Save the Environment. Protect Your Budget.

Pressure Pipe Rehabilitation with BulletLiner System® FFRPP

Across the United States, utilities are facing the same challenge: aging water infrastructure and limited capital budgets. Traditional open-cut pipe replacement is often costly, disruptive to communities, and environmentally intensive.

Fortunately, trenchless rehabilitation technologies provide a smarter alternative.

For more than 40 years, trenchless methods have been widely used to rehabilitate gravity pipelines, extending the life of critical infrastructure without large-scale excavation. Today, these technologies continue to evolve and are increasingly used for pressurized water and wastewater pipelines, delivering faster installation, lower costs, and reduced environmental impact.

One solution gaining traction in the pressure pipe sector is Flexible Fabric Reinforced Plastic Pipe (FFRPP).

What is FFRPP?

Flexible Fabric Reinforced Pipe (FFRP) is a trenchless rehabilitation system designed to restore structural integrity to pressure pipelines.

FFRP liners are considered AWWA Class III fully structural liners, meaning the liner itself can carry pressure loads independent of the host pipe.

These systems typically consist of three layers:

• Outer layer: abrasion-resistant polyethylene for protection during installation and operation

• Reinforcement layer: high-strength woven fabrics (such as polyester or aramid) that provide tensile strength and pressure capacity

• Inner layer: smooth polyethylene with a C-factor of approximately 150, maintaining strong hydraulic performance

Because of this design, FFRP liners are capable of restoring pressure pipelines while maintaining flow capacity and minimizing disruption during installation.

The BulletLiner System®

The BulletLiner System® is an advanced FFRPP solution designed specifically for pressure pipe rehabilitation.

Unlike some systems that rely on traditional co-extrusion manufacturing, the BulletLiner System® extrudes the liner and jacket through the reinforcement fabric, creating a monolithic structure with enhanced tensile strength and durability.

This manufacturing process allows the system to achieve:

• Diameters up to 48 inches

• Long continuous installation pulls with minimal excavation

• Strong structural performance for pressurized applications

The liner is delivered to the jobsite flattened and spooled for transport. Once inserted into the host pipe, air pressure restores the liner to its round shape, allowing for efficient installation without curing or weather-related delays.

Why Utilities Choose FFRP

Flexible Fabric Reinforced Pipe systems offer several advantages for pressure pipe rehabilitation:

• Long continuous liner segments with no internal joints

• Faster installation compared to dig-and-replace methods

• Minimal reduction in internal pipe diameter

• Ability to navigate bends and complex alignments

• Installation independent of weather conditions

• Small construction footprint with limited surface disruption

• Pressure ratings up to 305 ps

i• 50+ year design life

For pipelines located under roads, railways, or dense urban areas, these benefits can translate into significant cost savings and reduced impacts to surrounding communities.

Is Trenchless Rehabilitation Right for Your Pipeline?

When evaluating pipeline rehabilitation options, utilities and asset owners should consider several key questions:

• Is the pipeline located in an area where excavation would cause major disruption?• Does the pipeline require maintaining flow capacity with minimal diameter reduction?• Are long pull lengths needed to reduce excavation and access points?• Does the system require a fully structural liner capable of handling pressure independently?• Is minimizing environmental and community impact a priority for the project?

If the answer to several of these questions is yes, trenchless rehabilitation using the BulletLiner System® may be the ideal solution.

Learn More

If you are evaluating options to extend the service life of aging pressure pipelines, CPM Pipelines can help you determine whether the BulletLiner System® is the right fit for your project.

📧 info@cpmpipelines.com📞 480.438.1283