Cold Cutting

Cold cutting is an advanced, environmentally friendly technique for cutting steel, composites, and concrete using Ultra High-Pressure Water Jetting combined with abrasive materials. This process generates no heat, making it ideal for environments containing chemical vapours, degassing substances, or other volatile elements. Aqua Prep offers a cold-cutting service that provides a cost-effective and safer alternative to traditional hot-cutting methods, particularly in situations involving chemicals and explosive vapours.

Aqua Prep’s cold-cutting technique allows for faster re-welding of surfaces and produces less hazardous waste. It stands out as the most dependable option in the industry because it preserves the metallurgy of cut materials. With extensive experience in diverse environments, from sewers to petrochemical plants, Aqua Prep utilises state-of-the-art water jetting machines and cold-cutting equipment to achieve superior results. Their equipment can cut high-tensile-strength steel and thick concrete blocks with precision, and they have also completed underwater projects for ships and offshore rigs.

The critical benefits of cold cutting include rapid and safe execution, elimination of grinding requirements, prevention of heat-affected zones, and an environmentally friendly methodology. Aqua Prep’s remote-controlled water jetting Cold Cut system delivers unparalleled ultra-high pressure (UHP) water jetting for any cold cutting project. To enhance precision and safety, they incorporate a water-abrasive mixture into the cold-cut head.

Cold cutting is often preferred in explosive environments for several reasons. It prevents sparks, generates minimal heat, produces larger chips rather than fine dust, can be pneumatically or hydraulically powered, uses non-flammable lubricants or coolants, allows for greater control and precision, and is often ATEX (Atmospheres Explosible) compliant.

In contrast, wire and concrete cutting methods can produce sparks, generate heat through friction, create fine airborne dust, require electrical power, need water for cooling, and have a more aggressive nature that could potentially damage surrounding structures. These factors make them less suitable for use in explosive atmospheres.

Given these factors, cold cutting is often the safest choice in explosive environments. It minimises the risk of ignition sources while still allowing necessary cutting operations. However, it’s crucial to note that even with cold cutting, all equipment must be appropriately rated for use in the specific hazardous area classification of the work environment.