Bosvedjan: relining

Bosvedjan in Sundsvall is one of Sweden’s largest tenant-owner associations with 1,033 apartments in 52 properties. Sortera, through the acquired company Interspol, has been contracted by Bosvedjan since 2018 to renovate the buildings’ rainwater and sewage pipes. 

Bosvedjan’s housing was built between 1966 and 1969. The technical lifespan of cast iron pipes is estimated at 50 years, and after repeated flushing and inspection of the housing association’s pipes, it was determined that it was time to repair them. Interspol, which is now part of Sortera, had carried out both the main flushing and inspection work, and was commissioned to carry out the renovation. Since both the stormwater and wastewater systems were the same age, it was natural to renovate all the cast iron pipes at the same time.   

Sustainable renovation 

Sortera used pipe lining, a method within relining, to renovate the sewer pipes. Pipe lining is a method in which a new self-supporting and sustainable pipe is created inside the old one by saturating a customised material with epoxy plastic, and then forcing it into the existing pipe using compressed air. This results in a product that is at least as safe and good as a conventional pipe, but at a significantly lower cost, while at the same time making significant energy savings compared to a traditional pipe replacement. 

“Bosvedjan sought a cost-effective solution that is both economically and environmentally sustainable. Pipe lining is a proven renovation method that has been used for over 30 years and is therefore a good solution for preventing future problems with rainwater and sewage pipes. In addition, it is a short process that causes much less issues for both the environment and residents,” says Fredrik Enqvist, Supervisor at Sortera Industry who is working on the project. 

Since the start and until 2023, 40 of 52 buildings have had their rainwater and sewage pipes renovated. Sortera has received the order to continue with the remaining pipes such as rainwater, ventilation pipes and roof runoff. The project will continue until 2029. 

“We are pleased with Bosvedjan’s continued trust, it shows that they appreciate our collaboration and that we deliver high quality,” concludes Enqvist.