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Northern Gas Networks (NGN) has for the first time used close-fit pipe lining technology to replace cast iron pipes, reducing the duration of two gas mains replacement projects by four weeks.
NGN said it used the pipe renovation technology to replace cast iron pipes with peelable polyethylene (PE) pipes without using the traditional open cut method, cutting project times and reducing disruption for road users.
A trial using the new technology was carried out at two sites in Castleford and Cumbria after NGN worked with Subterra to investigate alternative ways of replacing large diameter cast iron gas mains.
The project times were cut by four to six weeks by using the new technology, with over 100 tonnes of environmental waste saved.
NGN is already investigating ways it can work with Subterra to develop the method across future gas main projects.
The company is investing £90 million per year in its gas mains replacement programme which will see around 3,800 km of old metal gas mains replaced by 2021.
NGN construction services area manager Warren Iveson said: “Working with Subterra to be one of the first gas networks to utilise the new technology has allowed us to not only become more efficient and reduce the project time but to also guarantee future innovation within gas mains replacement technology.
“We are already looking into further ways that we can use different methods of ‘rolling down’ pipes that can be shared with other utility companies.”
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