rehabilitation

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PIPE RENEWAL AS A CONCRETE ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR
PIPE RENEWAL AS A CONCRETE ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR 2560 1810 Vitek AS

PIPE RENEWAL GIVES YOU NEW PIPES WITHOUT DISRUPTING TRAFFIC

Pipe rehabilitation has some clear advantages over traditional pipe replacement. As it takes less time and involves minimal digging and earthworks, it is more cost-effective and far gentler on the environment.

The film below shows that pipe renewal can be carried out whilst traffic continues as normal. This means that traffic queues are reduced or eliminated altogether. In this way, one also avoids inconvenient diversions via roads and railway lines that are not designed to handle heavy traffic.

 

PIPE RENEWAL AS A FORM OF PROACTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL WORK

Sewer pipe rehabilitation beneath streets, roads, squares and buildings has been carried out since the 1970s. The methods and products have evolved considerably since then. Trenchless methods, also known as NoDig, have saved pipeline owners enormous sums of money since then.

If we set aside the purely financial benefits of pipe renewal, there is no doubt that this also has a direct positive impact on the environment. Transporting soil, stone, asphalt and other heavy materials requires heavy goods vehicles. The heavier the transport, the greater the increase in emissions of environmentally harmful CO2. In addition, more traffic jams resulting from diversions and roadworks will lead to increased emissions and wear and tear on minor roads that are not designed to cope with the increased traffic. Increased traffic also poses a threat to the safety of pedestrians along what are essentially meant to be peaceful residential areas and routes to school.

The film above provides a good example of how we can renew pipes without disrupting traffic. Our infrastructure is an integral part of our society, and it makes no difference whether vehicles are powered by electricity, petrol, diesel or anything else – pipe renewal is cost-effective, economically advantageous and causes minimal disruption, compared to digging up the ground to replace and repair pipes.

 

 

 

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ARE YOU PUTTING OFF YOUR PIPE CHECK? THAT’S A BAD IDEA.
ARE YOU PUTTING OFF YOUR PIPE CHECK? THAT’S A BAD IDEA. 800 400 Vitek AS

Checking the pipes isn’t at the top of most people’s list of things to do at home, but the consequences can be serious if you neglect it completely. We’ll explain why you mustn’t put off checking your pipes!

A pipe inspection can save you a lot of money. Over the years, all pipes build up a layer of grease, chemicals and food residues. This build-up will only increase over time, and most of us aren’t particularly good at thinking about maintenance and preventing blocked pipes in our day-to-day lives.

If you carry out a pipe inspection, you’ll be able to monitor the condition of your pipes and carry out any necessary repairs, so that you can go to bed at night with a clear conscience and without worrying that something might happen to your pipes. After all, you are responsible for ensuring that the drainage pipes from your house out to the municipal mains – also known as the service pipe – are in good condition.

 

WHEN SHOULD YOU HAVE YOUR PIPES CHECKED?

Pipe inspections aren’t something you need to carry out every year. It’s more than enough to check your pipes once a decade. Feel free to ask local professionals when you should carry out your next pipe inspection, as this may depend on various factors in your area.

If you have taken over a property that is more than 40 years old, it is advisable to have the pipework inspected, unless there is documentation to show that this has recently been carried out.

A PLUMBER CAN’T DO THE SAME JOB

Checking your pipes regularly is an important part of owning a home, and properly functioning pipes are essential for your comfort at home. A plumber can help you with many problems that arise with your pipes, but a plumber is first and foremost an expert in fitting, repairing, installing or adapting plumbing systems – which a pipe inspection is not part of.

A pipe inspector, on the other hand, can carry out several of the tasks that a plumber is often called out to do. If you have a blocked drain or a blocked toilet, it is a pipe inspector you should call.

