Hot Tapping: UKBIC

HOT TAPPING CASE STUDY

Client:  LCS Mechanical, on behalf of UKBIC, Coventry

About: UKBIC are British battery manufacturer based in Coventry and work in partnership with LCS Mechanical, a mechanical contractor. 

The problem:

UKBIC needed a new gas fuelled air handling unit to be installed in their battery manufacturing plant. This required a new 4-inch gas supply to be connected to their existing 6-inch gas main.

As a full system shutdown and loss of production was not feasible, LCS Mechanical determined the best solution was to install a new branch line on the live gas main.

As one of the UK's leading under pressure drilling specialists, LCS called in Ormond Pipework Services to conduct the hot tapping works.

Our solution:
To check if the pipe was thicker than the minimum 3.7mm, our engineers first carried out an ultrasonic thickness test.

We then began welding the 4” connection onto the 6” gas main. A pressure test was then issued to search for leaks on the weld and valve.

Once the safety checks were complete, our engineers attached the under-pressure drill and began hot tapping the new gas connection.

Finally, a safety blank was connected to avoid leaving an open end. 
 
Specialisms involved:

• Ultrasonic thickness test
• Welding
• Pressure test 
• Under pressure drilling (hot tapping)
  

Client testimony:

"Ormond did fantastic job, no issues at all."

Alistair Cook, LCS Mechanical

12/09/2023