Pipe Repair
Lions Gate Hospital

Background:

Lions Gate Hospital, a key healthcare provider on the North Shore, opened in 1961 and has continued to evolve with modern infrastructure, including the Hope Centre for mental health services. As with many legacy buildings, aging infrastructure can present maintenance challenges — especially when critical systems such as sanitary drainage are affected.

In 2024, a failure was discovered in a 6-inch cast iron main line exiting the hospital’s long-term care wing. The damage posed a risk of service disruption and required urgent repair in a way that would not interfere with hospital operations or patient care.

Assessment:

Upon inspection, the hospital’s maintenance team confirmed a crack in the cast iron pipe at the point where it exited the building. The location was difficult to access, surrounded by essential systems, and required a solution that avoided excavation, minimized noise and odor, and could be performed in a narrow time window.

The hospital engaged Nu Flow to evaluate and resolve the issue.

Solution:

Nu Flow proposed a trenchless rehabilitation using its Nu Cure™ UV CIPP system — a clean, fast-curing, and durable alternative to traditional pipe replacement or steam-cured liners.

The repair involved the installation of a 12-foot UV-cured liner that would fully restore structural integrity to the cracked section without excavation or disruption to adjacent systems. The technology allowed for completion during a short Friday evening outage, eliminating the need for prolonged downtime or patient relocations.

Technology Spotlight:
Nu Cure™ UV Lining System

The Nu Cure™ UV system is a next-generation solution for cured-in-place pipe rehabilitation that combines speed, cleanliness, and durability.

Key Features:

• Rapid Cure Times – The UV process hardens liners significantly faster than steam or hot water curing.

• Minimal Downtime – Ideal for time-sensitive repairs in healthcare, hospitality, or occupied buildings.

• Clean and Odor-Free – Safer and less disruptive than traditional resins or epoxy systems.

• Durable & Long-Lasting – Creates a corrosion-resistant, jointless pipe rated for over 50 years of service.

• Precision Monitoring – Real-time sensor and CCTV integration ensures perfect curing results.

At Lions Gate Hospital, this technology made it possible to perform a full structural rehabilitation within a single evening, keeping patient services uninterrupted and avoiding costly excavation.

Results:

• ✅ Rapid, Same-Day Completion during a Friday evening service window

• ✅ No Disruption to Patient Care or Facility Operations

• ✅ Permanent Structural Repair with minimal environmental impact

• ✅ Cost-Efficient and Future-Proof solution for aging infrastructure

• ✅ Client Satisfaction with outcome, process, and professionalism

Feel free to contact us today if you are having problems with your pipes.

Case study by Michael Philpot, Project Lead at Nu Flow BC

Hawse Pipe (Anchor Pipe)
Cleaning on CCGS Vector

Background:

The Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS Vector) reported repeated issues with anchor retrieval, specifically binding within the hawse pipes. This problem hindered smooth stowage and deployment of the anchor chains, raising concerns for operational reliability and safety during anchoring procedures.Pipe Location: Various locations throughout the ship
alt water is pumped from the ocean through the pipe to various fire hydrants

Assessment:

Upon inspection, it was discovered that both hawse pipes exhibited significant corrosion, scale build-up, and internal pitting. These conditions contributed to anchor chain friction and snagging during retrieval. Visual and physical inspections were carried out dockside at the vessel’s berth, with Nu Flow BC contracted to assess and address the internal pipe condition.

Solution:

Nu Flow employed a Picote Maxi-Miller system, outfitted with 10” Cyclone Chains, to mechanically clean and descale the interior of the hawse pipes. This high-speed cleaning system was selected for its effectiveness in removing corrosion deposits and restoring pipe integrity without requiring full pipe removal or shipyard drydocking.’

Feel free to contact us today if you are having problems with your pipes.

