IN-PLACE ABANDONMENT OF STORMWATER PIPE

THE CHALLENGE

An aging stormwater drainage pipe (24-inch diameter, 125 feet long) had become obsolete due to redevelopment.

  • Traditional removal would require extensive excavation, operation challenges, and increasing costs dramatically.
  • Potential soil erosion and voids around/under the pipe, leading to sinkholes, settlement, or pavement/structural damage over time.
  • Risk of water infiltration, vermin entry, or unintended stormwater flow redirection.
  • Standard flowable fill options were heavy, hard to pump long distances, and risked pipe damage or incomplete fill.
  • There was only one access point.

The goal: Safely abandon the pipe in place while preventing future subsidence or instability.

THE SOLUTION

Foam Solutions MD used FillFoam™, a high-performance, pre-expanded foam that is lightweight and highly flowable to fill voids completely without heat generation or heavy equipment.
Key Applications:

  • Accessed the pipe at ONE injection location; the foam’s low density and excellent flow allowed full filling with limited access
  • Foam expanded to completely encapsulate the interior, displacing air/water and creating a stable fill that’s custom molded to the pipe.

Benefits Delivered:

  • Eliminated voids and soil migration risks – foam provides long-term stability without settling or shrinking.
  • Minimal disruption: No large-scale excavation, reduced traffic/operational impact.
  • Lightweight (low psi load on surrounding soil/structures) and pumpable over long distances.
  • Fast cure time for quick project completion.
  • Environmentally friendly alternative: No heavy concrete trucks, reduced carbon footprint by 80-90% over traditional fills.

THE RESULTS

  • Performance Impact: Pipe fully filled with 15 cubic yards and stabilized with FillFoam; post-install inspections confirmed no voids or settlement risks.
  • Cost & Time Savings: Avoided expensive dig-and-remove; completed in 1 day vs. weeks for excavation.
  • Client Outcome: Safe, reliable abandonment allowing for the development without future headaches.

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