Morrison Utility Services (MUS), the UK’s largest dedicated utility service provider, has collaborated with sister M Group Services company, PMP Utilities, to complete complex repair works on a leaking sluice valve on behalf of Yorkshire Water.

Following a detailed inspection, confined space techniques were used to access the 500mm geared isolation valve, situated in a brick-built chamber beneath Chidswell Lane near Wakefield.

The project scope involved the removal of the valve bonnet and gate from the isolation valve, followed by the removal of the equalizing valve. In addition, three blanking plates, fabricated on site, were installed to blank the 500mm valve bonnet and inlet/outlet flanges.

Gaskets were also cut on site prior to installation and portable grinders were used to cut the dismantled valve assembly in situ, before its removal via the 600mm man-way access.

PMP Utilities Contract Director Sean Haynes commented:

“This is very good example of the way in which PMP’s engineering knowledge, understanding of utility issues and experience of working in difficult to access locations can enable complex projects to be completed quickly and effectively with minimum disruption to the public.

“Although various remote access options were considered for this project, the hands-on personal assessments required meant that man entry inspection methods would be the only practicable solution. The valve’s location and the complexity of the works in a live environment meant that our specialist confined space engineering and survey skills, along with our in-house capability to fabricate the bespoke blank plates on site, proved essential.”