EC Hopkins suggested the Powergrit hydraulic pipe cutting saw as a safe method with the ability to plung cut in a confined space and enough depth of cut to go all way through the valve from one side.

Without the PowerGrit Saw the concrete ring would have to be dismantled and the area excavated until the site was no longer classed as a confined space, then a cut off saw could be used. It is estimated this would have taken a gang and extra 5 days to complete.

Once the flange bolts had been removed, the hydraulic ICS 890F4 PowerGrit Saw was used freehand to plunge cut through the valve creating a 6mm wide slot. This freed the valve up and it was easily lifted free of the excavation. The 2 valves that needed replacing in excavations were 40 meters apart, the first cut took 10 minutes and the second 20 minutes as it was necessary to cut the valve at a wider point. The saw would usually be mounted on the Pipe Clamp (4-12” pipe capacity), due to the shape of the valve the clamp could not be used but it is perfectly safe to use the saw freehand.