Member of Parliament for Mid Derbyshire, Pauline Latham visited the manufacturing facility of MW Polymers in Little Eaton Derby to discover more about their new technological innovation for a cost effective non disruptive method of curing corrosion issues that can weaken gas pipes feeding occupants of high-rise bocks of flats.
The unprotected metal gas pipes that are fastened to the outside of the buildings by metal clips, have been subjected to decades of weather which causes erosion to occur just at the metal clips, with the rest of the pipe work looking as good as the day it was fitted.
Replacement causes huge disruption to flat owners and despite the small size of pipe work it is a major cost to carry out the work safely, with scaffolding, gas engineers working at height, gas needing to be turned off, and alternative sources of energy to keep people, some who are in warden protected flats warm and able to make meals.
Extensive laboratory and field site testing has shown that the metal clips holding the pipes act as a local earthing point to accelerate the pipe erosion, so the design included an anode system that moves the erosion away from the metal clip to an easier safer access location for inspection and replacement of the anodes in the future.
The eroded clip section is strengthened using a two-part method employing an outer 1000 degrees C fireproof sleeve filled with a high-performance resin. The combination result in a cost-effective solution that extends the life of the existing gas pipe systems and causes no disruption to people in the flats.
The problem is wide ranging and can be used on any metal pipes using the universal fastening clips, currently there is interest from Transport for London to consider use on London Underground electric cables.
Mike Wild, Managing Director said, “These are exciting times, as the predicted number of kits required to meet the demand just on high rise buildings both here and in Europe, mean increasing production methods and the creation of many new jobs.
