Inflatable Pipe Stoppers for Pipeline Isolation & Testing

Enviroguard inflatable pipe stoppers are used for pipeline isolation, pressure testing, maintenance, repair, and temporary flow control. Our pneumatic pipe stoppers cover a range of pipe diameters from 2" to 72" and are used for isolating sections of pipelines, drains, sewers, culverts, and industrial piping systems.

Manufactured using reinforced elastomeric materials, our inflatable pipe stoppers seal against the internal pipe wall and allow quick installation and removal.

For hydrostatic testing, sewer testing, pipeline maintenance, emergency isolation, or industrial shutdown — Enviroguard can configure the stopper to your pipe diameter, pressure requirements, medium, and operating conditions.

What is an Inflatable Pipe Stopper?

An inflatable pipe stopper is a flexible cylindrical sealing device that is inserted into a pipeline and inflated using air or another suitable inflation medium.

When inflated, the stopper expands radially and presses against the inside wall of the pipe, creating a secure seal. This allows a section of the pipeline to be isolated without requiring permanent modifications to the pipe.

Inflatable pipeline stoppers are used where rigid plugs or mechanical isolation devices are difficult to install.

How Does an Inflatable Stopper Work?

1. Insert: The deflated pipe stopper is inserted into the pipeline through an appropriate access point.
2. Position: The stopper is positioned at the required location within the pipe.
3. Inflate: The stopper is inflated using an air compressor or suitable inflation equipment to the specified operating pressure.
4. Seal: As the stopper expands, it presses against the internal pipe wall and creates a tight seal.
5. Isolate & Test: The isolated section can then be drained, tested, repaired, cleaned, or maintained as required.
6. Deflate & Remove:After completion of the operation, the stopper is safely deflated and removed from the pipeline.

Important: The allowable back pressure, inflation pressure and installation conditions must always be established based on the stopper design, pipe diameter, pipe condition and application.

Inflatable Stoppers for Sewer & Drainage Applications

1. Pipeline Isolation: Used to isolate sections of pipelines during maintenance, modification, repair and shutdown operations.
2. Hydrostatic & Pressure Testing: Inflatable plugs can be used to temporarily seal a section of pipe during hydrostatic pressure testing and pipeline testing.
3. Sewer Testing: Large stoppers are commonly used for sewer line testing, drainage testing and wastewater infrastructure maintenance.
4. Pipeline Maintenance & Repair: The pipe section can be isolated to allow maintenance teams to carry out repairs without shutting down an entire system.
5. Construction Applications: Used during installation and commissioning of new pipelines, drainage systems and underground utilities.
6. Emergency Pipeline Isolation: Can provide a rapid temporary isolation solution in certain emergency maintenance situations.
7. Drain & Culvert Isolation: Suitable configurations can be used for temporary isolation of drains, culverts and water channels.
8. Industrial Piping: Used in industrial facilities for temporary isolation during inspection, cleaning, maintenance and modification work.

Types of Inflatable Pipe Stoppers

Standard: Designed for general-purpose temporary pipeline isolation and testing applications.

High-Pressure: Designed for applications requiring higher resistance to internal back pressure, subject to the specific design parameters.

Large-Diameter: Designed for large pipelines, drainage systems, culverts and municipal infrastructure.

Multi-Size: Designed to accommodate a defined range of pipe diameters, reducing the requirement for multiple stopper sizes.

Flow-Through: Special configurations can be designed with a flow-through arrangement where controlled flow is required while the pipeline is isolated or tested.

Custom Inflatable Pipe Stoppers: Enviroguard can manufacture custom pipe stopper based on pipe diameter, operating pressure, application, temperature, fluid compatibility and installation requirements.

Cylindrical vs Spherical Pipe Stoppers

Cylindrical Inflatable Stoppers: Longer than their diameter. They resist turning over under pressure and provide greater contact area with the pipe wall. Best for most pipeline isolation and pressure testing applications.

Spherical Inflatable Stoppers: Ball-shaped design. Useful when access is restricted or the stopper needs to be positioned at an angle. Ideal for tight spaces and limited entry points.

Materials & Construction

The performance and service life of an inflatable pipe stopper depend significantly on the selected material. Depending on the application, our inflatable pipe stoppers can be manufactured using durable flexible materials such as:

• Neoprene-coated fabric
• Nitrile-coated fabric
• EPDM-coated fabric
• PVC-coated polyester
• Other application-specific elastomeric materials

Material selection can be based on:

• Water exposure
• Wastewater and sewage
• Oil and hydrocarbon exposure
• Chemical compatibility
• Temperature
• UV exposure
• Required service life
• Operating environment

For applications involving oil, fuel, chemicals or aggressive fluids, the material should be selected based on the specific chemical compatibility requirements.

Inflatable Pipe Stopper Specifications

Note: Actual dimensions, inflation pressure, allowable back pressure and material construction should be confirmed against the specific pipe diameter and application before use.

Advantages of Inflatable Stoppers

Easy Installation: Insert deflated, inflate at the required location — simpler than rigid isolation equipment.

Lightweight & Portable: Deflates for transport and storage — convenient for field operations

Flexible Sealing: The body conforms to the internal pipe surface, sealing across different pipe geometries.

Fast Deployment: Inflate on-site in minutes, reducing downtime during maintenance operations.

Reusable: Deflate, inspect, store, and redeploy. One stopper handles multiple jobs.

Customizable: Dimensions, materials, fittings and configurations can be selected according to the application.

Inflatable Pipeline Stoppers for Sewer & Drainage Applications

Enviroguard inflatable sewer pipe stoppers isolate sewer and drainage pipelines during construction, inspection, cleaning, repair and testing.

They can be used by:

• Municipal corporations
• Water utilities
• Sewerage contractors
• Civil contractors
• Infrastructure companies
• Pipeline contractors
• Testing agencies
• Industrial maintenance teams

Large-diameter configurations can be manufactured for municipal drainage, culvert and wastewater infrastructure applications.

Pipe Stoppers for Pipeline Testing

During pipeline testing, a secure temporary seal is required to isolate the test section. An inflatable pipe stopper can be positioned at the required location and inflated to create a temporary barrier. The isolated section can then be subjected to the required test procedure.

Depending on the application, we also offer inflatable pipe plugs.

• Hydrostatic testing
• Leak testing
• Pressure testing
• Pipeline commissioning
• Sewer testing
• Drainage testing
• Inspection and maintenance

The stopper must always be selected according to the pipe diameter, test pressure, expected back pressure and pipe condition.

How to Select the Right Pipe Stopper

1. Pipe Internal Diameter: The actual internal diameter of the pipe.
2. Pipe Material: For example, concrete, steel, HDPE, PVC, GRP or other material.
3. Application: Isolation, hydrostatic testing, sewer testing, maintenance, emergency isolation, etc.
4. Maximum Back Pressure: The pressure that the stopper will be exposed to during operation.
5. Fluid / Medium: Water, wastewater, sewage, oil, chemicals or another medium.
6. Operating Temperature: Required to determine appropriate material selection.
7. Installation Location: Horizontal, vertical, underground, manhole, culvert, tank connection, etc.
8. Required Accessories:Safety rope, inflation hose, pressure gauge, carrying bag, retrieval rope, flow-through connection, etc.