Service: District heat network replacement

Client: Vital Energi (on behalf of Newport City Homes)

Location: Duffryn, Wales

 

The problem

In October 2023, OnSite Pipelines and Civil Engineering were called upon by Vital Energi to undertake pipe replacement works for Newport City Home’s district heat network in Duffryn, Wales.

Earlier in the year, a series of leaks began to cause disruption with the network that supplied heating and hot water to approximately 1,000 properties in Duffryn. Newport City Homes commissioned a specialist review, and it became apparent that the system was coming to the end of its life.

 

The solution

The original heating system consisted of over 7.5km of underground pipework which had been installed in the 1970s. This ageing pipework required a full replacement to improve the performance of the network and restore a reliable hot water and heating supply to the 970 homes, local schools and businesses of Duffryn.

The principal contractor of the project, Vital Energi, employed OnSite Pipelines to complete the replacement. The complex works involved laying 7.5km of new pipe alongside the existing pipe located underneath main roads adjacent to homes and connecting the new pipe to the biomass boiler house.

 

Challenges

Duffryn remained a busy residential estate throughout the project and there were logistical considerations that the team had to plan carefully for to ensure the safety of residents and workers while maintaining access throughout the estate.

Working areas were kept secure with temporary Heras fencing to restrict access to the public whilst footpaths were kept open and accessible, with diversions in place where necessary.

The team had to be mindful of the site’s condition and cleanliness. During the works, a lot of rainfall fell which filled up the trenches and required pumping out. Footways and alleys also required additional maintenance due to the topography of the estate layout, again, safety was always a priority consideration.

A road and footway sweeper was used throughout the contract to minimise runoff from the excavations on public areas.

Works took place around homes and gardens and planned outages were scheduled, minimising the hot water and heating supply. Regular liaison was required with our client and residents to minimise the impact.

 

Result

The project was completed in May 2024. The work was delivered to client specification, on time and within the budget. Working closely with the client and residents to address the logistical and safety challenges that the project presented, meant that the impact of the works could be kept to a minimum whilst the pipe replacement was completed successfully.

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