: : Electrosteel Castings Limited - Ductile Iron Pipes

Electrosteel

Products & Services

BUNDLED PIPES

For break bulk shipment

ECL generally follows the practice of bundling ductile iron pipes upto 400 mm dia to facilitate loading, unloading and handling. For details on bundling, buyers are requested to contact ECL as the pattern might change on case to case basis depending on mode of shipment.

Each bundle has two number-base wood placed parallel to each other. Separator wood is provided between two rows / layers of pipes to provide stability to the bundle.

The pipes are bundled such that the successive pipes have sockets in opposite direction, viewed vertically or horizontally. The pipes are strapped with adequate number of steel straps to ensure that the straps do not snap even during multiple handling. Bundles should not be lifted by the steel straps.
Shipping marks are provided in each bundle with the help of metal tags or self adhesive stickers.

LOOSE PIPES

Pipe sizes above DN 400 mm are shipped in loose condition. These pipes require careful handling to avoid damages. Shipping marks are provided by stenciling or pasting adhesive stickers on the pipes.

PACKING OF FITTINGS & ACCESSORIES

Fittings are packed in sea worth wooden crates and placed inside the top of the container or sent along with the pipes in conventional vessels.

Rubber gaskets are packed in corrugated card board boxes properly sealed in dark PE bags (so that they are not exposed to air and light) when shipped in containers and in wooden cases, when shipped by conventional vessels.

Lubricants are packed in plastic jars which are further packed in corrugated card board boxes or wooden cases, as the case may be.

HANDLING

GENERAL

Ductile iron pipes and fittings are not susceptible to breakage by impact during handling but improper handling can result in damaged linings, coatings and sleeving and in severe cases, in bruising and deformation of the spigot.

Damage to pipes and fittings may be caused by :

Insecure loading on lorry or wagon.
Improper use of handling equipment.
Use of unsuitable handling equipment.
Incorrect storage in the hold of the boat / ship.
Incorrect stacking methods.
Improper storage of joint components.
Unloading on uneven or sloping ground.
Impact between pipes.

On receipt, pipes and fittings should be inspected for damage to :

The pipe or fitting itself.
Cement mortar Linings.
External protection system.
Jointing surfaces.

It is important to bear in mind that pipes and fittings are heavy objects and are dangerous when handled unless particular care is paid to aspects of safety. These instructions are intended to give guidance to ensure that the quality of pipes and fittings is not impaired during handling. Proper regard must be paid to all appropriate health and safety regulations in handling pipes and fittings. It is essential that only skilled and experienced personnel handle pipes and fittings (them).

It is imperative that pipe weights, type of stacking, outreach required and site conditions are taken into account when determining the suitability of the lifting equipment. The lifting machine shall be of the type which retains the load safely in the event of a power failure. Off – loading shall be carried out smoothly and without snatch. Where pipes have been bundled, it is essential that the bundles be off-loaded with slings around the complete bundle, using the correct lifting angle on the slings (see fig. I). Use of nylon rope or nylon belt of suitable capacity is recommended.

It is essential that the bundles are not lifted by means of their retaining straps and that stacked bundles are lowered to the ground before the straps are cut. When cranes are used for off-loading individual pipes, slings or lifting beams with purpose designated padded hooks shall always be used. Personnel engaged in off loading operations are recommended to wear suitable protective clothing (helmet, safety boots / shoes and gloves). The pipes should be lifted smoothly, without sudden jerking motions. Guide ropes should be used where required to prevent damage caused by pipes bumping together or against surrounding objects. When lowering pipes, timber battens placed on the ground about 600 mm from each end of the pipes shall be used to absorb shock and to prevent damage to the coating and any sleeving.

STUFFING & DE-STUFFING OF CONTAINER

In case of container shipment, each container is brought to ECL stockyard for in – house stuffing that is done in the presence of handling supervisors. Each container is checked for damages and cleaned before loading.

Customers must take care to de–stuff the containers carefully to avoid damaging the pipes and the container walls. The bundles must be taken out with a combination of two forklifts (or one crane or one forklift) in case of side open containers.

A Zebra belt must be used with one forklift to pull out the bundles carefully and the second forklift must support the bundle. Only one bundle must be pulled out at a time. In case of open top containers, overhead cranes with slings must be used.

Individual pipes must be de-stuffed from the container at the destination with the help of a combination of overhead crane and forklift or with the help of two forklifts. The pipes must be pulled out slowly and balanced with a forklift. A boom is very helpful to de – stuff pipes. Further advice on all aspects of unloading containers is available by contacting ECL.

BREAK-BULK TRANSPORTATION In case of shipment by conventional vessels, the bundles are transported by trucks and trailers to the nearest port. The bundles are handled with the help to overhead cranes using slings. The bundles are lashed properly to the trucks and trailers to avoid movement during transit. At the port, the bundles are directly lifted by port cranes / vessel derricks from the trucks and trailers and then placed inside the holds. Inside the hold, the bundles are properly stabilized using suitable lashing to avoid movement during sailing.
A Zebra belt must be used with one forklift to pull out the bundles carefully and the second forklift must support the bundle. Only one bundle must be pulled out at a time. In case of open top containers, overhead cranes with slings must be used.
At the destination port, bundles must be lifted out of the hold again using the methods described on page 30 with the help of port cranes / vessel derricks and directly loaded on trucks or trailers to be transported to the warehouse / site. Adequate lashing on trucks and trailers is essential. The bundles must be taken off the trucks and trailers with the help of overhead cranes.
In case of loose pipes, wooden sleepers are provided on the vehicle platform with profiled wooden chocks to arrest side movement while transporting to the port. The pipes are loaded in a pyramid formation on trucks with successive layers / rows having sockets facing opposite direction. When using trailers, loading should be done to ensure that sockets of the lowest tier face each other. The pipes must be secured to the trucks and trailers with the help of slings. Wire ropes and iron chains must not to be used. While unloading pipes from the hold at destination port, be careful to avoid impact of the pipes against the walls of the hold. Pipes should be unloaded row after row. It is recommended to first remove pipes in the center and then roll the pipes on the sides to the center for lifting by port cranes / vessel derricks. The pipes must preferable be loaded directly on trucks and trailers and transported to the warehouse / site. Further advice on all aspects of loading and unloading break-bulk vessel is available by contacting ECL.