THESE SIGNS INDICATE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR PIPES INSPECTED

  1. There are gurgling sounds
    Gurgling noises from your drains are one of the first signs of a problem. The noises occur when the water has to displace the air in the pipe in order to flow through, and are caused by there being far too little space. This is particularly common in kitchens, where a lot of grease ends up in the drain. Read also: Has your sink started gurgling?.
  2. There’s a nasty smell
    When a pipe becomes completely or partially blocked, bacteria thrive. Having the pipes flushed is absolutely essential to remove the unpleasant odour coming up from the drain, as well as to prevent further damage to the pipes.
  3. You have a property with an older pipework system
    Pipes, and their quality, have changed considerably over the years. In older homes, the condition of the pipes varies greatly depending on when the system was installed and how owners have maintained them over the years. A pipe inspection will tell you exactly what condition your pipes are in, and if the situation is so bad that flushing the pipes isn’t enough – fortunately, pipe rehabilitation is an excellent solution. In many cases, pipe rehabilitation means you won’t need to replace the old pipes.
    See also: 7 good reasons to choose pipe renewal
  4. The drain often gets blocked
    If your drains often become blocked and you keep resorting to Plumbo time and time again, you’re not solving the actual problem and are potentially exposing the pipes to further damage. Plumbo and other drain cleaning products are very harsh on the pipes and can cause damage and leaks. Call for a pipe inspection, as your pipes will most likely need flushing – or perhaps even a more extensive repair.

PIPE INSPECTIONS MUST BE CARRIED OUT BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL

There are many providers of pipe inspection and pipe jetting services on the market, but not all of them operate with the same level of professionalism. Check that the pipe inspection company in question is a member of Rørinspeksjon Norge (RIN). VITEK aims to help improve safety and provide accurate information to those who need it. VITEK is also an established specialist in all services relating to pipes and drainage systems, with specialist expertise in pipe cleaning, inspection and renewal.

 

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW WHEN YOU’RE RENOVATING
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW WHEN YOU’RE RENOVATING 800 400 Vitek AS

Are you planning to renovate? If so, there are plenty of pitfalls to watch out for. Here, we give you an introduction to the most important things you need to know when renovating your home.

When you’re renovating, there are lots of rules to bear in mind – especially when it comes to wet rooms, water and drainage. Even if you disregard the regulations, there are still plenty of pitfalls you can fall into. Avoid making a major renovation blunder – we’ll give you some pointers on the most important things to know when you’re renovating.

WHAT CAN YOU DO YOURSELF, AND WHEN DO YOU NEED A PROFESSIONAL?

Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to have a certain degree of self-awareness when it comes to your own skills. Are you skilled enough to be confident that the property you’re renovating will actually turn out well in the end? Most people are capable of painting, filling, fitting skirting boards or wallpapering. There are still some tasks where it’s a good idea to get help – and for some, you’re actually required to get help.

For more complex renovation work, such as replacing the electrical system, altering load-bearing structures or refurbishing a bathroom, it is essential to use professionals. This ensures that everything is carried out in accordance with laws and regulations. If you haven’t got everything in order and something goes wrong, there’s a strong chance that your insurance company won’t want to cover the damage. This is particularly true if the cause was a fault in the electrical system or was related to wet rooms and pipework.

It is a good idea to follow the rule that authorised professionals should be used for anything to do with electricity and water. Make sure the company can provide a certificate of compliance, confirming that the work has been carried out in accordance with current regulations and safety requirements. You will need this documentation when selling your property, or for your insurance company should an accident occur.

GET INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PROPERTY IN ADVANCE

Before you start the renovation – whether you’ve decided to do it yourself or have hired tradespeople – you’ll benefit greatly from finding out as much as possible in advance. It’s usually a good idea to get answers to the following questions:

Where are the pipes located?

  • Do they go through any walls you need to watch out for?
  • Are there any plans of your home?
  • How old are the pipes?
  • Where are the electrical courses held?
  • What condition is the fuse box in?
  • What materials are the walls, floors and ceilings made of?
  • Where are the load-bearing structures?
  • If you are unsure, you can ask professionals for help.

