Case Study

Nuflow Otago - ASOE Fabric-Reinforced Flexible Plastic Pipe (FRFPP) installation in Dunedin

Pipes

Client: Dudedin District Council

Problem:

The rising main located on Borlases Road, Port Chalmers, had shown signs of advanced corrosion and reduced structural integrity due to age-related deterioration. The DN150 cast iron/AC pipe, originally installed below ground level with shallow cover depths (0.6–1.2m), was experiencing leak risks under pressure (design operating: 1000kPa, max: 1600kPa).

Given the pipe’s location on a hillside with 30-40m of elevation change and near sensitive marine and road corridor environments, traditional open-trench replacement methods posed challenges with traffic management, excavation depth, reinstatement costs, and environmental risk. A trenchless rehabilitation method was required.

Solution:

The ASOE Fabric-Reinforced Flexible Plastic Pipe (FRFPP) is folded into a U-shape, winched through the main, and expanded with air to form a close-fit, leak-resistant inner hose. It acts independently of the host pipe yet gains ring stiffness from the casing—ideal where the pipe is mostly sound but excavation is impossible. This installation was the first ASOE liner deployed in New Zealand, demonstrating its suitability for local pressure.