Craigleith Drive, Edinburgh – 1/2″ Lead Pipe Replacement

Description
KOBUS Services Ltd were invited by Clancy Docwra to undertake a demonstration of the KOBUS Pipe Puller to Scottish Water and the local Clancy Docwra contract management and field operations team in Edinburgh. In early 2012 Clancy Docwra successfully bid for a major role in the 5 year UK £1.2bn networks R&M contract for Scottish Water with the KOBUS Pipe Puller forming an integral component of the innovative and cost-effective approach proposed. The twin purposes of the demonstration were therefore firstly to show both Scottish Water and the Clancy Docwra Contract Manager the speed, effectiveness and safety of the Pipe Puller and secondly introduce the KOBUS Pipe Puller to the Clancy Docwra field operations teams.
The pipe replacement undertaken by KOBUS Services Ltd was carried out on a live site in a busy suburban road in western Edinburgh. Under normal circumstances this long-side cross road replacement would have been undertaken via an open-cut approach given the significant numbers of services in both the highway and the pavement which would be at risk from using techniques such as moling. The pipe itself was a 1/2” diameter lead pipe and 10m 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 10m cross-road lead pipe was successfully removed and replaced by MDPE pipe in 248 seconds. The time on site for this pull was approximately 48 minutes from cutting the supply to re-connection. This period was slightly longer than normal as immediately following the cross-road pull KOBUS Services Ltd also used the Pipe Puller to replace the remaining 3m lead portion of the customer’s supply pipe.
Throughout the operation, Craigleith Drive remained open ensuring no disruption to traffic. The minimal impact of 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.