DON’T BE CARELESS WITH THE WET ROOMS!

Perhaps the room most at risk during a refurbishment is the bathroom. We at VITEK all too often come across DIY solutions where people have got in over their heads or tried to save money. If you’re not a qualified tradesperson or don’t really know what you’re doing, problems will usually arise, such as rapid wear and tear or leaks that are difficult to detect. Problems in a bathroom are usually very expensive to rectify, and the damage can be extensive before you even realise it.

And by all means – don’t use undeclared labour. It involves a high level of risk, and you won’t be able to prove that the work was carried out by qualified professionals. This could cost you dearly when you put your property up for sale or wish to claim on your insurance.

CHECKING THE PIPES IS A REASONABLY GOOD LONG-TERM INVESTMENT

If you’re planning to renovate your bathroom or kitchen, you’ll need to consider whether you’ll have to replace the pipes or whether pipe refurbishment is a suitable option for you. If you live in a housing co-operative, it is particularly important to check with the management committee whether there are any plans to replace the pipes or carry out refurbishment work under their auspices in the near future. There are also specific regulations that apply if you wish to carry out work on pipes that run through the walls between several residential units – you’ll often need to submit an application to obtain permission to work on these. Consult professionals to find out what applies in your case!

To determine whether you are eligible for pre-renewal, you will need to contact a pipe renewal company to arrange an inspection. During the site visit, they will assess the condition of your pipes and determine what can be done. Pipe renewal requires the pipes to meet a certain standard, but it would take quite a lot for it not to be possible to renew all or part of the work you wish to have done. Pipe renewal is a very practical and simple way of «laying» pipes, with the same lifespan as brand-new pipes.

Get in touch with us today for a friendly, no-obligation chat.

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RENOVATING SERVICE PIPES
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RENOVATING SERVICE PIPES 2560 1353 Vitek AS

As a homeowner, you are responsible for the service pipe – the pipe that connects your house to the mains network. Avoid major expenses – opt for pipe renewal before problems arise.

Local authorities across the country have long since realised that renovating service pipes is absolutely essential to reduce leaks in the pipework network. Nevertheless, it is the homeowner who is responsible for carrying this out. The problem is that almost half of all homeowners are not up to date or aware of the condition of their own service pipes, or whether they need repairing.

The local authority will therefore issue a notice to rectify the situation if you do not meet the requirements, by which time the damage to the pipes may already be so extensive that it will cost you a great deal. To avoid significant expenses, you should therefore opt for pipe renewal before this happens.

BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY WHEN IT COMES TO PIPE INSPECTION

VITEK sees cases every day where some of the problems – and consequently the costs incurred – could have been avoided if pipe renewal had been carried out just a few years earlier. As a homeowner, it is therefore never too early to have your pipes inspected and assessed. Anyone can do this, but it is particularly important for those of you living in a property that is 20 years old or older.

A full inspection is not always necessary. During a pipe inspection, a comprehensive check of all the pipes is carried out to determine the need for repairs, but sometimes the extent of the damage and the required work can be easily assessed during a preliminary inspection. We can do this during a simple site visit and then provide you with a quote for pipe renewal.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF PIPES

Before carrying out pipe renewal, you need to check what the existing pipes are made of. Different materials have been used at various stages over the past few decades, depending on the raw materials and technology available at the time. Both cast iron and plastic in various forms are widely used. Pipe renewal can be carried out on virtually all types of pipes. Pipes can be renewed at bends (where the pipe changes direction) and where the pipe dimensions change. The fact that other pipes are connected to the branch pipe is not a problem either. The connection point is then opened using a robot that mills a hole.

Pipe rehabilitation has been carried out since the 1970s and is therefore nothing new. Vitek has been rehabilitating pipes for almost 40 years, and the volume of work has increased – and continues to increase – all the time. The durability and guarantees are equivalent to those of brand-new pipes.

