From Fusion Provida...
‘When you calculate the benefits of using Fusion Provida’s Large Diameter Electrofusion Branch Saddles, it pays to play the percentage game…’
The Fusion Provida range of Large Diameter Electrofusion Branch Saddles (LDBS) is the simple and economic alternative to costly and time-consuming bypass systems.
For the network operator and shippers, Fusion Provida LDBS live connections remove the inconvenience, loss of revenue and client dissatisfaction that any disruption to gas supplies causes.
LDBS reduce the excavation footprint by over 65%
A Fusion Provida
LDBS installation requires
at most only 33% of the excavation footprint required for a traditional take off from a live main using squeeze tools.
See a bigger version of this diagram
This
standard layout drawing for a connection off a 250mm diameter main, based on the guidelines laid out in IGE/TD/3 Edition 4*, shows that an excavation footprint of at least 6m x 2m is required. Furthermore, this is a best case scenario and assumes there are no existing electrofusion connections or butt fusion joints on the exposed length of main. The excavation calculation also assumes that there are no underground obstructions that have caused the main to divert from a straight uninterrupted run.
The fundamental stipulation in IGE/TD/3 is that, ‘..the minimum distance between a squeeze-off tool and a pipeline fitting, butt weld or a cut should be 2.5 times the pipeline diameter’. Consequently as the mains diameter increases the excavation footprint increases in direct proportion.
The excavation footprint for a Fusion Provida LDBS is 2m x 2m – or 1/3 of the best case footprint for a traditional 250mm connection - and remains virtually the same for all sizes in the range up to and including the 500mm LDBS. At 500mm, therefore, an LDBS
installation requires only 17% of the excavation footprint.
*IGE/TD/3 Recommendations on Transmission and Distribution Practice: Steel and PE pipelines (mains) for gas distribution.
LDBS reduce installation times by over 80%
A Fusion LDBS 250mm installation requires only 17% of the time spent on traditional connections using squeeze off tools.
Installing a two-way 250mm squeeze-off connection typically spans 3 working days:
- Day 1 - Excavate ground. 6m x 2m. Approximate time required: 8 hours.
- Day 2 - Fit bypass, valves, vents and test all joints. Approximate time required: 3 hours.
- Day 3 -
- Fit four squeezoffs and prove the main. Approximate time required: 2 hours.
- Cut out pipe, scrape pipe ends, fit equal tee (three butt fusion welds). Approximate time required: 3 hours.
- Gas up the new section, strip down the squeeze offs and bypass, make safe. Approximate time required: 2 hours.
In comparison a Fusion Provida 250mm LDBS installation is a half-day job and that includes the excavation, electrofusion, drilling and valve installation. This means it requires around 17% of the time taken on a traditional 250mm connection on a live main.
Furthermore, there is very little difference in installation times between a 250 LDBS and a 500 LDBS – and that can’t be said when comparing traditional 250 and 500 connections.
LDBS reduce installation costs by over 50%
Less time needed; less space needed; less equipment needed; fewer men needed; less disruption caused; and - the coup de grace - a Fusion Provida 250 LDBS fitted by an approved installer will be less than half the cost of a traditional squeezed-off live connection.
The LDBS option now covers sizes ranging up to 500 x 250
Fusion Provida now offers a range of 7 LDBS sizes, with three new sizes having been added in recent months. This shows the Fusion Provida commitment to the on-going development of its LDBS range.
The full range of sizes is:
- 250 X 100 - (Drill and training not required to install)
- 250 X 200
- 315 X 250
- 355 X 250
- 400 X 250
- 450 X 250
- 500 X 250
FASTCUT Drill – allows you to cut through a LDBS to live mains.
The Fastcut drill has a power-assisted hydraulic pack that provides a smooth and easy drilling action. Fastcut can be used with both plate and gate valves and its purpose-designed pressure test facilities and installation procedure ensures only tested fittings are cut through to live mains.
As its name implies Fastcut is designed to minimise drilling times and retains the coupon inside the drilling head to make retraction a very simple process. A significant safety feature of the Fastcut drill is that the dedicated cutter drive prevents the drill from penetrating beyond the centre line of the mains.
