Despite decades of advancement in pipeline rehabilitation, open trench excavation remains the default method in many municipalities and utility departments. It’s familiar and required in some cases, but it’s often used when more efficient, less disruptive options are available. Ultraviolet light-cured glass-reinforced pipe (UV GRP) technology has reshaped how critical pipelines are restored. For agencies still relying heavily on digging, it’s important to understand what UV GRP cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining offers and why the trenchless transition is more than a cost-saving measure.
Excavation comes at a high operational cost
Open trench repairs require extensive staging, planning, permitting, and restoration. It’s not just the labor of digging up and replacing pipe segments but the temporary road closures, traffic rerouting, pavement demolition and replacement, and public impact. These line items can multiply the project’s total cost and duration.
In many urban settings, the depth of a pipeline isn’t even the most challenging variable. It’s the congestion above it: utilities, telecom, water mains, storm drains, and high-traffic corridors. Coordinating these factors adds days or weeks to a schedule and increases exposure to risk.
A UV GRP trenchless solution eliminates most of these variables. There’s no excavation beyond small access pits — if that. There’s no saw cutting or jackhammering, and the duration of lane closures or traffic control is significantly reduced thanks to the faster installation process.
UV GRP is installed through existing manholes or vaults, restoring structural integrity from inside the pipe. Unlike traditional felt-based CIPP, UV GRP liners can offer faster curing times, greater control over installation variables, and superior mechanical properties.
Trenchless is faster and stronger
The decision to use UV GRP liners isn’t just about convenience; it’s also about upgrading the performance of the rehabilitated pipe. Compared to traditional felt liners cured with steam or hot water, UV GRP systems can deliver significantly higher flexural modulus and tensile strength.
For example, Reline America’s Alphaliner boasts flexural modulus values that range between 1.66 million and 3 million psi — up to 10 times higher than typical felt liners. This strength is crucial in areas with soil movement, heavy traffic loads, or deep burial conditions where long-term deformation must be prevented.
Unlike heat-cured systems that rely on ambient curing environments and large amounts of water or steam, UV GRP liners are cured using controlled, high-intensity UV light. This approach results in more uniform resin polymerization, reducing variability and ensuring consistent mechanical properties throughout the liner. There are no “cold spots,” over-cured areas, or premature shrinkage issues.
Smaller footprint and less risk
The operational difference between steam-cured felt liners and UV GRP becomes apparent on high-impact projects. A traditional thermal cure might require several hours of setup, multiple hours to maintain temperature throughout the liner length, and a full day of cooling and finishing. For longer runs or more complex geometries, that time commitment increases considerably.
By contrast, Reline America’s Alphaliner can be cured at speeds of up to 5.5 feet per minute, depending on the liner type and diameter. This means less time on-site, fewer crew hours, and reduced reliance on support vehicles like boilers or reefer trucks.
From a risk management perspective, shorter installations mean fewer opportunities for unexpected site complications and less disruption to businesses, schools, or hospitals that may rely on access near the pipeline corridor. Reline America’s manufacturing processes are also ISO 9001:2015 certified, so every liner is traceable, quality-tested, and optimized for consistent performance.
Misconceptions slow adoption
Despite the proven advantages, UV GRP still faces resistance rooted in outdated assumptions. Some agencies question whether UV-cured liners can meet structural requirements, especially given their thinner profiles. Others hesitate due to past issues with products that claim UV performance but lack the mechanical integrity of true UV GRP systems.
Clarifying these distinctions is essential. Reline America’s Alphaliner meets ASTM F2019, the recognized standard for UV GRP CIPP, and provides published mechanical property data verified through independent lab testing. In contrast, some liners that incorporate minimal glass or rely on ambient curing lack this third-party validation and often fail to meet design life expectations.
The perception that “dig and replace” is more dependable continues to persist in certain regions, particularly where procurement processes favor legacy approaches. However, as more municipalities evaluate lifecycle costs, disruption impact, and performance consistency, the case for UV GRP becomes increasingly clear.
See the light and stop digging
In pipeline rehabilitation, excavation is no longer the only — or even the best — option. UV GRP CIPP offers structural strength, installation speed, and environmental advantages that open trench repairs can’t match. Instead of disrupting communities and absorbing the compounding costs of excavation, it’s time to adopt a more advanced approach. The next generation of pipeline rehabilitation is already here — and it doesn’t involve a shovel.
To learn more about Reline America’s trenchless UV GRP solutions, visit RelineAmerica.com.
