Diamond Wire Cutting at Briars Nose Pumping Station in Headington, Oxford

Requirements

• Cut and isolate 2 sections of cast iron water pipe.
• Pipe 450mm in diameter.
• Section 1 located in 3 metre deep trench.
• Section 2 located inside enclosed pumping chamber.
• Cutting equipment to be operated remotely.
• All operatives to be ‘Confined Spaces’ certified.
• Strict adherence to water industry safety regulations.
• Operations to be undertaken alongside other contractors.
• Work to be completed within a fixed 4 hour period.

Solutions

Requirement

• Use of 2 hydro stress wire saws with hydraulic power packs and autonomous three phase generators.
• Equipment tested and positioned prior to water supply being turned off.
• Diamond wire saw operated and powered remotely.
• Cutting equipment not affected by residual water in pipe.
• Standby machinery available on site.

Key Benefits

• Demolition robot operated remotely negating operative hand and arm vibration issues.
• Brokk’s ‘rock mast’ drilling attachment used to reduce vibrations on air bridge.
• Concrete debris removed and recycled.

Financial

• Project completed before temporary water reserves depleted ensuring Oxford’s water supply remained uninterrupted.
• Specialist equipment owned and operated by Castle and Pryor ensuring fixed costs and qualified, experienced operators.

Time

• Pipe severed without water fully drained thus saving approximately 2 hours.
• Equipment set up without having to cease pumping.
• Immediate cutting undertaken once water pumping had ceased.
• Completed within time frame allocated.