Case study by Michael Philpot, Project Lead at Nu Flow BC

Case Study: Underground Pipe Rehabilitation at The Fairmont Vancouver

Project Overview

Client: The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Location: Vancouver, BC
Date: March 2023
Service Provided: UV Pipe Rehabilitation (Nu Cure System)
Pipe Size: 4”
Pipe Type: Cast Iron (original)

Background

During a routine inspection and subsequent maintenance planning in the mechanical room of The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, multiple issues were discovered with the 4-inch cast iron drain lines running beneath the mechanical room floor. These lines serviced essential systems and were buried under heavy equipment, walls, and concrete flooring, making traditional excavation and replacement highly disruptive and time-consuming.

Upon excavation, it became apparent that the piping system was in advanced stages of deterioration. Both the tops and bottoms of the pipes were extensively rotted out along multiple sections. Leaks were visible, and water infiltration had begun affecting the surrounding sub-slab material.

Challenges

• Pipe Access: The deteriorated pipes were located beneath major mechanical systems, requiring precise concrete coring and minimal disruption to avoid equipment shutdowns.

• Pipe Condition: Severe corrosion had created multiple holes and full wall loss in several areas of the piping.

• Downtime Sensitivity: As a high-end hotel, The Fairmont Vancouver required minimal operational downtime and no service interruptions.

• Safety & Containment: Work had to be completed in an active mechanical space with hot and cold systems present, requiring careful containment and planning.

Solution: Nu Cure UV CIPP System

To address the issues efficiently and with minimal disruption, our team deployed the Nu Cure UV cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining system. This technology allowed us to rehabilitate the failing pipes without full removal or replacement.

Key Benefits of the UV CIPP System:

• No Digging Required Beyond Initial Access: Only small, strategic access points were needed.

• Rapid Cure Time: Full cure in under an hour per section, reducing downtime significantly.

• Structural Restoration: The liner forms a new pipe within the old, sealing all breaches and restoring flow integrity.

• Long-Term Solution: UV liners are resistant to future corrosion and extend the life of the piping system for decades.

Execution

1. Site Preparation:

   • Core-drilled access points through the concrete slab in key areas to expose problem sections.

   • Cleared debris and water infiltration to prepare the pipe surface.

2. Inspection and Cleaning:

   • Performed a full internal pipe inspection using high-definition video.

   • Cleaned and descaled the interior using mechanical tools and water jetting.

3. Lining Process:

   • Pushed the pre-impregnated UV liner into place.

   • Cured the liner using high-powered UV light systems positioned inside the pipe.

   • Re-inspected post-cure to verify a complete seal and uniform thickness.

Results

• Pipe Restored to Like-New Condition

• No Need to Relocate Equipment or Shut Down Services

• Minimal Downtime with Zero Guest Disruption

• Permanent Structural Liner Installed

Tree Roots in Burnaby House

Situation:

Over the years tree roots have broken into the red clay sewer pipe at this house.  The roots are attracted to the water and easily enter through the joints of this old pipe.  Soon after entering the pipe they grow quickly and block the flow of sewage down the pipe.  These red clay pipes are joined together about every 4 feet. This means the tree roots from the old trees above the pipes have lots of changes to enter and create havoc on the sanitary system.

Solution:

Our first step on this project was to perform a cctv video inspection of the sewer pipe.  Upon inspecting, it was clear to see that tree roots were the problem.  We then went on to clean the pipes and prepare for the installation of our Nu Flow trenchless pipe liner.  After installing our liner the pipe joints became sealed off preventing the tree roots from being able to access water again.  The liner smoothed out offsets in the pipe and gave the pipe structural strength providing the home owner with peace of mind and many more years use of the existing piping system.

CIPP Trenchless Pipe Lining Solutions

Pipe corrosion and erosion in piping systems are common in commercial, industrial and residential buildings. Whether you are experiencing problems now or are interested in preventing the inevitable failure of your plumbing system or even broken electrical conduit or duct system, Nu Flow is available to restore your peace of mind.

