You don’t see underground pipe infrastructure. Unfortunately, that means problems like blockages, structural failures or compliance issues can bubble to the surface undetected.
Here are the benefits of booking a municipal or commercial CCTV inspection with Mr. Mike’s Plumbing:
Leaving sewer systems without an inspection for years puts them at higher risk for problems later. CCTV pipe inspection puts a camera directly inside the pipe providing engineers, facility managers, contractors and municipalities with insights into what’s happening underground without excavation. That’s why Mr. Mike’s Plumbing provides municipal and commercial CCTV inspection services in Calgary for storm sewer systems, sanitary sewer lines, commercial drain networks and underground pipe infrastructure of all types. When we’re done, we provide detailed inspection reports, accurate defect documentation and the follow-up repair services to address what the camera finds. Contact us to schedule an inspection today.
CCTV is short for closed-circuit television. A CCTV sewer inspection is a video inspection where a camera is mounted on a self-propelled crawler or push rod inserted into an underground pipe. The camera shares live footage of the pipe interior as it travels through the line, capturing the condition of the pipe walls, joints, connections and if any problems are present.
This isn’t the same as a basic sewer scope inspection or sewer and drain video inspection. A commercial CCTV inspection usually involves a more systematic inspection process that covers precise defect coding, distance measurement, pipe condition and grading and a formal report. The output is a documented record of the underground pipe system’s condition that can be used for asset management, regulatory compliance, insurance purposes or to support repair and maintenance planning.
Before inserting the camera into the pipe, we find an access point. It’s often a manhole, cleanout or inspection chamber. For storm and sanitary sewer main line inspections, we assess flow conditions and where necessary, we clean the line to give the camera a clear view of the pipe interior.
A high-definition pipe camera mounted on a wheeled crawler for larger diameter pipes or on a push rod for smaller lines is deployed into the pipe from the access point. The camera is guided through the full length of the pipe run being inspected, transmitting live video footage throughout the pipe inspection process.
As the camera moves through the underground pipe, the technicians watch the live feed and record observations. Defects, anomalies and features are logged with their location within the pipe run. In commercial inspections, defects are usually coded according to standard classification systems so findings are documented and compared across inspections over time.
After the inspection, a formal report is produced. The report includes video footage, still images of findings, defect location with distance references, pipe condition assessment and recommendations. This documentation is required by the city or municipality for construction acceptance inquiries, it confirms the new sewer connection or infrastructure meets the required standard.
New sewer connections, storm drainage installations and sanitary sewer extensions in Calgary require a CCTV inspection as part of the construction acceptance process. The city requires documented evidence that new underground pipe infrastructure meets installation standards before it is accepted into the municipal systems. Mr. Mike’s Plumbing provides CCTV inspection services for construction acceptance across Calgary.
Commercial properties like office buildings, retail facilities, restaurants, multi-unit residential buildings and industrial sites all benefit from scheduled CCTV inspection as part of a preventative maintenance program. Regular video inspections identify developing issues before they turn into blockages, backups or structural failures that disrupt operations.
Commercial real estate transactions involving properties with underground drainage infrastructure can benefit from a CCTV pipe inspection. Identifying the condition of the storm and sanitary sewer lines before acquisition protects the buyer from inheriting deferred maintenance or hidden repair liability.
When a commercial property runs into a sewer backup, drain blockage or unexplained drainage failure, a CCTV inspection can identify the cause and location. The inspection report provides the information needed for a targeted, effective repair instead of guessing the problem.
Before we carry out trenchless repair methods like CIPP pipe lining or pipe bursting, a CCTV inspection confirms the condition of the pipe and verifies the planned repair method will work for the state of the pipe. The inspection prevents applying a repair to a pipe that is too deteriorated or misaligned to accept it.
A commercial CCTV inspection covers the following:
When it comes to construction acceptance inspections, the report format must meet the documentation requirements specified by the City of Calgary or the relevant municipal authority.
