Contractor, Charlton Drain Services of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire recently undertook a delicate pipe replacement project in Greet near Winchcombe, Gloucestershire for the replacement of almost 180 m of deteriorated pitch fibre sewer pipe. The delicate nature of the work came not so much from the fact that the pipe needed replacing or that the installation was difficult but that the work involved the sewer take-off from some 15 households along the pipeline route. The client for the project was Tewkesbury Borough Council acting on behalf of local residents.

Pipe Replacement
With a project schedule of just 2½ days, the contractor decided to utilise, on hire, a HammerHead- PB30 PORTABURST pipe bursting system, equipped with a 60 m pulling cable and a 160 mm diameter compact bursting head The system was manufactured in the US by HammerHead and supplied in the United Kingdom through U Mole Ltd of Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire, HammerHead's exclusive UK representative. The cost effective, small footprint PB30 PORTABURST system boasts a pull back force of up to 30 t. The small size of the system makes it quick to set up, and improves accessibility to difficult areas. The unit can be powered from a variety of power sources.

Advantages
On the Greet project, the work program involved the size-for-size replacement of the pitch fibre pipe over 150 m with 150 mm (6") diameter PE pipe and in excess of 20 m of upsizing replacement from 100 mm (4") to 150 mm (6") diameter. The PE pipe used was 160 mm o.d SDR 17.6 screw-fit PE pipe manufactured by Demco. The bursting work was undertaken from and to existing manholes with an average of around 47 m per pull using just four machine set-ups.

Commenting on the project Rob Ranford of Charlton Drain Services said: "The major benefit of using the PB30 PORTABURST system for both the client and the local residents was that the major disturbance normally associated with open cut operations through large landscaped gardens and open field is avoided. This is not only good from a public relations viewpoint but also from the fact that all the 'add-on' costs associated with compensation payments and the restoration of ground to original its condition are eliminated." He continued: "The small size and compact set-up of the system also make it ideal for easy transport and transfer to the rear of the properties where no access for vehicles exists."

Despite an initial delay of three weeks in the supply of the bursting system due to high levels of demand for the equipment across the UK for water and sewer industry, U Mole's experts trained Charlton Drain's crews on-site in the safe and correct use of the equipment and application of the technique. On completion of the work both the client and Charlton Drains were delighted with the results of the newly installed pipeline and the lack of disruption that had been achieved for local householders.

The PB30 PORTABURST system is currently being utilised for other projects around the UK including: the replacement of 75 mm (3") and 100 mm (4") diameter cast iron pipe in 50 m long sections in difficult to access locations in picturesque towns and villages in the southwest of England and by contractor Clancy Docwra for its client Thames Water in inner London, for insertions where the small footprint of the unit in the footpath is a major advantage.