Pipe Lining BC Hydro Electrical Duct Bank

Situation:

The high voltage electrical duct bank was made of Asbestos pipe.  The pipe was broken in spots allowing water to ingress and drip into the high voltage electrical vault.

Solution:

Working with an Asbestos Abatement contractor Nu Flow was able to safely clean and prepare the section of pipe to be repaired. Once the pipe was cleaned we were able to install a Nu Flow CIPP liner into the pipe to cove over the broken sections of pipe. By using a camera and our push-in place liner we were able to precisely install the liner exactly where and how we wanted it.

As well as covering over the broken section of pipe this also encapsulated the section of asbestos pipe.  New high voltage lines were then able to be installed in the pipe.

CIPP Trenchless Pipe Lining Solutions

Pipe corrosion and erosion in piping systems are common in commercial, industrial and residential buildings. Whether you are experiencing problems now or are interested in preventing the inevitable failure of your plumbing system or even broken electrical conduit or duct system, Nu Flow is available to restore your peace of mind.

2″ Hot Water Heating Pipes Under Road

Situation:

A 50 year old townhouse complex in Surrey has a boiler heating system which feeds multiple buildings via an underground piping system. An outgoing 2″ and return 2″ running under a busy road were leaking pipe causing losses for the complex.

Solution:

BC Comfort, a heating plumbing contractor from Burnaby brought us in to see if we could solve there problem without disrupting traffic and digging up the road.  Timing was of the essence as we had just started October and winter was fast approaching.

BC Comfort opened up both ends of the pipes where they entered the building allowing us access to clean and prep the pipes for brushing on our epoxy.  After careful cleaning of the pipes to get them to a paint ready state, we were able to brush on our epoxy.  After which a leak test was performed.

The site manager for this townhouse complex is able to rest easy now knowing his lines are in great condition for many more years to come.  With the epoxy coating of his heating lines, the corrosion has now stopped from the inside out.

Epoxy Coating Pipe Lining Solutions

Pipe corrosion and erosion in piping systems are common in commercial, industrial and residential buildings. Whether you are experiencing problems now or are interested in preventing the inevitable failure of your plumbing system or even broken electrical conduit or duct system, Nu Flow is available to restore your peace of mind.

6″ Hot Tub Suction Line Leaking

Situation:

The hot tub at a Delta pool was loosing lots of water a day.  Staff was needing to continuously top it up. At the time of our being brought in, it was unknown as to which line or where the problem was. Unfortunately all the pipes are berried in and under large amounts of concrete.  To dig would mean to stat digging up the pool deck until they found the leak. This really wasn’t a feasible option.

Solution:

Working with the excellent staff at the Corporation of Delta we started with a video inspection of the pipes to see if there was any obvious signs.  Unfortunately there were no signs.  We then added water to the hot tub to see how fast it was going down.

After finding out how fast the water was being lost we made a custom bladder to which we slowly dragged over the joints in the 6″ suction line, inflate and test if the pool would hold and see if it was a possible joint issue.  To our luck it turned out to be one of the first joints in the system from the mechanical room.

We then made up a custom point repair 6″ liner to provide a few feet coverage over each side of the joint. By using our push in place liner and cctv camera we were able to place the liner exactly over the joint we required.  Upon the liner curing the pool held water and the job was successful.

orking with an Asbestos Abatement contractor Nu Flow was able to safely clean and prepare the section of pipe to be repaired. Once the pipe was cleaned we were able to install a Nu Flow CIPP liner into the pipe to cove over the broken sections of pipe. By using a camera and our push-in place liner we were able to precisely install the liner exactly where and how we wanted it.

CIPP Trenchless Pipe Lining Solutions

Pipe corrosion and erosion in piping systems are common in commercial, industrial and residential buildings. Whether you are experiencing problems now or are interested in preventing the inevitable failure of your plumbing system or even broken electrical conduit or duct system, Nu Flow is available to restore your peace of mind.