Starting with a Proper Pre-Start Meeting

Dry Riser One has successfully completed another new-build dry riser installation in Saltash, Cornwall, delivering the project from initial site coordination through to installation, pressure testing and final commissioning.

The completed system serves the communal area of the residential development and consists of one dry riser system with three landing valves, with the installation formally completed and commissioned on 17 September 2026 in accordance with BS 9990:2015.

For us, however, this project was about more than simply installing pipework. It was a very good example of what can be achieved when the dry riser contractor, Quantity Surveyor and Site Manager communicate properly before anybody starts drilling holes or installing equipment. And that conversation started before our engineers arrived on site. Before installation commenced, we held an initial pre-start meeting with the Quantity Surveyor and Site Manager to walk through the proposed dry riser installation and discuss how the work would be carried out.

The site team had not previously managed the installation of a dry riser system, so understandably there were questions around the pipework route, penetrations, inlet position, landing valves and the sequence in which everything needed to happen.

Our message was simple: We would take care of it.

Rather than expecting the site team to already understand every technical aspect of a dry riser installation, we talked them through the process step by step, explained what preparation was required and agreed how Dry Riser One and the site team would work together on the day. That is an important part of how we approach our projects.

Our job is not simply to arrive with pipe and fittings. We are there to help the contractor understand what is required, identify potential issues early and make the installation as straightforward as possible.

Finding the Best Route Through a Tight Space

Once work began, our engineers assessed the available space and established the most practical route through the building.

As the photographs show, parts of the installation were being completed within relatively restricted communal areas, with walls, structural elements and other services already defining the available working space. One of the most important points discussed during the pre-start meeting was the floor penetration. Rather than asking the site team to core drill in advance and then discovering on installation day that the opening was slightly out of position, we agreed that the core hole would be drilled while our engineers were on site.

That gave us the opportunity to establish the dry riser route properly before committing to the penetration. Our intention was very clear: help the site achieve the installation with one correctly positioned hole through the building, rather than creating unnecessary additional penetrations. This sounds like a small detail, but on a live construction project it matters. Every unnecessary core hole can create additional work involving structural coordination, fire stopping, making good and other trades.

Getting the position right the first time is always preferable. The project drawings themselves identify that service holes through the floors are to be provided in accordance with the M&E requirements, reinforcing why the final position needed to be properly coordinated rather than guessed in advance.

That is where having experienced dry riser engineers on site makes a significant difference.

Pressure Testing the Completed Dry Riser

Once the installation was completed, the system moved to the next critical stage: pressure testing and commissioning.

The dry riser was hydraulically pressure tested before handover, allowing our engineers to verify the integrity of the completed pipework, joints and materials.

The project was subsequently certified as installed and commissioned in accordance with BS 9990:2015, with the Certificate of Compliance recording the installation date as 17 September 2026.

Installation must be followed by testing and testing must be followed by commissioning. And commissioning must be supported by the appropriate documentation.

Building Relationships with New Clients

Projects like this are also important to us for another reason. At Dry Riser One, we genuinely value the relationships we are building with our new clients. We don't want to be a company that turns up once, installs some pipework and disappears. We want contractors to know that when they bring us onto a project, they have a specialist they can phone, ask questions and rely upon.

If the Site Manager has never installed a dry riser before, that's fine. If the Quantity Surveyor wants to understand the process before works begin, we'll explain it. If the proposed route needs changing because of the real conditions on site, our engineers will find the best solution.

If the contractor isn't sure where a penetration should be formed, we'd much rather discuss it beforehand than arrive later and tell somebody the hole is in the wrong place. That's how long-term working relationships are built. Clear communication, reliable workmanship and doing what we said we were going to do.

We are very grateful for the confidence our new clients are placing in Dry Riser One, and we look forward to continuing to build those relationships across future projects.

Thank You to Our Engineers

We also want to recognise the engineers delivering these installations every day. But ultimately somebody still has to stand inside the building, assess the available space and physically make the installation work.

Drawings are important l Planning is important l Good communication is essential

Our engineers continually demonstrate an ability to find sensible routes, neat solutions and practical ways of working around restricted spaces and evolving construction conditions. This Saltash project was another great example. Thank you to the team for delivering another clean installation and successful commissioning.

Need a Dry Riser Contractor in Saltash or Plymouth?

Dry Riser One provides specialist dry riser installation, testing, commissioning, servicing and maintenance throughout Saltash, Plymouth, Cornwall, Devon and across the UK. The earlier these details are discussed, the easier the installation normally becomes.

For this project, early coordination helped create exactly the result we wanted: one planned route, a smooth installation process and a fully commissioned dry riser system ready for handover.

Whether your site team has installed dozens of dry risers before or this is your first one, we can guide you through the process from initial coordination to final commissioning.

Call: 0800 061 4111
Email: enquiries@dryriserone.co.uk