Water & Wastewater Treatment

www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | MAY 2015 | 29 In the know Skilling up: rope access H eating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems and ductwork are installed at height within a variety of different locations, traditionally via mobile or powered access. Sometimes these traditional methods aren't always the safest or most cost effective. To provide a safe method of working and a competitive solution, ATS have developed their rope access division. Our new rope access division allows the installation of HVAC systems via rope access. Highly skilled plumbers, pipe fitters, ductwork fitters, air conditioning engineers and electricians are trained in rope access techniques that conform to the international Knowing the ropes Rope access is proving its worth in the safe installation of ventilation systems in Thames Water's Lee Tunnel governing body IRATA. This allows access for installation within areas where scaffolding or other access methods are inappropriate, costly or unsafe. Rope access is recognized as the safest method of working at heights and ATS are currently the only company to use this method of installation for HVAC systems. What is rope access? IRATA International's rope access system is a safe method of working at height where ropes and associated equipment are used to gain access to and from the workplace, and to be supported there. The advantage of using rope access methods mainly lies in the safety and speed with which workers can get to or from difficult locations to carry out their work, o„en with minimal impact on other operations and the nearby area. Another major benefit is that the combination of the total man-hours is reduced and the level of risk for a particular task (man-at-risk hours) is o„en reduced when compared with other means of access and their associated risks and costs. Where rope access is used Although rope access has its origins in the offshore industry, it was quickly recognized that there were many onshore applications for work placement techniques that were safe, environmentally friendly and not intrusive. ATS have to date used this installation method in many different settings from commercial warehouses, to the side of office buildings, staircases, to sewage treatment works; as our Lee Tunnel case study shows. This specialist installation technique is unique to ATS, and in future we plan to increase the volume of systems we install and maintain via this method. Use on the Lee Tunnel project ATS are proud to be working with MVB and Thames Water on the Lee Tunnel Project, London: the largest, deepest vertical tunnel in Europe. ATS are providing both a specialist ventilation solution combined with innovative rope access installation methodology within the new Main Sha„ Pumping Station at Beckton Sewage Treatment Works, London as part of the prestigious and groundbreaking Lee Tunnel Project. The Lee Tunnel is the first of two tunnels being constructed for Thames Water, which will collectively capture sewage from various combined sewer overflows (CSOs), built by the Victorians as part of an ageing sewerage network that still serves London 150 years on. The four-mile tunnel will run beneath the London Borough of Newham from Abbey Mills to Beckton and it will help prevent more than 16 million tonnes of sewage mixed with rainwater overflowing into the River Lee each year, by capturing it and transferring it to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works, which is being expanded to enable it to deal with the increased volumes of sewage and flood water. A new main sha„ pumping station is being constructed within a 38m diameter, 80m deep sha„ at Beckton and linked to the main Lee Tunnel. The main area of the pumping station will be divided into two dry well compartments which shall house the pumps and motors to pump the storm water into Beckton STW for treatment. In addition the pumping station has two designated access sha„s to allow safe ingress and egress from the pumping station for maintenance. ATS have worked in the water industry as specialist ventilation and odour control providers for 20 years and were approached by MVB to quote for the ventilation for this specialist project, and were successful. Design The ventilation systems to serve the main sha„ are designed to achieve a safe working environment for operatives due to the risk of hydrogen sulphide being present, but additionally to overcome the huge heat gain from Rebecca cLisseTT OpeRATiOns DiRecTOR, AiR TechnOLOgY sYsTeMs

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