Our commercial CCTV inspection services cover several pipe diameters and materials found throughout Calgary commercial and municipal infrastructure including:
The specific equipment used varies. A crawler-mounted camera is used for larger diameter while a push rod is used for smaller lines. We match the pipe size and access conditions of the job.
Mr. Mike’s Plumbing provides inspection and repair services under one roof. When the CCTV inspection discovers a defect, blockage or structural issue, our team will carry out the follow-up repair. Processes include sewer drain cleaning, CIPP pipe lining for trenchless rehabilitation, pipe replacement and excavation as needed. Hydrovac services are a less disruptive alternative. There’s no need for multiple contractors because we take care of the inspection process and any follow-up work needed.
A CCTV sewer inspection is a video inspection of an underground pipe using a camera mounted on a crawler or push rod. The camera sends live footage of the pipe interior as it makes its way through the line, capturing pipe condition, defects, blockages and structural problems. The inspection process produces a documented record of the inside of the pipe, which can be used for maintenance planning, construction acceptance, due diligence or repair assessment.
The camera is deployed from a manhole, cleanout or inspection chamber and guided through the pipe run. The operator monitors the live feed, logs defects with their location and distance from the access point and records the footage. After the inspection, a formal report is produced, consisting of video, images, defect coding and condition assessment. For larger pipes, a crawler-mounted camera is used and smaller lines use a push rod camera.
We inspect a wide range of pipe diameters that range from smaller commercial drain lines to larger sanitary and storm sewer main lines. The equipment we use matches the pipe size and access conditions. Call us with your specific requirements and we can confirm if the pipe is within our inspection scope.
Construction acceptance of new sewer connections, routine preventative maintenance, pre-purchase diligence, post-backup investigation and pre-repair assessment before trenchless rehabilitation are all grounds for a CCTV sewer inspection. If you manage a commercial property with underground drainage infrastructure, scheduled CCTV inspections are a standard part of responsible asset management.
Video footage of the full inspection, still images of defects and anomalies, defect locations with distance measurements, pipe condition assessment, defect severity coding, pipe material and diameter and recommended action are part of every CCTV inspection report. When it comes to construction, acceptance, the report has to meet documentation requirements of the municipal authority.
Yes, that’s its main purpose. The camera finds blockages, root intrusion, pipe cracks and fractures, joint separations, corrosion, bellied pipe sections, offset connections and other defects. Anything captured inside the pipe is documented during the inspection.
It comes down to the property type, pipe age, usage and history. For most commercial properties, an inspection every two to three years is a reasonable baseline. High-demand facilities such as restaurants or properties with older infrastructure should get annual inspections. Our team will give you a more specific recommendation based on what the first inspection finds.
Yes. In Calgary, new sewer connections, storm drainage installations and sanitary sewer extensions generally require a CCTV inspection as part of the construction acceptance process. The city requires documented evidence that new underground pipe infrastructure meets installation standards before it is accepted. Our inspection reports meet documentation requirements for construction acceptance submissions.
While timelines can vary, it depends on the length and accessibility of the pipe run being inspected. A single commercial property inspection will usually take a few hours. Larger municipal or multi-site inspections take longer, we provide a realistic timeline estimate when we scope the job.
Yes and it should be. A CCTV inspection before trenchless repair confirms the condition of the pipe and verifies that the planned repair method will work. More specifically, with CIPP pipe lining, this inspection determines whether the pipe structure is intact enough for the liner to bond correctly. Skipping the inspection before trenchless repair is how repair methods get applied to pipes that aren’t suitable candidates.
What’s your next commercial plumbing project? Do you need a construction acceptance inspection, a routine commercial sewer inspection or a full pipeline condition assessment? Turn to Mr. Mike’s Plumbing in Calgary. We provide detailed reports, accurate defect documentation and follow-up repair services to address what we find. Contact us to schedule your inspection.
