Housing cooperative

PIPE RENEWAL IN HOUSING CO-OPERATIVES – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
PIPE RENEWAL IN HOUSING CO-OPERATIVES – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 2560 1920 Vitek AS

Renovating pipes doesn’t have to be complicated – just use pipe renewal! Here you’ll find the information you need to ensure that pipe replacement in your housing co-operative goes as smoothly as possible.

Pipe lining is a method of pipe rehabilitation that is well suited to the vast majority of pipework networks, both private and public. It is, however, particularly well suited to housing cooperatives, where there are many and often complex pipework systems. Pipe renewal is a rehabilitation method that works just as well as replacing the pipes with brand new ones. Here, we provide you with all the information you need about pipe renewal in housing cooperatives. At the bottom of the article, you will also find a video that illustrates the process in a simple way.

 

WHY CHOOSE PIPE RENOVATION RATHER THAN COMPLETELY NEW PIPES IN THE HOUSING CO-OP?

Pipe renewal in the housing co-operative is quick, efficient and can save you a great deal of money. If you opt for pipe renewal, both the building and the residents of the housing co-operative will benefit from this efficient and gentle approach.

By choosing pipe renewal as the rehabilitation method in the housing co-operative, residents avoid having to move out for long periods, being bothered by disruptive noise from excavation work, or having to break up walls and floors in their flats. Pipe renewal requires far fewer and less invasive interventions than replacing existing pipes with new ones, and costs are therefore kept low.

Pipe renewal involves lining the inside of the existing pipe with what we call a liner. The pipe’s internal diameter is therefore reduced by a few millimetres, and some people therefore believe that this will reduce the pipes’ capacity. This is a myth we can dispel, as the truth is that the inside of the pipes will become so smooth and clean that water and dirt will flow through more efficiently than ever, significantly increasing the capacity compared to before the pipe renewal.

WHEN IS IT TIME TO RENOVATE PIPES IN A HOUSING CO-OP?

VITEK specialises in the refurbishment of pipework in housing cooperatives, and we are often asked when it is necessary to replace the pipes. This is a decision that the housing co-operative’s board must make. The board is responsible for ensuring that the communal pipework and installations running through the housing co-operative and into the ground are properly maintained.

If the buildings in the housing co-operative are more than 40 years old, it is absolutely essential to carry out a pipework inspection. The expected lifespan of pipes is 40 to 50 years, depending to some extent on the quality of the pipes and how well they have been maintained over the years. The condition of the pipes is also affected by movement in the building, and in large blocks of flats and older housing cooperatives there is usually a great deal of movement throughout the seasons. This means that housing cooperatives which have not refurbished their pipework over the last 40 years may be in a precarious situation. In other words, delaying action can have costly consequences that require more extensive measures.

TIPS ON HOW TO PROCEED

When the renovation of pipes and drainage systems is under consideration in a housing co-operative, you should contact specialists to carry out a comprehensive inspection of the condition of the pipework. They will then be able to recommend the solution best suited to your housing co-operative.

Many chairpersons of housing co-operatives may be reluctant to tackle plumbing issues within the co-operative. We find that this is because they are not confident that they have sufficient knowledge in this area and would rather «wait it out» until the next person takes over as chair. This is not a good idea and could end up proving costly.

As a preventative measure, it is a good idea to advise residents in the housing co-operative on how to maintain the pipes in their flats. These can be simple measures, such as not pouring cooking fat and other food waste down the drain. Here are some great tips on what to do with fat you want to get rid of.

Another useful tip is to consider pipe refurbishment or replacement in conjunction with other measures that need to be carried out in the housing association. It may be possible to combine several of the activities to be carried out and thereby save resources.

CONTACT US FOR A NO-OBLIGATION INSPECTION OF THE PIPES IN YOUR HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE

VITEK has carried out refurbishment work on many housing cooperatives. The risk of costly consequences is greater for internal pipework in private homes than for public pipework networks, as a great deal of shoddy and substandard work has been carried out in previous years. There is no reason to delay your pipework inspection any longer – get in touch with us for an inspection and a quote, and we guarantee the job will be done properly

Do you know where your service pipe is?
Do you know where your service pipe is? 2560 2560 Vitek AS

A quarter of Norwegian homeowners do not know whether they have a service pipe. This could end up costing them dearly.

Local authorities provide water and sewerage services to residents via their main pipelines. In total, there are 100,000 km of municipal water and sewerage mains in Norway. The country’s homeowners, for their part, are responsible for a staggering 180,000 kilometres of service pipes. That’s a lot.

Service pipes are buried on the property owners’ own land. They may also be located on neighbours’ land – beneath and alongside roads. The pipes can range in length from 1 metre to many kilometres and are owned by the property owner alone or jointly with neighbours.

Living in ignorance

A survey by Norsk Vann shows that 26 per cent of residents do not know whether they own the water and sewerage service pipes. 34 per cent do not know whether they own a service pipe jointly with their neighbour. Only 40 per cent know where the service pipes are located on their property, and 34 per cent know what condition the pipes are in. It is therefore quite possible that you yourself are the owner of a service pipe without having the slightest idea about it.

Surveys show that homeowners in Oslo know the least about their service pipes, whilst homeowners in Northern Norway know the most. Female homeowners generally score lower than men.

Maintenance requirements

Like most other things, service pipes need to be maintained and replaced. However, few homeowners currently ensure that this maintenance is carried out. It is claimed – although this is not easy to substantiate – that service pipes account for around half of the leaks in the water supply network. If the deterioration goes on for too long, the bill can be sky-high. Buying and installing a new water and drainage system can easily cost you between 200,000 and 300,000 kroner.

Map out your facility!

It is therefore important to clarify the status of your facility.
Vitek advises all housing cooperatives and homeowners to find out where the service pipes are located. This is also important to ensure that the pipes are not damaged by building work or other activities on the property. Once you know where your pipes are, it is a good idea to check what condition they are in.

For many years, Vitek has been carrying out pipe inspections. We do this by inserting a camera into the pipes, which gives us a clear overview of their condition. And if your pipes need maintenance, pipe rehabilitation may be a good option.

In our experience, pipe relining is a quicker and cheaper method than replacing the old pipes with new ones. In short, the method involves installing new pipes inside the old ones. This means we do not need to dig up gardens, break up floors or knock down walls. This is a great benefit for everyone.

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