Pitch Fibre Pipework
Specialists operating throughout Cornwall and Plymouth

The camera we use is an up to date, state of the art drainage camera that will be used for CCTV Surveys and LookSee, pre-house purchase surveys, etc. The micro-digger is small enough to go through a standard doorway, which makes it more beneficial for smaller dig ups in back gardens and is ideal for use in replacing soakaways and any other drainage repair that requires excavation where possible.

Here South West Drains outline the common problems that arise with Pitch Fibre Pipework.

Pitch Fibre Pipework was commonly used in the 1960’s, this was because pitch fibre pipes were considered ideal due to the fact that they were inexpensive and were also much easier to handle than traditional clay pipes.

Pitch fibre is made of wood cellulose fibre impregnated with carefully refined inert coal tar pitch, under vacuum and pressure (about 25% fibre to 75% pitch by weight).

Although considered suitable for foul drains and sewers, it was not considered suitable for drains running large amounts of hot water or for wastes containing pitch solvents such as fats, petrol, oil etc.

Over the years South West Drains have encountered various problems with pitch fibre pipework when used as foul drainage, here are a few of those problems.

1. Over a period of time the pipework can deteriorate through being poorly laid, age, weakening weight stress and chemical erosion.

2. The pipework can become porous, allowing water to leak out. Subsoil is then washed away from around the pipe causing subsidence.

3. If the pipework leaks it may attract tree or shrub roots causing further damage.

4. Pitch fibre pipework is prone to deterioration from within by blistering, causing obstructions and eventually closing up the pipe.

5. The usual forms of pipe maintenance carried out on pitch fibre pipework may actually cause further damage due to its delicate nature.

By our high standards, pitch fibre is a very poor drainage material. It has a limited lifespan, but nobody knows how long as each run is different.