Description
KOBUS Services Ltd were invited by Clancy Docwra to undertake a demonstration of the KOBUS Pipe Puller for a 1/2″ lead pipe replacement. The purpose of this trial was to demonstrate the speed, effectiveness and safety of the Pipe Puller.
The water service pipe replacement was carried out on a live site in a suburban road in southern Edinburgh. Under normal circumstances this long-side cross road replacement would have been undertaken via moling. This is a potentially risky approach if there are significant numbers of services in both the highway and the pavement. The pipe itself was a 1/2” diameter lead pipe and 6m in length. In addition, the City of Edinburgh Council had imposed strict requirements on both the nature of road openings and the quality of highway reinstatement.
Outcomes
The 6m cross-road lead pipe replacement was successfully removed and replaced by PE pipe in about 3 minutes. The time on site for this pull was approximately 45 minutes from cutting the supply to re-connection. The excavation for this demonstration was also slightly deeper than normal although this proved no obstacle for the Pipe Puller.
Throughout the operation, Beauchamp Road remained open with no disruption to traffic. The minimal impact of the Pipe Puller operation on the highway also ensured the City of Edinburgh Council requirements for reinstatement could be fully met.
The work was undertaken under standard Scottish Water/Clancy Docwra health & safety procedures. There were no reported incidents in respect of either service strikes (HSG47) or operator activity.