It is important that the assessment of which method to use is carried out by professionals. Pipe renewal is not a quick and easy solution; it requires knowledge and experience, as well as the right product and method for the specific pipe to be renewed.

TENDERS AND CONTRACTS

Feel free to obtain several quotes for pipe renewal work. Remember to check for certificates of competence and specific accreditations, which indicate that the company is reputable and has the necessary expertise to ensure a good result.

Here at VITEK, we are members of Rørinspeksjon Norge, maintain the highest professional standards and have extensive experience and in-depth knowledge. You are welcome to contact us at any time for a no-obligation chat, an assessment and to draw up a plan on how we can best assist you.

7 GOOD REASONS TO CHOOSE PIPE RENEWAL
7 GOOD REASONS TO CHOOSE PIPE RENEWAL 445 280 Vitek AS

VITEK are experts in pipe renewal and rehabilitate thousands of metres of pipework every year. Here is an overview of why we work so hard to encourage more people to choose trenchless methods when rehabilitating water and sewerage pipes.

Pipe rehabilitation involves refurbishing water and sewerage pipes without replacing them. This offers many benefits, with the aim of contributing to Norway’s infrastructure in a smarter, more economical and more sustainable way.

Here are the reasons why we are so passionate about no-dig methods:

  • It saves time
    • By avoiding the whole process of digging up pipes and filling in the holes afterwards, you will save a considerable number of working hours.
  • It’s more economical
    • Time is money. Pipe rehabilitation is far more cost-effective than traditional methods of replacing pipes. Experience shows that the cost is between 20 and 80 per cent lower when trenchless methods are used.
  • Just as good as traditional pipe replacement
    • A refurbished pipe has the same service life as a new pipe. The liner used in the work has properties and quality equivalent to those of new pipes.
  • Fewer environmental impacts
    • Less impact on the natural environment in terms of pollution, erosion and the like
    • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from construction machinery and other vehicles
    • Reduces emissions caused by traffic jams and detours on smaller, often more dangerous, roadsContact us about pipe renewal
  • No digging required!
    • Replacing pipes that run beneath several properties and cross under roads and railway lines will require the closure of large areas and the suspension of all traffic. Imagine roadworks on the E6 that would result in diversions lasting for months – motorists certainly wouldn’t appreciate that
    • Residents in the building and the surrounding areas will be affected to a much lesser extent by noise, dust, road closures and interruptions to the water and sewerage supply
    • Pipelines running beneath landscaped green spaces will mean that the garden will have to be dug up and, in the worst case, the landscaped garden will be destroyed.
  • The law states that you must
    • The Public Procurement Act stipulates that the option which takes the greatest account of life-cycle costs, universal design and the environmental impact of the procurement must be chosen.
    • The Neighbourhood Act states that it is unlawful to cause a nuisance to a neighbouring property if it is possible to avoid doing so. In many cases, pipelines run across other people’s property, and this Act must therefore be taken into account.
  • Residents of houses and flats do not need to move out
    • A quicker process that does not require breaking up floors or knocking down walls means that, in the vast majority of cases, residents of houses and housing co-operatives do not need to move out whilst the work is being carried out.

To summarise, it is important to emphasise that no two projects are the same. The time taken, the cost and the disruption caused by a pipe renewal project will vary. Factors such as the condition of the existing pipes, the number of connections and the location will all have an impact on the work.

Please get in touch to arrange a site visit and receive a no-obligation quote for pipe renewal.

 

MORE INSTALLATIONS WITH DGAI
MORE INSTALLATIONS WITH DGAI 1366 619 Vitek AS

Vitek and Vitek Denmark have carried out a number of installations in recent weeks. Components ranging in size from 380 mm to 700 mm have been installed using various insertion and curing methods. DGAI (Dual Gland Air Injection) was the most frequently used method, although retraction was also employed. The installations have gone entirely according to plan, and the customer reports that they are very satisfied.

