Educational
Join OBIC in Celebrating World Trenchless Day on September 28!
Join OBIC in Celebrating World Trenchless Day on September 28! Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of September, World Trenchless Day serves as a global celebration that shines a spotlight on the many benefits of trenchless technology in underground infrastructure. Here are just some of trenchless technology's benefits: 1. Safety Trenchless methodology is a substantial advantage versus open-cut construction methods. Although OSHA regulations assure trench protection and fall arrest systems, the absence of excavation eliminates those issues altogether. Another safety item that benefits from trenchless methods is the potential for traffic accidents, especially accidents from workers performing their
What’s the Best Way to Prep a Wastewater Structure for Rehabilitation?
What's the Best Way to Prep a Wastewater Structure for Rehabilitation? Proper surface preparation is the absolute key to any successful coating/lining project. Depending upon the substrate surface, as much as 40% of the project cost can be the surface prep. Because of this, many contractors will cut corners on the preparation portion resulting in potential long-term failure. When it comes to wastewater infrastructure work, you should be looking at the long game, which is why OBIC goes above and beyond to extend the life of your structure for up to 50 years with a faster return
What is a Stress Skin Panel in Wastewater Structure Coating?
What is a Stress Skin Panel in Wastewater Structure Coating? We regularly refer to the OBIC Armor three-layer system for wastewater structures as a stress skin panel. During a recent conversation with a public works director, he asked for a more thorough explanation. A brief summary of that explanation around what a stress skin panel in wastewater structure coating is follows, and we're sure there are more people who would benefit from this information as well! The OBIC Armor liner system is a sandwich-structured composite. It consists of an inner and outer layer of flexible polyurea with
Who Has the Best Warranty in Manhole Rehabilitation?
Who Has the Best Warranty in Manhole Rehabilitation? Did you know that our professionally-installed OBIC Armor multi-layer system is backed by a 10-year manufacturer and applicator warranty? During a recent trade show where we were an exhibitor, we were asked WHY we offer a 10-year warranty on our multi-layer OBIC Armor System. We thought this was an unusual way to phrase the question since, typically, it's something more akin to "tell me about your 10-year warranty". We responded that the system has a 50-year design life and it performs so well, (although issues do occur) that we
Come Have Lunch and Learn With OBIC!
Come Have Lunch and Learn With OBIC! Come and enjoy a complimentary lunch while learning from our knowledgeable product experts! Lunch and learns and demos are a cost-effective way to provide your staff with insight and information on products and processes. Learning about OBIC sewer lining repair systems can help your staff plan and execute their projects while learning how to avoid common pitfalls. We customize the lunch and learn agenda based on your specific needs. OBIC has a wide variety of sewer lining repair products available that cover sanitary sewer, storm sewer, potable water and bridge
New Infrastructure is a Big Investment, so Protect it From the Start
New Infrastructure is a Big Investment, so Protect it From the Start It’s common to protect our personal investments and assets, from insuring our homes and cars to buying an extended product warranty. We should also view underground infrastructure in the same way as it is a very costly and an extensive time investment for a municipality and its ratepayers. You may know OBIC for its water and wastewater rehabilitation products, but OBIC products can and should be used for new structures and not just for repairs of aging or damaged ones. So what are the benefits
What are the Main Causes of Manhole Deterioration?
What are the Main Causes of Manhole Deterioration? After years of rehab and lining work spread across thousands and thousands of manholes, we are regularly asked about the most common issues of degradation we encounter. The two most common are inflow and infiltration (I & I) and corrosion. As discussed in previous blogs, I & I is a biggie because it affects treatment plant capacity. Corrosion commonly refers to Hydrogen sulfide (H2SO4) and MIC (microbial induced corrosion) that eat away at concrete manhole structures or the mortar joint of a brick manhole, causing considerable deterioration if left
How to Treat Manhole Inflow and Infiltration Issues Fast
How to Treat Manhole Inflow and Infiltration Issues Fast We all know infiltration when we see it – you open the manhole cover and there’s seeping water or maybe even rushing water. This groundwater is leaking into the system and ends up at the wastewater treatment plant, causing operational inefficiencies and higher costs for the community. So when you do see it, you need to know what is causing it and how to treat it FAST. We thought it would be a nice refresher to easily show the six main types of I&I in this illustration and
OBIC and NASSCO Partner for Manhole Rehabilitation Video
OBIC and NASSCO Partner for Manhole Rehabilitation Video OBIC CEO Dustin Schlachter is a member of the NASSCO Manhole Rehabilitation Committee. NASSCO is the source of education, technical resources and advocacy for the underground infrastructure industry. NASSCO and its 650+ member organizations set standards, promote trenchless technologies and protect our communities through the proper assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation of buried assets. OBIC was one of the sponsors of a video about manhole rehabilitation. Watch this informative and in-depth video to learn: How many manholes exist in the U.S. -- you might be surprised! The causes of deterioration
How to Protect Your Precast Concrete Manholes From Hydrogen Sulfide Corrosion
How to Protect Your Precast Concrete Manholes From Hydrogen Sulfide Corrosion Precast concrete manholes were first introduced in the mid-1950’s, and by 1970 were widely adopted as the preferred structure for manhole installation in sewer and drainage applications. Those 1970-ish manholes are now 50 years old (hard to believe!), which is probably close to the original, intended design life. It is common for the published ‘war-stories’ or case histories to be about ancient hand-hewn stone structures built by artisan craftsmen, and those manholes do exist in some of our oldest cities. But most of what we deal