As mentioned in part A of this case study, Bolt Mechanical was recently asked to replace a fire hydrant and two section valves on a large site. In this blog we will walk through the section valve replacement portion of the job.
Site inspection:
As we discussed in the previous article, the fire protection system we were working on was installed in 1977. We needed to update the system and fittings used to install the fire hydrant. This involved removing and replacing two section valves. These valves are part of a “loop” system that supplies water to the fire hydrants, as well as the water for all the nearby apartment buildings.
As an additional part of the site inspection we hired an environmental and abatement company to come in and evaluate the trench for possible contaminants. This company checked for the presence of regulated substances, such as asbestos, lead paint, chemicals, and radioactive materials.
Challenges:
Before beginning the section valve replacement we encountered a very serious challenge: asbestos cement piping (AC Pipe) in the trench. Asbestos found in these pipes becomes hazardous when the fibers are released into the air. This can occur when AC pipes deteriorate with age or are damaged during maintenance, repair, or demolition. Workers can be exposed to airborne asbestos fibers when cutting, removing, or repairing existing asbestos pipes. This added an additional step to our job that required specialized knowledge and care.
Solution:
In order to deal with the asbestos piping, we worked together with a fully licensed, insured, and federally registered Asbestos Abatement Company and an Environmental Consulting, Laboratory and Testing Services Company. Only licensed and trained asbestos professionals or contractors can remove asbestos pipes. Once the Asbestos Abatement Company removed the hazardous piping sections and we received the all clear from the Environmental Company, we were able to move forward with the job.
We installed two non-rising stem street valves. A non-rising stem (NRS) street valve is a type of gate valve that rotates internally to raise or lower the gate. This allows for a compact design suitable for underground installations where vertical space is limited.
Benefits
Once the two valves were installed we were able to close the trench and clean up the job site. With the new hydrant and street valves installed, we were able to reestablish a reliable source of water for the surrounding buildings.
Bolt Mechanical – Reliable Section Valve Replacements
Bolt Mechanical has over 50 years of combined experience working in the fire safety field. We provide installations, repairs and maintenance on a variety of systems needed for fire safety. All work we provide follows the guidelines provided by NFPA, and the Local Authority Having Jurisdiction.
At Bolt Mechanical we also handle all the necessary documentation involved in your Fire and Life Safety projects. Our Customer Portal takes all the hassle out of the process. Contact us today for more information about our services.
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