Ole-Gunnar Thue at Vitek says that, over three days last week, 700 metres of the project’s total 1,200 metres were installed. He points out that the collaboration with our Danish colleagues is going very well and that installation using DGAI is a very efficient and effective method. “Our teams are working very well together, which is good, as there’s a lot to do,” says Thue.

FEATURE: RIBBON-CUTTING BEATS REHABILITATION!
FEATURE: RIBBON-CUTTING BEATS REHABILITATION! 1807 1205 Vitek AS

Unfortunately, wind turbines and solar power are of no use when the house is flooded.

It’s strange how little attention is paid to everything that works. Here in Norway, we’ve been spoilt for generations with clean, good-quality water. We appreciate it when we come home from holiday. Apart from that, we give very little thought to the valuable infrastructure buried underground that ensures we have access to this vital resource.

The weather has changed

Climate scientists do, however, agree that it is water that will pose the greatest problems for Norway in the future. Precipitation is expected to increase by 18 per cent by 2100 unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. The increase may even be greater than that.

Climate change is already here. The average temperature has risen by 1.3 degrees. It is short-term rainfall that has increased the most. We can see that the weather has changed – torrential rain and flooding have become much more common. And this comes at a cost.

Focus on maintenance

The Norwegian authorities have committed to reducing emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. If, however, you ask a politician what we should do about climate change, they often reply that we must electrify our vehicle fleet, erect more wind turbines and buy carbon credits. That is of little help when the drains burst in the cellar, the house is flooded by uncontrolled surface water or, in the worst case, is swept away by a flood. By then, it is too late to regret having voted for politicians who are not concerned with maintenance.

It is only when floods occur and there is a disproportionate amount of rainfall that we are reminded of the standard of our water and sewerage systems in Norway. A standard that we cannot take for granted.

We cannot build our way out of the climate crisis

Norsk Vann constantly tells our authorities that water and sewerage systems in Norwegian municipalities require investment totalling NOK 280 billion. Yet no politician campaigns on a promise to allocate several hundred million kroner to upgrading sewer pipes. There is little doubt that ribbon-cutting ceremonies take precedence over rehabilitation.

We cannot build our way out of the climate crisis. The construction industry is responsible for significant CO₂ emissions both globally and nationally, and it takes many decades for an energy-efficient new build to «pay for itself» in climate terms. It is not better for the climate to demolish and rebuild than to renovate. Our children know this, because they learn about reuse and recycling at school. We need politicians who understand this too.

It must be embarrassing to cut the ribbons

For whilst we must cut our greenhouse gas emissions, we must also adapt to a wilder and wetter climate. Here, the public sector can lead by example. Public procurement accounts for around 500 billion every single year, and climate-smart public procurement can contribute to significant emissions reductions. We need to think differently, because it is through refurbishment and smarter use of existing buildings and infrastructure that we can make a difference, both in terms of climate adaptation and emissions cuts. It must become embarrassing to cut ribbons and a point of pride to carry out refurbishments.

Could become a new growth sector for Norway

As an industry, we are keen to contribute both to reducing emissions and to providing smart solutions. At present, our people are hardly visible in the public eye. Unfortunately, the media do not seem to find it particularly interesting to interview people who work in the trenches. That is why so few people realise just how many jobs we represent. The Norwegian water sector today comprises a complete value chain of water and wastewater treatment plants, technology companies, consultancy firms, and highly specialised educational and research institutions.

We have everything we need to maintain existing infrastructure using local labour before the tasks become so large that only major multinational corporations are equipped to handle them.

It is absolutely essential that we prepare our society for a more extreme and wetter climate; our focus must therefore be on maintaining existing infrastructure as well as building new, smarter solutions with the lowest possible emissions. This is expertise that will be in demand far beyond our national borders. Therefore, dear politicians, the water sector is a shining example of a potential growth industry in the green transition, on a par with wind turbines, solar energy and electric ferries.

 

CC Sibbern, Chief Executive Officer, Vitek AS

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