Case Studies
Case Study 1 Promenade Towers
Bethesda, MD
18 Stories
1008 residential units
Built in 1971
Background:
Promenade Towers is a high-rise cooperative building consisting of two chevron- shaped towers. The property was originally constructed as a luxury rental complex complete with a market, restaurants, health club, shopping arcade, salon and much more. The property was converted to a cooperative in 1984.
The Problem:
The 50+ year-old sanitary sewer riser infrastructure was reaching the end of its useful life. By 2020 the buildings clogged, corroded and brittle pipes were failing so often that maintenance requests were coming in daily. At this point the buildings Board of Directors, General Manager and Facilities Manager went looking for an alternative solution to what would surely have been an invasive and costly re-pipe project.
The Solution:
Building management contacted Dynamic Drain Technologies (DDT) in 2021 to take advantage of a sanitary riser evaluation survey (SRES) promotion they’d learned about during a lunch and learn with a Washington DC managers group. With the information gathered from the SRES DDT was able to recommend a Cured-in-Place-Pipe (CIPP) lining pilot project on two kitchen riser stacks, one in each tower. The pilot project was successfully completed in the Fall of 2021and subsequently resulted in a contract to CIPP line the remaining (70) vertical riser stacks in both towers. The turnkey project included kitchen and laundry lateral re-piping on each floor and pipe access hole repair started in May 2022 is scheduled to be completed in January of 2024.
Case Study 2 GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (GSK)
Rockville, MD
Drug Manufacturing Plant
Built in 2005
Background:
GSK is a worldwide Biopharm drug manufacturer with two plants in Rockville, MD. The facility uses a vinyl ester coated fiber drainage piping system for its process and bio wastewater.
The Problem:
The manufacturing plant in one of the two buildings was being retrofitted with new pipe and equipment to produce an important cancer drug. All the above ground process and bio wastewater piping had been replaced. 90% of the plant’s equipment was in place and ready to go three weeks before the start of the manufacturing process when someone asked if the under-slab piping had ever been inspected. The answer was “no” and the ensuing pipe inspection showed that much of the piping was cracked and in jeopardy of failing when the plant came online!
The Solution:
In 2019 GSK’s onsite upper management team turned to Dynamic Drain Technologies (DDT) hoping that the pipes could be rehabbed with the trenchless Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) lining technology. Realizing the urgency, the DDT Team rearranged their schedule and deployed a pipe survey crew the next day. Thankfully the system was a good candidate for lining but there were other challenges ahead. The piping system was to be subjected to high temperatures above the tolerance of epoxies typically used for sewer pipe lining. The good news was the special-order high temp epoxy was on the shelf in a warehouse in Florida. The bad news was that the area was bracing for a hurricane that was a day away from making landfall. Amazingly the order was placed just in time to make the last truck out and the material made it to Maryland a few days later! Upon arrival of the epoxy DDT deployed two crews, working around the clock seven days a week, to line all the pipes in less than 2 weeks. The project was successfully completed on budget and two days ahead of schedule. GSK was so impressed with the project that they’ve contracted with DDT every year since to inspect, and if needed CIPP line, all the under-slab piping in both of their Rockville, MD campus buildings.
Case Study 3 University of Virginia (UVA)
Clemons Library
Charlottesville, VA
Built in the early 1900’s
Background:
Clemons Library at UVA was built in the early 1900’s. It is named in honor of Harry Clemons who served as librarian from 1927 to 1950. The highly used space is open 24/7. The 5 story “pyramid” shaped structure has a different floor plan layout on every level. It has a complicated storm piping system that services the roof and multiple patio areas.
The Problem:
The storm drainage piping system is located above other piping systems, duct work and electrical conduit making it very difficult to repair when a failure occurs. The “last straw” for the facility director was when a 4” cast-iron pipe in the first-floor ceiling burst during a heavy rain event. The ensuing flood wiped out four rows of bookshelves before maintenance technicians could access and repair the pipe.
The Solution:
Dynamic Drain Technologies (DDT) had previously inspected and rehabbed many manhole-to-manhole pipes on the campus during a five-year period between 2010 and 2015. So, it came as no surprise when the Head of Facilities reached out to us in 2020 regarding this problem. The call was timely as in 2016 DDT transitioned from installing its Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) lining system on pipes outside the building footprint to lining pipes inside the buildings footprint. Having four-years of training and experience with cleaning and CIPP lining pipes within walls, ceilings and under-slab proved invaluable as we prepared to rehab the complicated piping system. The project was successfully completed in two phases over a two-year period. The facilities maintenance staff and procurement officer where very happy because the project was completed on schedule and on budget. The students where extremely happy because the library continued its 24/7 operations and never closed while the project was being completed.
Case Study 4 Grosvenor Park III
Bethesda, MD
17 Stories
450+ residential units
Built in 1964
Background:
Grosvenor Park III is a high-rise condominium building located in North Bethesda, Maryland. Conveniently located just outside of the Washington Metro Area Beltway and across the street from a Metro Station this property offers easy access to all DC has to offer. Many of the buildings mechanical systems and amenities have been renovated or upgraded within the past 10-years.
The Problem:
The 55+ year-old sanitary sewer pipe infrastructure was reaching the end of its useful life. By 2018 sewer pipe backups were becoming more prevalent and it was evident that the pipes were becoming brittle and more difficult to repair. At this point the buildings Chief Engineer of over 30 years informed the Board of Directors that it was time to start renovating the system.
The Solution:
The Board of Directors (BOD) hired an engineering consultant in 2018 to evaluate the system and recommend a rehabilitation solution. Shortly thereafter Dynamic Drain Technologies (DDT) was brought in for a site visit and BOD presentation. Within a few months it was decided that the DDT Cured-in-Place-Pipe (CIPP) lining solution was the best option for the building’s residents and budget. In March of 2019 DDT successfully CIPP lined one kitchen and one bathroom riser as part of an initial pilot project. Impressed by the professionalism of the DDT crew and the pipe lining system the BOD made the decision to complete the riser rehabilitation in phases over a multi-year period. As of 2023 DDT has successfully cleaned and CIPP lined (27) kitchen and (2) bathroom riser stacks and (6) underground lateral pipes. There’s more work to be done in route to a 100% CIPP rehab but tackling the worst pipes first and phasing the large project out has been good for the residents and the properties budget.