TracPipe simplifies complex gas project
Some 9000 m of the TracPipe flexible system for gas has been installed by Watkins Group to supply gas hobs in 120 apartments of the 250-unit So Stepney in east London. The gas supplies are for housing-association apartments.
Darren Pay, contracts engineer with Watkins, explains, ‘The challenge was to keep gas out of the corridor areas as much as possible due to the gas regulations. TracPipe, from Omega Flex, was specified by the electrical and mechanical consultant. It helps with the installation because it’s so easy to move about.’
He believes that TracPipe greatly simplified what could have been a very complex installation. ‘With this current job, trying to route piping round into individual properties from external voids would have been a nightmare, because we’ve had to take it through the side of the riser outside and through the cavity walls. We’ve been able to use flexible plastic tubing to sleeve it, which has allowed us great flexibility in positioning it.’
He estimates that the work would have taken twice as long using rigid copper or steel piping — and avoided hot works and many more joints.
Watkins also installed a boosted cold-water system, cast-iron underground drainage, above-ground drainage, plumbing internal fit-out and fire protection.
