Efficiency and dependability are paramount in the construction industry. However, it is possible to fall behind on many tasks, particularly big, complicated initiatives.
According to studies, an astonishing 99.8 per cent of major building projects have a budget or schedule overruns, and the typical delay for a large-scale building project is twenty months, which is nearly twice as long as the original estimate.
The most advanced technology available such as concrete pumps is essential for avoiding such problems. Concrete pumps provide significant benefits in terms of productivity and convenience of operation when it comes to the pouring of concrete.
In this article, we will go over all there is to know about concrete pumps, including their importance, their primary function, and the several types that are available.
Known about: reciprocating pumps
Concrete pump: Principle
A fundamental concrete pump works as a hydraulic pump with two cylinders. The operation is carried out according to the principle of one piston pulling the concrete from the source and the other piston forcing the concrete into the discharge output pipe. A valve determines which cylinder would be connected to the source and which would be connected to the discharge pipe. Future improvements brought about modifications to this design, which made it possible to permit high-pressure pumping of concrete at varying heights and lengths.
Concrete pump: Importance
Source: Pinterest
The use of concrete pumps has greatly benefited the construction industry. Since the invention of the concrete pump, transporting concrete has become a much simpler and quicker process. In addition to enabling a constant supply of concrete, modern concrete pumps are capable of pumping at a far quicker rate than cranes are able to lift buckets.
They also make it possible to pour the concrete directly using a laying boom rather than transferring it haphazardly in a bucket. Concrete pumps are an indispensable necessity on contemporary construction sites because of their simplicity of use, productivity, and capacity to save time.
Concrete pump: Types
Concrete pumps vary in pumping pressure, user-friendliness, and technological sophistication. These are the main categories of concrete pumps:
Line pumps
Source: Pinterest
Line pumps transport liquefied concrete through underground hoses to their final destination. The mobility of hoses allows them to wind around corners and down alleyways where the truck otherwise wouldn’t fit. There are several types of line pumps, some of which are listed here.
Stationary pumps
The most elementary kind of concrete pump is the stationary pump or trailer-mounted pump. It’s just a pump on the back of a trailer. Transporting this pump to the construction sites requires a dedicated vehicle. In the same way, a stationary pump lacks a boom; thus, additional pipes or positioning hoses are required to transport the concrete to its final destination. To get the concrete exactly where it needs to go, you’ll also need a putting boom.
Truck-mounted static pump
Workers may simply load up the static pumps that are attached to the back of their trucks and drive them to the construction sites. However, since these trucks don’t have placement booms, you’ll need to utilise additional placement hoses to transport the concrete to the desired spot.
Truck mixer pump
Concrete may be pumped straight from this model’s mixer, which also functions as a pump. Although this strategy may be effective in many contexts, it does need a work site configuration that permits a big mixing truck to be driven up near the location where the concrete needs to be delivered.
Boom pumps
Source: Pinterest
The concrete is pumped using a boom pump that stretches into the air to reach the desired location. Like a crane, it uses a long, adjustable arm that can be extended into the air with the push of a button. In regions that are difficult to access and where a line pump is unable to reach, including the upper levels of a high-rise building or an apartment building, boom pumps may be utilised instead.
They may also extend beyond the boundaries of a home’s property, making them ideal for building things like in-ground pools and other yard ornaments. The boom may be easily stored and transported when folded into manageable halves. Concrete can be placed precisely where it has to go with this type of pump without the need for additional hoses. Because of their adaptability and convenience, boom pumps are widely used in the construction industry.
The articulated portions of boom pumps are available in a variety of folding configurations, including the following:
Roll-and-fold
Roll-and-fold pumps have components that fold one beneath the next in a rolling motion to create the pump. Because they need a significant amount of area to spread out, they do best in expansive settings.
Z and ZZ
These pumps include accordion-like portions that can be folded back and forth to save space. They can easily pass through narrow doorways and squeeze over and under obstacles like a house or a thicket of trees.
RZ
Often referred to by the name “multifold pumps,” these pumps have a sectional design that is a hybrid of the more common “roll-and-fold” and “Z” shapes.
Concrete pump: Applications
Concrete pumps are versatile pieces of construction equipment that may be used in a broad number of applications, some of which are listed below.
