Project Overview
A commercial food processing company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin undertook a major facility renovation and expansion project that included converting an existing structure into a new loading dock. During site evaluation, an aging 15-inch underground drainage pipe was identified running beneath the area adjacent to the planned renovation.
While the pipe was still conveying water at the time of discovery, the drainage system was scheduled to be rerouted and replaced as part of the new construction. This made the existing pipe obsolete. The owner’s primary concern was not long-term drainage, but the risk of future pipe collapse, sinkhole formation, or unwanted animal intrusion beneath or near the renovated structure.
A local plumbing contractor engaged RaiseRite to provide a fast, non-invasive pipe abandonment solution that would eliminate these risks without requiring extensive excavation near existing structures.
The Challenge
- Abandon approximately 60 feet of a 15-inch diameter underground drainage pipe
• Presence of standing and flowing water within the pipe during installation
• Single-point access only at one end of the pipe (from inside the manhole)
• Excavating and removing the pipe was impractical due to proximity to the structure and risk of disruption - Owner required a permanent solution that would prevent collapse, voids, and future ground settlement
The Solution
RaiseRite utilized HMI polyurethane FillFoam® as a void-filling and pipe abandonment solution to stabilize the pipe from the inside and eliminate the potential for collapse.
- The installation process included:
- Managing water within the pipe to allow material placement
- Installing an injection line through the manhole to access the pipe interior
- Pumping approximately 900 lbs of FillFoam (pre-expansion) to fill roughly 60 feet of the 100-foot pipe run, fully occupying the internal void and providing long-term structural support
This approach allowed the pipe to be abandoned in place, removing the risk of future settlement or failure without disturbing surrounding soil or structures.
The Results
- Installation completed in approximately 2 hours by a 4-person crew
- Pipe was permanently abandoned and structurally stabilized
- Eliminated risk of sinkholes, collapse, and animal intrusion
- Avoided costly and disruptive excavation
- Allowed the renovation and expansion project to proceed on schedule
Value Delivered
This project highlights how RaiseRite’s Void Filling and Pipe Abandonment services offer a fast, cost-effective alternative to excavation when aging or obsolete infrastructure poses a future risk. By filling the pipe in place, the owner gained long-term peace of mind while minimizing disruption, cost, and construction delays—an ideal solution for commercial and industrial renovation projects.
