Pipe Bursting

Pipe bursting techniques have long been accepted by Utilities and their contractors as a cost effective and efficient method of replacing failing or undersized gas, water and sewer mains. U Mole provide a proven range of Hammerhead™ pipe bursting equipment for all of these works.

This range includes over 15 pneumatic and static systems capable of bursting and installing pipe from 1.5" to 48" (40mm to 1200 mm) and larger. No matter what the situation, we have a bursting system to meet your site requirements.
Over the past 15 years the industry has seen a change in equipment preference from pneumatic bursters over to hydraulic static rod bursters, especially in works from 1.5” – 36”. Size for size replacement and up sizing are common requirements in pipe bursting and Hammerhead offer a comprehensive range of static rope and rod bursting systems from 30 tonne up to 175 tonne capacity.
Traditional rod bursters are often too large or heavy for difficult access locations such as sewer laterals and to this end U Mole offer the small footprint Hammerhead PW15 and PB30 static rope bursters as an alternative solution.

Pneumatic

Utilising rear fed percussive air hammers with front fitting expanders, pneumatic pipe bursters are the original pipe bursting technique.

Static Rod Bursters

Static Rod Bursters have simplified the pipe bursting process and eliminated the need for air hoses, compressors and, in sizes up to 180mm, the need for considerable back space for new pipe material.

Static Rope Bursters

With their small size and light weight the Hammerhead PW15 and PB30 compact static rope bursters enable the bursting technique to be used in areas previously seen as unsuitable for the larger pneumatic and static rod systems.

The Technique

Pipe Bursting is a method of on-line replacement of fracturable pipe usually from excavations 10-200m apart.
Extensive proving work by the gas and water industries has demonstrated the feasibility of upsizing gas mains, water mains and sewers.
An expanding device which, may be either pneumatic or hydraulic, is introduced into the defective pipeline, shattering the pipe and drawing in the new line behind it. Insertion of short lengths may be made from pits but this involves jointing of the pipeline within the pit.
This can be avoided by the use of slit trenches to insert pipe strings. Upsizing from 100mm to 225mm diameter is now well established, and pipes of up to 600mm diameter and greater have been replaced.

Ancillary Equipment

U Mole also provides a comprehensive range of related ancillary equipment to compliment their range of pipe bursters.
This range includes a selection of specialist bursting heads and slitters for bursting in materials which include cast iron, steel, ductile iron, AC, concrete, re-enforced concrete, PVC, PE, GRP and others. Other related ancillary equipment includes specialist coiled pipe trailers, PE pipe towing heads, rear pipe towing accessories etc.