What Is a Mandrel Inspection?
A mandrel inspection identifies underground blockages in buried pipes and conduits, a process also called "pigging." Mandrels come in a variety of configurations but are typically tubular metal with a circumference smaller than the pipe being inspected.
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Function
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Inspectors push the mandrel into a pipe to identify the location of an obstruction. Mandrel inspections conducted during new construction projects ensure that underground pipes and electrical conduit are free of obstructions before being put into service.
Benefits
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A useful tool in identifying underground problems, a mandrel inspection reduces the cost of repairs by limiting the amount of excavation that must take place. Identifying problems before services are commissioned contributes to keeping new construction projects on schedule.
Advancements
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Developments in mandrel inspections include the use of lasers or cameras. Laser mandrel inspections can identify all existing problems in a pipeline at once, whereas traditional mandrels identify only one obstruction at a time as once they reach an obstruction they can go no further until it has been removed. Video inspection or CCTV is another advancement in mandrel inspections. A narrow device with a video camera and a light source is fed into the conduit or pipe and images are relayed to the surface. This advancement provides detailed visual information about the blockages inside a pipe.
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References
- Photo Credit pipes 3 image by Mikhail Malyshev from Fotolia.com
