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CIPP Lining: Definition & Maintenance Guide

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CIPP, or cured-in-place pipe lining, is a trenchless pipe rehabilitation method that installs a resin-saturated felt or fiberglass liner inside an existing damaged pipe, then cures the liner in place using heat, UV light, or ambient temperature to form a smooth, jointless pipe within the original pipe. CIPP lining restores structural integrity and flow capacity to deteriorated drain, sewer, and stormwater pipes without the excavation, landscape destruction, and extended disruption required by traditional pipe replacement.

Resin Saturation, Inversion & 50-Year Design Life

The CIPP process begins with a thorough camera inspection to assess the host pipe’s condition and confirm that lining is appropriate. The pipe is then cleaned, typically by hydro-jetting, to remove roots, scale, grease, and debris. A flexible fabric tube saturated with thermosetting resin (epoxy, polyester, or vinyl ester) is inserted into the pipe through an existing access point such as a cleanout or manhole.

The liner is inverted or pulled into position using air pressure or a winch, pressing it against the interior wall of the host pipe. Once positioned, the resin is cured by circulating hot water or steam, exposing it to UV light from a UV train pulled through the liner, or allowing ambient-temperature cure resins to harden over several hours.

The cured liner forms a new pipe inside the old pipe, typically 4 to 6 millimeters thick, with a smooth interior surface that improves flow characteristics compared to the corroded original. The liner seals cracks, bridges joint gaps, and blocks root entry points. Properly installed CIPP liners have a design life of 50 years or more.

Thermal Cure, UV-Cure, Ambient-Cure & Sectional Spot Lining

Thermal cure CIPP uses hot water or steam circulated through the liner to activate the resin. This is the most established method and works in all pipe sizes and configurations.

UV-cure CIPP uses a UV light train pulled through a pre-impregnated fiberglass liner. UV curing is faster than thermal methods and produces no wastewater, making it increasingly popular for residential applications.

Ambient-cure CIPP uses resin formulations that harden at room temperature over 4 to 24 hours. This method requires no special curing equipment but has longer downtime.

Sectional (spot) lining repairs a specific damaged area rather than the entire pipe run. A shorter liner is positioned at the defect location and cured in place, which is more cost-effective when damage is localized.

Camera Pre-Assessment, Hydro-Jetting Prep & Drain Rehab Services

CIPP lining is a core trenchless technology offered for sewer and drain rehabilitation. Bonded Plumbworks’ drain and sewer services include CIPP lining for deteriorated cast iron, clay, Orangeburg, and PVC sewer laterals under driveways, landscaping, and building foundations where traditional excavation would be impractical or prohibitively expensive.

Before recommending CIPP, Bonded Plumbworks performs a camera inspection to verify that the host pipe is a suitable candidate. Pipes with collapsed sections, severe bellies, or major offset joints may require excavation and replacement rather than lining. For pipes that are structurally sound but corroded, cracked, or root-infiltrated, CIPP provides a permanent solution at typically 30 to 50 percent less cost than excavation and replacement.

ASTM F1216, ASTM F1743 & NASSCO Installer Certification

ASTM F1216 is the primary standard for CIPP installation, covering design, materials, installation procedures, and testing requirements. ASTM D5813 specifies resin requirements for CIPP liners. ASTM F1743 covers UV-cured CIPP rehabilitation. The National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) provides installer certification and quality assurance guidelines. The applicable state building codes permits trenchless rehabilitation methods including CIPP when installed per manufacturer specifications and applicable ASTM standards.

Perma-Liner, NuFlow & Insituform (Aegion) Product Systems

Perma-Liner Industries manufactures UV-cure and ambient-cure CIPP systems for residential and commercial pipe sizes from 2 to 12 inches. Reline America produces the Alphaliner UV-cure CIPP system. NuFlow Technologies offers epoxy-based pipe lining systems for smaller-diameter residential drain lines. Insituform (Aegion) is one of the largest CIPP installation providers in North America with proprietary resin and liner systems.