Slab construction foundations
Flat concrete slabs serve as the foundations for buildings that do not have basements. An impermeable, level base is essential. Concrete pumps are necessary for efficient and accurate placement of the material. That way, you may be certain that the base is flawless.
Construction of basements
The foundation-laying procedure is more involved for structures with basements. Boom pumps and other types of concrete pumps are essential for completing a job on schedule and preventing mistakes or the concrete from setting up prematurely. The use of boom pumps in basement foundations speeds up the drying process and keeps the construction on schedule.
High-rise structures
Due to its height and reach, a boom pump is frequently required while working with high-rise structures. Using boom lifts, construction firms can efficiently and securely transport concrete to higher levels for further pouring, keeping projects on time.
Tunnels and overpasses on highways
The daily tons of traffic passing over highway overpasses need the use of strong materials like reinforced concrete. As with any underground structure, roadway tunnels need to be robust enough to withstand the pressure of the ground above them. The application of a concrete pump, and particularly a boom pump with its extra lift, may speed up and simplify the construction of structures like overpasses and tunnels, which typically need operating at an elevated level.
Construction of bridges and dams
For both vehicular traffic and high water pressure, bridges and dams need to be massive and solid. Concrete may be pumped swiftly to the top of a high-rise bridge or dam using a boom pump, which has the benefit of being able to raise and extend.
Parking facilities
It is difficult to transport concrete to the top levels of a parking garage without the use of a concrete pump since parking garages often consist of many floors. The use of a concrete pump makes it possible to finish the building of a large parking structure fast and without wasting any time or effort on manual work.
Sidewalks and driveways
Many people who are building a house pay the greatest attention to the structure itself. The driveway and walkway are also quite important. While some homeowners may be persuaded to do the job themselves, the best approach to ensure a level, sturdy, and fully cured driveway or pavement is to hire a professional construction business that has access to a concrete pump.
Ground-level swimming pools
A concrete slab, like a basement, serves as the basis for an in-ground pool. In order to efficiently build a backyard pool, concrete pumps, particularly boom pumps, are invaluable tools. Nobody likes the idea of a big truck rumbling through their backyard. However, a boom pump will effortlessly pour concrete from the street right over their heads.
Patio foundations and garden shed bases
Concrete pumps, such as boom pumps, are used for laying the groundwork for a variety of structures, including backyard swimming pools, patios, and garden sheds. The concrete platforms for these extensions may be poured with ease using boom pumps that can extend into the property from the street.
Concrete pump: What to look for when buying one?
The specifications of the construction endeavour are used to guide the decision-making process for the concrete pump. The following criteria are used to make a decision on which concrete pump is the best and most appropriate option:
Manufacturer of concrete pumps
When looking for a reliable manufacturer of concrete pumps, important considerations include the following:
- Find the most reputable manufacturer of concrete pumps in the area. In this regard, you should inquire with local contractors and try to get help from any well-known manufacturers.
- It’s now possible to explore types of concrete pumps in one convenient location. Verify the best-rated concrete pumps by reading reviews written by previous buyers.
Purpose of a concrete pump
The intended use of the concrete pump should be fully realised. If, for instance, a purchased concrete pump is unsuitable for use in the project because it cannot be utilised to fill the tunnel’s midsection, the pump is useless. Thus, before making a purchase, the responsible contractor or builder should ensure that the concrete pump in question is both flexible and highly functional.
Cost and economic aspects
The chosen concrete pump has to be cost-effective and appropriate for the total expenditure. Don’t take the risk of paying too much for a low-quality concrete pump. Picking a concrete pump is always best done by comparing prices and results. Examine the quality and cost of each option.
FAQs
How long does the process of pumping concrete take?
It would take a lot longer to move concrete by wheelbarrow to the desired place than it would to simply pump 1 m³ per minute.
For what distance may a concrete pump be used?
Most boom pumps have a vertical reach of around 41.9 metres (137 feet). It has a horizontal reach of 38 metres (124.7 feet). Longer booms, however, may extend more than 200 feet.
Which concrete pump is ideal?
Highway and road-building projects of significant size need the use of a concrete pump that is either fixed on a boom or transported by truck. A boom pump is ideal when there is restricted space for the concrete to be poured, and it must be poured from a variety of heights.
What is the service life of a concrete pump?
A concrete pump has a service life of about ten years. This means that after ten years, the concrete pump will either be demolished by the authorities or, if the expense of upkeep is too high, it will no longer be used.