BSEE
Glenn Bills, product manager at wire joining soluons manufacturer, Gripple, looks at how to quickly and easily save precious me and resources on site, as well as increasing safety and sustainability.
raditional methods of hanging and supporting pipe have been a trusted part of the construction process for decades. But, taking the leap towards smarter, more modern solutions can revolutionise your approach to service suspension.
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When me is of the essence
Looking for ways to deliver projects quicker and slicker is the holy grail for site managers, but few consider that re-thinking suspension systems alone could shave weeks, if not months off time schedules.
One alternative to threaded rod that is becoming increasingly popular is the adjustable trapeze bracket system which can create dramatic time savings. One-person, one-handed adjustment can significantly reduce the number of people required for installation and with no specific training required, cuts down personnel costs. Modern solutions tend to be lighter and easier to install which is why the number of people required for installation can be reduced to just one rather than the traditional two- person job of carrying and installing threaded rod. Less people on site can also be beneficial where guidelines state that a limited number of people can be on site at any one time.
Health and safety helping hands
There are a number of pre- fabricated products on the market which are easier and simpler to use, arriving on site in ready-to-use kits. There is no cutting required and no need for a hot works permit which not only cuts down on paperwork and potential administrative delays but also reduces potential risk to the health and safety of those on site. With products that are simpler to install, the time needed working at height is also reduced which creates a simpler and safer workspace with lower risk of injury.
Keeping it green
With threaded rod usually weighing around 150kg it is a heavy and bulky option. However, this can easily be replaced with brackets weighing as little as 8kg which are lighter and more manageable with less unnecessary material. As they are pre-engineered and cut to size off-site they produce zero waste and require less storage space so are a great way to demonstrate consideration for the environment and the project’s carbon footprint and can be used as evidence in BREEAM assessments to earn BREEAM credits.
As threaded rod is supplied in three metre lengths, delivery is usually carried out by articulated lorries but products such as Gripple’s Universal Bracket™ are supplied as ready-to-use kits in compact cardboard boxes, which require significantly reduced vehicle movements.
BIM-ready solutions specified according to architects and engineers’ exact specification have made it much easier to not only reduce waste but minimise the possibility of service clashes which can lead to lengthy delays.
Accredited suppliers like Gripple, which has been awarded BSI BIM (Building Information Modelling) Verification Certificate ISO 19650-2, can populate Revit models with the correct products and accompanying data, provide training on the process of adding BIM objects to 3D models, and supply detailed schedules of components to minimise waste and cost.
CASE STUDY Double quick installaon me at the double tree
Client: DoubleTree by Hilton, Hull Project: Suspension solution for air conditioning system Time saving: 324 hours Budget saving: £6480
When a new Mitsubishi hybrid air- conditioning system was to be installed at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Hull, contractors Airco were met with an unexpected challenge when an issue on site led to significant delays to the project.
They turned to Gripple and commissioned them to carry out the works using the Universal Brackets, QT Universal Clamps and QT Compact Clamps where 34 pipes had to be fitted into a 250 mm void. The job was completed 324 hours quicker than scheduled, saving eight weeks of labour time.
Gripple supplied a bespoke Universal Bracket which had been specifically made in advance to fit the 250 mm void and a combination of QT Universal Clamps and the QT Compact Clamps were also used to support the pipes.
Glenn Bills, head of product management at Gripple, explains: “The Universal Brackets we installed are designed to be used with Gripple clamps and hangers to simplify the suspension of building services. The brackets arrive to site pre-cut which eliminates cutting any channel on site, improving health and safety credentials with no tools or hot works permits required.
“It has two active faces which allows for suspension of multiple services and in this case piping was suspended on both faces. The brackets have a 150 kg load rating in sizes ranging from 240 mm to 1540 mm.” All Gripple QT Universal Clamps and QT Compact Clamps included a quarter turn attachment which was used to connect clamps to the Universal Brackets simply and effectively. The clamps arrived to site in kits with the Gripple Universal Bracket.
Glenn adds: “The clamps are up to ten times faster than traditional methods due to the integral mounting pillar. They are robust and have retractable sleeves which are pre fitted to the wire rope to prevent galvanic erosion.”
The site supervisor at Airco, says: “On site we faced an unforeseen issue, but by using Gripple solutions we were able to quickly resolve this issue and get back on schedule. We are continuing to use Gripple pipework solutions on other projects.”
www.gripple.com 16 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AUGUST 2020 Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk Your flexible friend
Tool-free trapeze bracket systems are also ideal for areas where space and access are restricted, as they can be easily accessed and vertical adjustments can be made before the load is applied, allowing quick and easy preparation on the ground and minimising time spent at height.
PIPES, VALVES AND FITTINGS
Choosing new Suspension Solutions to Lighten the Load
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