AfriSam

Pre-job checklist for concrete pumping

(Use this checklist to manage general details, top-line mix notes, and safety accreditations.)

Project: ....................................................................... Date:.........................................................

location:..........................................................................................................................................

Directions: .......................................................................................................................................

1. Contacts

Who Name Phone Mobile Fax E-Mail

C. Contractor Plant(s) Pump Contractor

2. General Conditions

Start Time Pump: am/pm Concrete: am/pm

Placement Location • Slabs • Walls • Footings Other Placement Rate (m3/hr.) Volume (m3) Type of Pump • Regular • Z-Boom • Telescoping • Trailer Size of Pump (m) Pipeline dia, mm Pumping Distance (m) Vertical Horizontal Slump/Air Spec • Point of Discharge • Point of Placement

Testing • Point of Discharge • Point of Placement

Priming Agent • Grout • Slick Pack

3. Concrete Mixture (see Concrete Mix Submission form)

Class of Concrete CSA A23.1 Mix ID

Strength MPa

Ordered Slump (mm)

Special Requirements 28 day Other Air Range %

4. Pump

Pump Equipment Safety Certified Yes Pump Operator ACPA Certified Yes No No

Safety and training on pumps are one and the same

By Eamonn Ryan

The length of the ground area or height of construction that the concrete must be pumped are key factors that go into choosing the right concrete pump and boom for a particular job, says Russell Wearne, Regional Manager Ready Mix Business Unit – AfriSam.

in the same vein, the condition of the terrain and accoutrements are the factors to be considered-when it comes to the all-important health and safety considerations when pumping concrete. Russell Wearne For these reasons, Afrisam will send out a technical consultant ahead of pump time to observe where the pump will stand and determine the length of the pump boom that is required. Afrisam has 36m and 42m pumps, the booms of which lift up and are angled towards where the concrete is to be pumped. They can typically reach every part of the site where casting is taking place.

“Where the area to be cast extends beyond our maximum range of 42m we would have to re-establish the pump in a different location of the site so as to cover the additional area it couldn’t reach. boom pumps are mostly used on an area at ground level,” says Wearne.

When it comes to tall buildings, Afrisam also has a range of static or boom-less pumps which have a pipe connected to the pump’s discharge point which is mounted to the sides of the building when pumping long distances. This is especially useful up the sides of buildings so the pipework can be built upwards as the building progresses.

Afrisam provides pumping services to contractors using primarily Putzmeister branded pumps, for the reason that Wearne says, “it is the most common and reliable pump in South Africa”.

To ensure that reliability, Afrisam does regular scheduled maintenance of its pumps. “We do pre-start inspections each morning when the construction crew arrive on site, an inspection which includes the safety and efficiency of the pump, as well as a pre-run of the pump. There is a set checklist for this – given it is a large piece of equipment – which ensures the pump remains in good operating condition. The pipes used are changed at determined intervals in order to minimise failures on site, and we record the wear on delivery pipes every month against cubic metres pumped,” explains Wearne.

“The pumps are serviced and maintained using our own internal SAP planned maintenance process. All our equipment is documented on the SAP Maintenance system which generates an automatic notification to our mechanics to do a service on a particular piece of equipment.

“Preventative maintenance is a lifestyle for us because a pump cannot be allowed to breakdown on site. you cannot afford that to happen when a crew is busy pouring a concrete deck or other large surface area for a customer. For this reason, the pre-start up inspection would include taking note of anything observed by the operator the day before,” adds Wearne.

“Nonetheless, it still happens that a pump can breakdown on site – that is the nature of a machine. What we normally do is have a similar pump on standby if one is available. Alternatively, we have outsource arrangements in each area which we tap into when overbooked or have a breakdown.”

SAFETy iS CENTRAL TO SETTiNg uP JOBSiTE PuMPiNg

Safety is a key aspect of all Afrisam’s operations, and especially in pumping, says Wearne.

For instance, safety is a central component of the pre-start checklist. Afrisam has an oHS official that goes out the day before a pump to inspect the site and agree with the client exactly where the pump is going to be established. At that location, all safety measures are put in place to ensure it is not close to working people, not going to influence traffic and is in general set up in an environment conducive to both Afrisam’s crew and the contractor’s safety with good accessibility from the trucks.