VAC UK are experts in vacuum excavation. We control the most modern, cutting edge fleet of Dino and ESE vacuum excavators throughout the United Kingdom.
Whether you’re digging tunnels, building highways or excavating utilities, we are able to support you on any project.
Our experienced operators will help to complete your job safely, on time and within your budget. We operate 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
Vacuum excavation, otherwise known as suction excavation, is a cost-effective, environmentally friendly and safer alternative to the more typical methods of excavation.
A VAC UK vacuum excavator is a vehicle that removes the materials and debris from underneath the surface of an excavation site. These vehicles remove the materials quickly and diminish the risk of damaging surrounding utilities.
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Vacuum excavation eradicates the risk of underground facilities, such as pipes and electric cables, being damaged and is a much less invasive method. Other typical methods of excavation, such as mechanical digging with backhoes and hand tools, are at a greater risk of causing damage.
Suction excavation is more cost-effective and offers a higher level of precision, reducing the extent of surface restoration needed.
The table on the right demonstrates the difference between the amount of material excavated using the manual digging method compared to employing a suction excavator, and the incurred cost per cubic metre.
Due to the increased density of people and infrastructure in London, it is essential that projects are completed on time to minimise the disruption to both on foot and vehicle traffic. Vacuum excavation is a more precise and accelerated method of excavation, ensuring that projects are completed efficiently, saving you time and money. Compared to traditional approaches, such as manual digging, this method of excavation is essential to the reduction of disruption to homes, businesses, and services within urban areas.
During an excavation, the amount of material and debris removed depends largely on its weight and consistency. Whether it’s sand or heavy soil, suction excavation is the fastest method of choice, especially where cables and pipes are involved. See the chart to determine the amount of material removed, within a 6 hour period, when compared with the manual excavation method.
The potential of hitting utilities in major cities like London is vastly increased in comparison to lesser populated locations, and the damage and subsequent cost incurred can be tenfold. If utilities are damaged, this could also result in a larger detrimental effect to surrounding infrastructure and potential passers-by than projects in less built-up areas. Vacuum excavation eradicates the risk involved when it comes to health and safety, the damage to the environment and surrounding utilities. This method removes the earth from around existing cables and pipes and allows for engineers to operate machinery safely, within a safe distance.
Suction excavators simply suction away the soil, reducing the laborious hours with a shovel and air hammer, both of which are more likely to lead to utility damage. Suction excavators are up to 16 times more effective than traditional methods and replace the time and cost-intensive work done by hand.
VAC UK’s vacuum excavators are ready for immediate use, complete the job efficiently and quickly and are operated in an environmentally friendly way. This machinery offers a high level of industrial safety, requiring little space for employment and can remove debris from very small openings.
Suction excavation reduces the need for machinery and personnel on-site. Instead of employing 3 workers, an excavator and a truck, you will only need a single vacuum excavator and its operators. In turn your carbon footprint is significantly reduced and the extraction of material is more efficient, in the most environmentally friendly way.
VAC UK’s suction excavators are built for convenient operation from a safe distance. Built with four moveable joints, our suction excavators have a reach of up to six metres. The suction hose is firmly guided from the cover, right up to the suction crown and can, therefore, be placed exactly in the suction point. The jointed hose carrier is hydraulically powered, making it the perfect solution for working within a distance of up to 6 metres.
With a swivel range of 180°, the jointed hose carrier is highly adaptable to any given situation or site condition. This allows work to be carried out safely, even in the most spatially limited circumstances. The suction hoses are specially designed to work with heavy loads.
If you are already working with company for vacuum excavation in London and are limited in the amount of operation space, VAC UK has several options for you. The first option is to use one of our long hoses that are carried with our trucks.
We are able to supply you with up to 200 metres of hosing to enable suction from the remotest of locations. This hosing is used to access confined or difficult spaces, reducing the need for operators to work in dangerous conditions, risking their health and safety unnecessarily.
Another option is to use a remote control unit that positions the suction excavator in the perfect spot, without the hose having to be secured in place by hand. This is ideal for work in especially hazardous locations.
The number of ‘safety-related electrical incidents’ caused by underground cable, joint or link box damage reported under the requirements of the Electricity, Safety, Quality, and Continuity Regulations 2002 to the HSE.
In major cities like London, lowering your carbon footprint is becoming increasingly important. With initiatives like Let London Breathe and the introduction of the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone, it is essential that your excavation is as efficient as possible. VAC UK can provide your project with a more environmentally-friendly option for your excavating needs. Vacuum excavation is the perfect solution for those who have a vested interest in protecting their green credentials or reducing their impact on the environment.
Suction excavation has many environmental benefits:
Suction excavation also reduces the extent of manual digging by hand required, lessening the health risks associated for construction workers.
Vacuum excavation uses a high power blast of concentrated air that loosens and breaks up the materials on the site. An air vacuum hose is then positioned and inserted to suction up the loosened materials. These are transported into a specially designed tank, ready to be removed or deposited back for refilling, during project completion.
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 | MORE EFFICIENT & LESS DISRUPTIVE
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