Difficult contract working on the 12th floor of the Worsley building at Leeds University. Over two miles of 4, 6 and 8 inch insulated steel pipework at high level was processed and removed. Working around countless hazardous waste ducting, associated live electrical/mechanical services feeding the live 12 storey university building. All with restricted access/egress. Every connection (flange) in the vast amount of pipework had to be removed separately as it contained asbestos gaskets that could not be disturbed unless under controlled conditions away from site. Over 23 tonne of 8 inch steel pipe was painstakingly processed into 5ft lengths (max length of the lift carriage) then along with the pipe insulation carried down two flights of stairs to access the lift at the 11th floor, then taken to the ground floor and deposited into waiting roll on/off skips. Great care had to be taken to complete the project safely considering the obvious potential hazards such as fire issues, live services, restricted access/egress, manual handling and working at heights. Noise was a particular issue to the client as University exams were taking place throughout the works, therefore noise had to be kept to a minimum.
All works were as always completed safely, before the clients strict contract deadline, without any damage to live services and without any disruption to the University exams or lessons.
