Hot Tapping & Live Line Tie-Ins
Add a new branch to a live, pressurized chilled water or process line without shutting the system down. Ideal for fit-outs, expansions and new equipment in occupied buildings.
What is hot tapping?
Hot tapping is a way of making a new connection into a pipe while it stays live and under pressure. A branch fitting and valve are fixed to the running pipe, a tapping machine cuts through the pipe wall through the valve, and the valve is closed before the machine is removed. The system never has to stop.
New Connections With Zero System Downtime
Hot tapping fixes a fitting and valve onto the running pipe, then cuts into it through the valve under pressure. The system never stops, and the new branch is ready to connect.
- New branches for tenant fit-outs on occupied floors.
- Connections for new AHUs, FCUs and equipment during expansions.
- Bypass lines to allow future maintenance without shutdown.
- Instrument and meter connections on running systems.
- Live tie-ins for contractors working in occupied buildings.
- Pipe freezing as an option when a valve, not a new branch, is needed.
Why MSTECK
- HVAC and MEP contractor and consultant since 2008
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certified
- The same engineers design, install and maintain, so nothing is lost between teams
- Live-system work planned by engineers who read how the system actually behaves
When to Hot Tap Instead of Shutting Down
Fit-Outs in Occupied Buildings
Connect a new tenant space without cutting cooling to everyone else.
Plant Expansions
Add equipment to a running chilled water or process system.
Contractors and Consultants
Live tie-ins scoped and carried out for main contractors on occupied sites.
How a Hot Tapping Job Runs
- Survey. We confirm pipe size, material, wall condition, pressure and temperature at the tap point.
- Method statement and approvals. A written plan shared with your FM team or consultant before work starts.
- Fit the fitting and valve. A branch fitting and isolation valve are installed on the live pipe and tested.
- Tap. A tapping machine cuts through the pipe wall inside the closed system, then withdraws behind the valve.
- Connect. The valve is closed, the machine removed, and the new branch is ready to connect and commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hot tapping need a system shutdown?
No. The pipe stays in service and under pressure throughout the work.
Which systems can you hot tap?
Chilled water and low-pressure process lines. We confirm the pipe material, condition and pressure during the survey.
How is it different from pipe freezing?
Hot tapping adds a new connection to a live line. Pipe freezing isolates a section so an existing valve or pipe can be replaced.
Can you also do the rest of the installation?
Yes. As an HVAC and MEP contractor we can install and commission the equipment the new branch feeds.
Which areas do you cover?
We take on projects across the UAE, run from our office in Al Qusais Industrial Area 5, Dubai.
More From MSTECK
Pipe Freezing & Valve Replacement
Replace chilled water valves and pipe sections without draining the system.
Learn moreLive Leak Repair
Stop leaks on chilled water and plumbing pipes while the line stays in service.
Learn moreBTU Meters & BMS Integration
BTU meter installation, control valves and BMS monitoring for chilled water.
Learn more