SUMO swoops down to RAF Linton-on-Ouse

One of the UK’s leading suppliers of underground utility detection services to the construction industry was called in at the eleventh hour to assist with a high-security project at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, near York.   

SUMO Services was on site within just a few days despite a very complex job to undertake and tight security to contend with as Prince William was staying on the base whilst learning to fly.

McNicholas Construction Ltd brought SUMO on board to survey the route of a new 2.5 mile fire main pipeline that would run across the site.

Russ Sampson, regional manager from SUMO, who worked on the £23k project said, “The initial suggestion was that we surveyed a 1m wide area along the length of the pipeline. With much experience of surveying MOD bases, We designed a survey  that included  a 10m wide area instead so an alternative clear route could be proposed when an area is  blocked by underground utilities”.

“Sure enough, one ten metre wide stretch had 11 sets of underground services running through it which meant the designated route was far too congested to fit the new pipe in and had to be changed. This saved the client time and money, not to mention the danger of hitting a service in a military installation.”

Only 40% of the services that SUMO detected were previously recorded but thanks to the survey, almost everything was found so the detection rate jumped to around 95%.

Declan Carlin, Contracts Manager at Green Macs  said, “We are extremely pleased with SUMO’s work. The team were professional, effective and thorough despite having to operate under pressure and at the last minute. It was an enormous benefit to find out in advance that the proposed route needed to be changed.”

Recent sites SUMO has surveyed across the UK include St Marys Hospital, Portsmouth, St Lukes Hospital, Middlesborough, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Manchester Airport, Dundee Airport and Glasgow Fort Retail Park. Contract values range from £1,000k to more than £100,000k.

SUMO scoped two national industry awards in 2006 and has worked on many prestigious construction sites across the UK including large town centre regeneration projects, new hospitals and major road building schemes.