It is often necessary to use an industrial concrete pumping service for placement in hard to reach areas. Due to its ease and efficiency it is also often the most economical option overall. On big construction sites a boom pump would be the best option. A line pump can be more versatile and maneuverable.
Line pumps are trailer mounted and are used for a variety of different mixtures. These include mortar, grout and screed. They can be place close to where the pour will be required because of their small sized which makes them more versatile.
They also use a very simple ball-valve pump which is easy to maintain and clean. They are better for low volume use but an hydraulically powered pump can deliver up to 150 cubit yards per hour. Typical applications are for fabric forms and sections that are heavily reinforced. Underwater repair and shotcreting are also possibilities.
Where large slabs need to be poured or a greater reach is required a boom pump will be ideal. These are truck mounted units and are therefore limited to where a truck could go. The boom arm is comprised of several sections with steel pipes attached through which the mixture is pumped. At the end there will normally be a rubber hose section that can be easily moved around to direct the flow.
The applications for boom pumps can be anything from residential housing development to large corporate or industrial projects. They would be ideal for low rise projects where pumping has to reach up to several levels. They can even be used on the biggest bridge and dam projects.
The most common size of truck that they are mounted on is a single axel which has the best cost to volume ratio. In cases where large volumes are needed the rig can be as big as six axels to support much bigger pumps. Booms that have three of four sections will have the lowest unfolding height and would therefore be better for constrained work spaces. If a longer reach is required a five section boom can reach as far as 200 feet.
Because they have such a long reach they can usually stay in the same place for an entire days pouring. This makes it easier to direct traffic for the ready mix trucks that feed concrete into its hopper. What is crucial to take into account is that the mixture that is delivered is suitable for pumping.
Concrete is made up of three components which are Portland cement, water and aggregate. The aggregate of sand or stone is just used for bulk and the cement holds the mixture together. The water causes the mixture to flow and to set. Since a pump makes use of narrow pipes with bends in there is a limit to the size of the stone aggregate that can be used. There also has to be enough water to keep the mixture moving. Too much water can cause structural weakness and water bleeding which makes finishing difficult.
To keep the amount of water used to a minimum a primer can be added to the mixture to make it flow better. There are also admixes that perform other functions that also make pumping easier such fly ash and additives for air entrainment. If you are uncertain ask your industrial concrete pumping service.
The industry’s leader in concrete pumping Toronto, has the machinery that can help complete your projects faster. Contact Concrete Pumping today to inquire about their aggregate services Ontario
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