11
D. Placing of pipes
Step D.1.
Safety check 1
−
Make sure the V-Sup stack is
free of ice, snow, oil, mud, algae
, or any other substances that have a negative
influence on the friction. Especially check the contact areas between the beams, the bottom surface, and the
contact surface of the V-Beam with the pipe.
−
Make sure the contact surface of the V-Beams are free of substances that can cause damages to pipe coatings.
−
Check if the V-Sup is build up properly. Give it a visible check but also push against it to feel any unevenness
in the V-Sup stack. Also check the contact areas of the V-Sup with the bottom surface. Check for any
unevenness which previously may have been overlooked.
−
Check if the V-Sup beams make full contact with each other. When some recesses
don’t lock together in a
proper way, the whole stack can become skew and unstable. This can cause dangerous situations when a pipe
is placed on top of it. Again, make sure all beams lock into each other in a proper way.
Step D.2.
Placing pipe
−
Before placing the pipe, follow step D.1. of this manual completely. Then position the pipe on the V-Sup stacks.
Do this with caution and make sure the V-Sup stacks are loaded carefully.
−
The V-Sup can be loaded with all different lifting equipment (hooks, reach stacker, vacuum lifter, slings, etc.)
−
Make sure that during the lifting and loading procedures of the pipes, nobody is standing underneath or near
the lifted pipe.
−
The dynamic loads/forces to the V-Sup should be kept to a minimum. Pipes need to be positioned with minimum
impact. Avoid horizontal movement of the pipe when this is in contact with the V-Sup, always lift it first.
Step D.3.
Safety check 2
−
Make sure there is no contact between the pipe and the stackable beams. In case there is contact, the angle of
the surface is probably too big. Remove the pipe from the V-sup stacks and correct this (consult Figure 1).
−
Check if all stackable beams still lock into each other with the recesses. This is important in order to prevent the
beams from sliding relative to each other.
−
Check if the V-Sup and separate beams are not tilted and they make full contact with the bottom surface or the
beams below. In case a beam is tilted or there is no full contact, remove the overlying pipe and reposition the
beam (check the recesses) to restore full contact.
−
Generally check the overall V-Sup. Check if it stands solid with the pipe on it. A worker has to feel safe when
working underneath a pipe on V-Sup.
Figure 11. Pipe on two V-Sup Stacks
