Pipelayer (vehicle) explained

A pipelayer or sideboom is a type of a construction vehicle used to lay pipes. It is used in the construction of oil, gas and water pipelines.

Description

The lifting equipment of pipelayers includes:

• boom, mounted on the left side of the machine
• counterweights
• hydraulic hook and boom winches.

A pipelayer can also be equipped with accessories:

• crane (used to lift and place pipeline elements in a trench)
• dragline (used to backfill a trench)
• rammer (used to compact the soil in an excavation).

Standards

Construction, installation, operation, inspection, testing, and maintenance of sidebooms are covered by OSHA standard 1926.1440 - Sideboom cranes^[1] and ASME B30.14 - Side Boom Tractors.^[2]

References

1. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1440 Occupational Safety and Health Administration - 1926.1440 - Sideboom cranes
2. https://www.asme.org/codes-standards/find-codes-standards/b30-14-side-boom-tractors/2015/drm-enabled-pdf ASME - B30.14 Side Boom Tractors