in, Pipe Bursting is far more economical.

A Wide Choice of Replacement Materials

With Pipe Bursting, you have a wide choice of replacement materials. Polyethylene, PVC, glass fiber, and many types of metal pipes have all been used successfully. Regardless of the material you choose, you will have the assurance that it has been manufactured to strict national standards such as AGA, API, ASTM, and AWWA. Your new pipeline will have known physical properties and an established service life. With Pipe Bursting, you do not have to worry about field chemistry or the stress of reducing or reshaping pipe. You get the material that suits you best, not the limitations of the technology. The pipeline materials used in the Pipe Bursting process have a wide variety of proven, standard fittings. These fittings may be used to reconnect your new pipe to the existing system or to lateral service lines. Either way, every connection will be made with proven, leakproof, off-the-shelf fittings.

Major Benefits

• Uses existing subsurface lane.
• Virtually eliminates damage to other underground facilities.
• Customers are never out of service for more than a few hours.
• Replace with the same size or larger pipe without open trenching.
• Installation is a capital investment, not maintenance cost like clamping or encapsulation.
• Faster, cleaner, quieter and safer job.
• Minimizes traffic and public inconvenience and disruption.
• Reduces service transfer and/or replacement costs.
• Major savings on excavation and reinstatement.
• Reduces property record and mapping changes.

Safe Operation

Pipe Bursting has been used successfully in both industrial and municipal applications to replace many different types of pipelines, both with and without protective sleeves. Gas, water, sewer, and production lines, as well as communication ducts have all been replaced with Pipe Bursting, even in crowded underground situations. Experience has shown that the operation of Pipe Bursting heads does not damage other buried utilities, even when they are only a few inches away. The surrounding soil serves to absorb the vibrations created by pneumatic heads, and pipe fragments are pushed far enough away to prevent damage to the new pipe. And, since most pipelines are below the frost line, Pipe Bursting operations can be carried out safely at any time of the year.

Environmentally Friendly

Since digging is limited to relatively small access pits, Pipe Bursting is much less traumatic than traditional pipeline replacement. Long sections of pipe can be replaced without introducing open trenches and heavy equipment. And, since the old pipe is left undisturbed underground, it does not present a disposal problem.