This project, undertaken by Network Rail was a large scale station redevelopment project spanning platforms, concourses and terminals, this work included the movement, modification and alteration to various mechanical and HVAC systems.
The problem:
While performing excavations for new water services, our client discovered a series of old, Cast Iron pipes buried in the ground, none of which were on any version of drawings or schematics they could find; and to add to the difficulty they were also virtually impossible to trace.
The solution:
PSL were able to offer under pressure drilling ‘Hot Tapping’ as a solution to the problem, this process allows the pipe work to be drilled, under live (or in this case unknown) conditions, without losing system pressure or any fluid from the pipe work.
PSL supplied, fitted and tested a purpose made hot tapping ‘clamp’ to the pipe, fitted a new lever valve and then pressure tested the new joints before any drilling took place, to ensure there would be no leaks once the new valve is live. We then proceeded to drill a hole into the pipe work using our custom made rig, allowing a smooth controlled cut.
Once complete the rig is removed and the new valve opened to ascertain the condition of the pipe and what its contents were, Network Rail were able to decide using this method that the pipe was in fact a dead, redundant service and that it could be cut out of the way, allowing works to continue.
PSL were able to turn this around within days of getting the initial call, turning what could have been over a week of stopped work into just a few days delay.
