Pipe Freezing, Valve Replacement & Mechanical Services

As a leading commercial M&E contractor, our skilled engineers attended BBC Broadcasting House in Portland Place, central London. To carry out various Pipe Freezing, Valve Replacement and Mechanical Services. This was mostly because several valves were deemed end of life and therefore, needed replacing. Please see our case study below.

Client – Mitie

Site Location – BBC Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London W1A

M&E Contractor Services Supplied –

• Replacement of 3 Port Valves at various locations on site
• 2 and 3 Port Load Shedding Valves Replacement within OBH on Chilled water
• Changing of flow switch on Chiller
• High level repair to hot water installation with Pipe Freezing

Highlights of Services Completed Included –

3 Port Valves Replacements

Firstly, we isolated the electricals, mechanicals, and valves local to unit and drained into containers. After that, we disconnected and removed the main control panel to enable access to the chilled water control valve.

Following on from this, we removed the existing actuator and disconnected the wiring. Our team then wired the new actuator and stripped out the old 3 Port Valve and replaced with the new.

In addition, we carried out works on the remaining new connections to the new port valve and installed the new actuator. Afterwards, released the isolations and checked for leaks before reinstating the main control panel. Lastly, our engineers checked the unit is fully operational.

2 and 3 Port Load Shedding Valves

Two engineers went to the site to replace actuators and valves in load shedding areas, as described in the brief.

Each Load Valve Replacement, our engineers drained the pipework to isolate the valve. Then proceeded to remove the lagging to carry out works, to change the valve and or actuator. Finally, released the actuator, checked for leaks, and reinstated pipework insulation.

Isolation and changing of flow switch on Chiller

Our engineers attended the site along with two BBC engineers. Firstly, we isolated the chiller and shut it down. Next, we isolated all valves on the flow and return pipework with the assistance of racket straps and bars.

After that we removed and changed the Fee Issue Flow switch from Daikin. Following on from this, our engineers released the isolations and replaced any insulation previously removed from the pipework. Lastly, checked for any leaks and handed over to the BBC engineers to reenergise the chiller.

High level repair to hot water installation with Pipe Freezing

Our IPAF qualified engineers gained access to high level with a genie lift supplied by the site team. Firstly, we shut off local Isolation Valves and gained access to the level 2 toilet. We then removed the existing urinal to allow access to the hot water pipe. Once we could reach the pipework, we removed the insulation to allow for the Pipe Freeze to take place.

Then we attached a freeze jacket around the 28mm hot water pipe and poured in the liquid nitrogen to freeze the pipe. Once the freeze had taken hold, our engineers cut out the required section of the pipework and drained off residual water into the local foul drain.

After that, we installed a Quarter Turn Isolation valve at high level in the loading bay and released the Pipe Freeze.

Afterwards, stripped out the leaking section of the 28mm copper pipework that penetrates the existing slab. Our engineers then fabricated a new section of the pipe work from our inhouse workshop, which was inclusive of all associated fittings.

Following on from this, opened the valve and recharged with water, checked for any leaks on the newly installed pipework. After that replaced any previously removed pipework insulation.

Opened all valves to ensure installation was operational and reinstated the previously removed urinal.

In conclusion

Our engineers cleaned up the site after visiting. They made sure it was tidy and disposed of all unnecessary items at a licensed facility.

Our services were carried out quickly and efficiently and with minimal disruption to the BBC.

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