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Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ - Manhole Rehabilitation Success

What Is Necessary For Manhole Rehabilitation Success?
Correct Application, Use Of Manhole Rehab Technologies
By Gerhard “Gerry” P. Muenchmeyer, P.E., NASSCO Technical Director
Click here to read the entire UCT article

The following series of key questions were asked of Bill Shook, President & Founder AP/M Permaform.

For what type of structures is your system best applicable?

Shook: Because manholes suffer from a variety of problems, we offer multiple solutions, including Permacast structural cement liner, Permaform no dig replacement system, Cor+Gard 100 percent solid epoxy coatings, Cor+Roq structural epoxy, Conshield additive to Permacast, Permaform CIPP liner, I&I Barrier plastic chimney liner, and Cor+Flex and Cor+Seal flexible urethane sealants.

How important is structure preparation for your products? What preparation do you recommend?

Shook: Permacast cement liners are structural by themselves and they adhere well to existing masonry and concrete substrates after pressure washing to remove laitance and contaminates. Cor+Gard coatings adhere extremely well over our own Permacast cement liners which provide the structural value of a composite. Primers are used over new, precast concre

Does your product bond to a host structure, or does it form a structure within a structure?

Shook: Cor+Gard, is a coating that adheres well to the properly prepared substrate. Permacast and Cor+Roc structurally reinforce the existing manhole to which it bonds. The Permaform system is a totally independent structure within the old one.

Have product failures occurred and, if so, what were the cause and remedies?

Shook: Failures can occur whenever proper preparation and/or application procedures are not followed. We strive to eliminate field problems by requiring certification training with annual updates so applicators demonstrate proven performance standards. In rare instances when defects are discovered, an investigation is made to discover the cause then defects are corrected and reports issued to eliminate recurrence. Our company has provided solutions since 1976 without a single failure to correct defects. No matter how rare or costly.

After completion, when should your installed product be re-inspected to verify that no potential defects will occur that will affect long-term performance of the product?

Shook: It is best to perform tests immediately upon completion. Follow up inspections should be made during routine maintenance of the manholes and following major storm events or similar harsh events which impact the sewer system.

FAQ - AP/M Permaform

Is your material corrosion resistant?

The strength of our materials is based on the purpose of the material. Our mortars are designed to be the most structurally sound materials available, and can have a MIC resistant additive added to them. Our coatings are chemically resistant and can be modified for almost any specific chemical and temperature

Is your material similar to other producers?

Our products meet or exceed every product available in today's market.

Do you warrant your material?

As a manufacturer, we warrant our materials against defects. The applicator is responsible for proper installation and thereby warrants the installation.

How long will it last?

The lifetime of the product depends on the conditions and the future use of the area. Generally, PERMACAST® mortar lining will double the life of the existing manhole. It has a design life of 50 years. PERMAFORM® has a design life of 100+ years.

Do you have to spin it on?

The spinner head provides for uniformity and quality control that cannot be achieved by traditional hand applications. The head was specifically designed to overcome obstacles that are inherent with hand applications. Additionally, it is much safer and it enables our applicators to perform consistently high quality installation.

Why should I spin it on?

The spinner head provides compaction of the materials and consistently uniform thickness throughout.

Is it completely no-entry?

Entry is not required for the application of materials. Leak plugging, bench refurbishment and the final inspection require confined space entry.

Why do you need a mortar under the coating?

We use a primary layer of mortar due to the inherent problems of applying coatings. Coatings are highly dependent on the surface upon which it is sprayed. If preparation is not done properly, there will be a tendency toward failure where the coating did not adhere. By providing a new, clean, structural material, you ensure a successful coating.

Thorough preparation of the existing surface is critical to proper adhesion of any coating. The best preparation is a brand new wall free of containment. With MS-10,000 the old wall is thoroughly cleaned, leveled and smoothed. Cor+Gard with epoxy and MS-10,000 cure together to form a one-piece composite.

How long does it take to renew a manhole?

It depends on the site conditions, the crew and of course the general contractor, if there is one. Our applicators typically install 6-8 manholes per day.

How could I benefit from using your product?

We provide a variety of products and methods designed to overcome specific problems. Our systems are proven performers for almost 30 years. The owner can choose what is best for their manholes and our network of licensed applicators are professional in every way.

Can we do PERMACAST ourselves?

Absolutely. We encourage districts and municipalities to explore the option of self-installation. They are trained and supported by our corporate office. More often than not, most districts find that there are minimal setup costs. Due to the fact they use PERMACAST materials, they use our SpinCasterTM free of charge.

FAQ - ConShield

What is Con^micShield®?

Con^micShield® is a liquid additive for the long term MIC (microbiologically induced corrosion) protection of concrete pipe, manholes and wet wells in heavy sulfide conditions common in sanitary sewers.

How does it work?

Con^micShield® molecularly bonds to the concrete particles and impregnates the entire concrete matrix. Protection is throughout the entire thickness and not just on the surface. It is an EPA registered anti-bacterial agent clinically proved to prevent colonization of Thiobacillus bacteria that produce sulfuric acid in sanitary sewer systems. When there are no bacteria, there can be no corrosion.

Why should we use Con^micShield®??

Using Con^micShield® is a single step process precisely dosed under factory controlled conditions for consistent quality control/quality assurance.
Using Con^micShield® requires no special tools, forms, training or equipment
Con^micShield® is in the product. It is not a coating so it will not delaminate, disbond, peel, pinhole or “wear off” over time.
Con^micShield® is environmentally friendly – it allows an engineer to “go green”.
Using Con^micShield® is much less expensive than coatings and liners thereby providing a great value to the owner.
Con^micShield® fortified structures last for the life of the concrete.

How much does it cost?

Generally, it adds only $3 to $4 per square foot of interior surface even though it is throughout the entire thickness. Actual costs must be obtained from the pipe or manhole producer and costs will vary by size and wall thickness. By comparison, the higher costs of coatings and linings are raised even higher because the contractor must do additional work in the field such as welding, spark-testing, joint coating and touch up after the pipe is buried.

How does Con^micShield® compare in price to embedded plastic liners such as T-Lock®, Stud-Liner® and Agru Sure-Grip®? How does it compare in cost to adhesive-applied linings such as Linabond® and to polymer coatings?

Con^micShield® is less than half the cost of embedded plastic liners and coatings and less than one-third the cost of Linabond®. Plastic liners and coatings require additional work in the field once the manhole is installed to weld the joints, to spark test and to correct the inevitable pinhole defects therefore the cost directly from the precaster is NOT the complete cost to the owner. Coatings and liners are subject to field damage and wear which lead to failures (sometimes catastrophic) if routine inspection and repairs are not made. This results in a much shorter service life.