Line shutoff is a technique to work on plumbing while a system is active and pressurized, avoiding shutdowns. Operators drill a pipe to create access to the work line, bypassing the area needing repair or inspection. Technicians need proper training to protect line contents and may need to wear protective clothing.
Line shutoff is a technique that allows operators to tap and shut off a line when there is no service valve. This can allow people to work on plumbing while a system is still active and pressurized to avoid shutdowns. Firms specialized in this service are available to perform it in many sectors. Some utility companies and other companies also maintain their own line shutdown crews because they have to do this procedure often enough to merit an on-call crew.
When a problem occurs in a line, the line needs to be freed up so that technicians can work on it. This may require activating a shutoff valve to shut off the flow of fluid, gas or other materials in the line, which would result in a shutdown. Whatever is supplied by the line under normal conditions will no longer receive material, which could be a critical problem in the case of a line that supplies something like oxygen to hospitals or water to homes.
Conversely, shutting down could create a problem on the other side; people need to be able to flush the toilet, for example. If a city needs sewer work for more than a few hours, a public health issue could arise if they activate the locks and no longer allow homes and businesses access to the sewer. Shutting down the line can allow you to work on such sensitive systems without interrupting service.
In a technique also known as hot tapping, operators set a pipe at an angle and drill to create access to the work line. The material from the line flows naturally into the new tube, which can be opened and closed with a valve. The pipe can be connected to another point along the line in question to bypass the area needing repair or inspection, and a block can be placed in the line to force the contents into the new pipe. Line Shutdown Bypass provides clean material flow while exposing a section of pipe for the job.
The line shutdown process can allow bypasses over both short and long distances, for varying periods of time. Some care may be required with pipes carrying hazardous materials such as sewage or corrosive chemicals. Technicians need proper training to protect line contents and may need to wear protective clothing while performing the hot tapping procedure. When the job is done, they can release the line stopper, repair the hole they created, and remove the bypass line.
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