Hot tapping involves making live connections into gas pipework without disrupting the gas
flow of the main pipeline network. It’s used when a new branch or connection is required to an existing pipework system, or to add test points or pressure sensors. Hot tapping can be
used to carry out repairs on the system without the need to shut it down and purge it of gas.

Who can carry out hot tapping?

As you can imagine, hot tapping is a very skilled operation and it must be carried out by
qualified and competent engineers on the Gas Safe register. UK Commercial Gas has a
team of highly trained engineers with years of experience, who are able to handle complex
hot tapping procedures on almost any type of gas pipework system.

The process means that there will be very little or no disruption to the service, allowing a
business to carry out its day to day operations with no downtime or loss of productivity. It’s a
much quicker alternative to draining down and backfilling the entire system.

Safety is a crucial aspect of hot tapping work, because it involves working with pressurised
systems at high temperatures. Therefore it’s essential that you carefully research the
previous experience, standard of equipment and training, and past performance of any
commercial gas engineer company that you hire for a hot tapping operation.

All of our engineers are Gas Safe registered and trained to use the latest technology and
equipment to ensure the safest and most effective techniques are used at all times. This
minimises the risk of damage to the system, and of accidents that can occur when working
with potentially flammable and toxic substances.

The team will be able to select the most suitable placement of taps, comprehensively test
the integrity of the pipework system before any work commences, and control pressure and
temperature to a highly accurate degree with computer heat-flow modelling techniques.