[INFO#2]

April/May/June 2020

Pipe bursting destroys and renews Brussels sewerage in 1 move

Brussels is gradually renewing all the sewers in the city. Renovation specialist Renotec renewed the sewerage in the Versailleslaan in Neder-Over-Heembeek using pipe bursting. An innovative and fast technique that has a much lower impact on the surrounding area than traditional excavation work. Deschacht supplied the new HDPE pipes.

Pulverization and placement in 1

Elly Van der Schraelen, special techniques project manager at Renotec: “The existing vitrified clay sewer with a diameter of 400 mm in Versailleslaan was in a deplorable state. We replaced it with HDPE pipes using pipe bursting. A bursting head with a slightly larger diameter than the pipe pulverizes the conduit and pushes the pieces into the surrounding soil. The machine that pulls the drill head forward simultaneously pulls the new plastic pipe attached behind the bursting head into place.”

1-meter HDPE pipes

“We initially thought about welding long pipes together above ground and pulling them past large pits in the ground. But the utility lines on Versailles Avenue are poorly positioned and prevent us from placing our large installation. That is why we opted for short pipes, 1 meter and sometimes only 0.5 meters long, to work from one sewer access chamber to the next, each time over a distance of about 30 meters. The advantage of such small pipes is that you can work with a small machine in pits of only 1.5 by 1.5 meters.”

‘Prime example of cooperation between all involved to find the best solution without disruption to traffic and local residents.’

Elly van der Schraelen, Technical Manager – Grean Consult

Smart integrations

“While the burst head pulls one pipe into the sewer line, the next pipe is pressed against it. As soon as the spigot-and-socket joints in the wall click together, the new sewer is watertight. Those joints also ensure that the edges of the pipes do not protrude. In this way, they keep friction to a minimum while being pulled through the ground.”

Camera maps home connections

“Before starting the work, we used a camera to inspect the inside of the old pipe to check its condition and determine the locations of the property connections. We marked these distances above ground. This way, we knew exactly where to dig pits to renew those connections as well.”

Minimal impact on the environment

“The great advantage of pipe bursting: the impact of the work on the surrounding area and traffic is minimal. With a traditional open trench, at least one lane must be closed and sidewalks, driveways, and parking spaces are completely torn up over a distance of tens to hundreds of meters. Thanks to pipe bursting, only a few small pits need to be dug in the sidewalk and parking lane. On Versailleslaan, there is a police station, several schools, and various bus stops. They experienced little to no disruption from the work.”

Renotec

• Established: 1988
• Location: Geel
• Employees: over 750
• Activities: specialized renovation and restoration works
• Company: Renotec solves complex and extraordinary renovation problems, giving your buildings, monuments, and works of art a new future. Challenging projects that require traditional knowledge and pure craftsmanship are right up their alley.
• More info: www.renotec.be

More information about this project? Contact Nick Van Coppenolle via [email protected] or via 0483 737 778.