To access the boiler room meant we had to remove a section of the internal wall.

The room itself was about a metre lower than the underground car park level. We used steel beams to bring the boiler into the room and then lowered it to the floor level.

All lifting had to be manual as the roof clearance meant that mechanical aids could not be used.

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Each boiler was taken to the 2nd lower floor

The job couldn't be rushed but it had to done swiftly, if the floor was uneven at any point the boiler would hit the roof beams.

If the roof and boiler made contact we don't know which would have come off worse and thankfully we never found out.Our main concern was ensuring the boiler didn't get trapped under the beam and we had to divert to avoid pipe-work and cabling.

The only thing harder than getting a weighty boiler to move is getting it to stop.

Before we attempted to go underneath the roof beam we had to ensure it could get under.

As we moved it needed constant attention to keep the speed smooth and constant, the direction straight and one eye on the clearance - there was no room for error.

There are times when all the sophisticated tools at our disposal simply can't do the job.

Physically hauling heavy plant is very strenuous work, but in this case there was no alternative and it had to be done somehow.

Our teams are used to hard work and working hard as a team, there's no room for slackers at MRI London.

"If that's what it takes then that's what we will do" is our attitude.

At the end of the long haul was a wall. There was no other way to access the boiler room so we took the wall away.

As the floor was about a metre lower we had to bring the entire boiler into the room and then lower it.

This is an extremely hazardous operation. MRI London had the confidence to do it because we've done it before and know what to do.

Bearing in mind that we cannot lift the boiler very high getting the lifting chains underneath and in the right place wasn't as simple as it sounds.

As all team members knew what had to done and how it should be done the operation went very well.

The main problem is the tendency for the boiler to drop at an angle once it's just over halfway over the ledge.Getting the chains in the right place was essential, once the weight is taken up there is no way to reposition them.

Each boiler was carefully lined up straight and kept level.

Side swing would result if when lifted one side was lower than the other - which is extremely dangerous for all involved, it's very hard to stop once it's going.

If the boiler drops downwards it is possible for it to slide forwards and out of the chain cradle - again once it starts there is very little you can do.

So proper planning at the outset is essential because you can't do anything about it later - it's too late.

Limited Room

We couldn't bring the boiler in as far as we would have liked because the building structure was in the way.

Careful preparation beforehand meant that we were in the only place it was possible to bring the boiler sufficiently in to lower it to the ground.

We would have preferred more room to manoeuvre but we didn't have it.

We had to take care to not knock our lifting beam support - something easy to do that would mean disastrous results.

Our team had to keep the guy cables taut to stop any swinging about in any direction.

Particularly when the lifting stops and starts the boiler keeps going of its own accord, we allow for this as we move but also ensure all of the team are alert, vigilant and ready to respond.

To do the job well it takes a good team who know their job - that's MRI London.

The boilers were placed on their foundations and made secure.The section of wall we removed for access was replaced and made good.

MRI London often find the size of the hole and the size of the heavy plant are about the same - and there is nothing you can do about either.

If it is possible MRI London will do it - if it's not possible... we've done that before and we'll find a way to do it again.

Road Closures