Suction Excavation system offers a safe, cost effective and environmentally friendly method of removing material from around buried pipes and cables or tree roots under roads, railways, pavements and runways etc.

The system enables excavations to be completed more quickly than by traditional hand dig methods and usually in a fraction of the time and reduced pit size. This leads to considerable savings due to smaller pits, less in-fill and backfill material and of course a major reduction in damages to third parties’ buried plant.

Suction excavation is predominately used for safe excavation down onto existing pipes, ducts and cables within the utility and construction industry. The equipment has multiple other uses including slurry removal, railway works, industry site works etc. It avoids costly damage to existing services and risk to health and safety.

The equipment is on a self contained lorry with tools to enable breaking out of most surfaces. The suction is created by powerful twin turbo fans capable of producing 36,000m3 of air per hour through a 250mm suction pipe. This suction power enables the unit to suck loose material from the ground into the body of the lorry which can hold 6m3 of spoil. The excavation can be assisted using an air lance to loosen the ground. The excavated material can then be removed from site or tipped at a designated location.

Suction Excavation Images

Applications of Suction Excavation

1. Replacement & Rehabilitation of utility networks
2. Emergency repair service for all pipeline & cable network operators
3. Safe exposure of buried plant and cables
4. Environmentally friendly excavation around tree roots
5. Clean up at accident sites
6. Excavation sensitive applications, e.g. electricity substations, refineries and chemical plants
7. Removal of gravel & ballast on railways
8. Cleaning blocked gullies and gutters
9. Coffer dams & deep excavation works
10. Silt removal in deep culverts
11. Removal of material in demolition & rehabilitation projects
12. Trial holes
13. Suction over long distances – depth 20m length 100m.
14. Exchange of drinking water filter system
15. Excavation of new basement
16. Street furniture installations

Further information on Suction Excavation Services by Dunnes Drilling