Brickyard Farm

High risk gas main protection

Client:
Bloor Homes
Location:
Brickyard Farm, Winslow
Sector:
Residential
Project Value:
£n/a

Services:

Bulk Excavations Groundworks Sewer Pumping Station Vacuum Excavation Highways and Infrastructure

Project Scope

S104 works
S38 works
S278 junction upgrade
Foul pumping station installation
600 linear metres rising main connection off-site

Project Overview

Gas Main Protection: ECL stands out from its competitors as a full-service delivery company. We don't rely on external contractors, ensuring a quick, cost-effective, and high-quality service. This approach played a key role in securing our position as the principal contractors for the first phase of the 13-hectare Brickyard Farm Development under Bloor Homes. Our success in overseeing this project, which includes at least 1/3 affordable housing, education, employment, and leisure facilities while preserving biodiversity in the Winslow area, demonstrates our infrastructure capabilities.

Project Challenges

The team was faced with a high-risk building constraint regarding a potentially dangerous high-pressure gas main running across land required for infrastructure. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Project Manager Billy Plant, Health and Safety Manager Claire Stacey, site manager Sean O’Malley, and his group, we successfully protected the gas main, lifted the restraints, and enabled the commencement of construction ahead of schedule.

Project Outcome

The high-pressure gas mains lay just 1.1m below ground level in 2 areas where the scheme was due to build; despite being a hindrance, this was also an opportunity to demonstrate the scope of our engineering abilities and knowledge of SGN processes and procedures to resolve the constraint swiftly. While another company may have required the help of a contractor - increasing both time and cost - our team were able to shield the gas main and remove the building constraints in under 3 weeks.

Project Process

The successful completion of this project is a testament to the invaluable knowledge and experience of our senior management team, to whom we extend our thanks.

Following the introduction to proceed from Bloor Homes [who produced the design to overcome constraints], we were straight onto the matter.

comments Billy Plant,

This involved me in collaboration with Claire Stacey, producing detailed methodology and safe systems of work, later sent for approval with SGN and passed without issue. This enabled us to proceed with our choice of site manager to deliver the work.

Having worked with SGN before, Plant understood their processes and needs well, contributing significantly to prompt approval.

Sean O’Malley, with his proven expertise demonstrated in the Waterbeach Barracks development, was the natural choice for the site manager role. Once again, Plant and Stacey’s informed judgement, backed by their extensive knowledge, played a crucial role in securing quick approval from SGN, instilling confidence in the project’s success.

With approvals in place, SGN appointed a Watch Brief, and ECL was good to go.

First, a haul road was built to access the south of the main road where the gas mains are located. These were then uncovered using our vacuum excavation machine, chosen for its speed, small surface impact and ability to work around the area without risk. With greater visibility, diggers could soon be safely used.

Next, concrete was poured down either side to create a flexible platform bridge with reinforcement bars placed on top of the two concrete abutments. Additional concrete was then poured and cured to form the protection slab, which acted as a bridge over the gas main so that a road and cycle path could be built over it without compromising it.

To ensure the concrete strength met the specification requirement, test concrete samples were sent to the laboratory for inspection to qualify the integrity of the slab.

The samples passed the test, and works were subsequently signed off, and the constraints were officially resolved.

This project, which commenced on Monday, 13th November, was successfully concluded by the 28th, three days ahead of the proposed schedule. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the exceptional efficiency and expertise of the ECL team, who worked collaboratively and their contributions were invaluable in a high-risk environment.