The Ultimate Guide to Pipe Rack Hire

Things to consider

• Length, weight and number of pipes – These factors will determine the type, size and safe working load of the pipe racks you select.
• Instructions for safe use and maintenance – to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, you should always observe the instructions for safe use and maintenance that accompany your pipe racks. These include rules on stacking, manoeuvring, safe working load (SWL), regular inspections and wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE).

Introduction

When you’re working on site and you need to store or move pipes, conduits and other types of tubing, a mobile pipe rack is a great option.

Here at Lakeside-Hire, our pipe racks come with 1 tonne or 2 tonne loading capacities and cater for lengths of up to 3 metres. Linking kits allow two of them to be joined together for the purposes of carrying 6-metre-long pipes and conduits.

Pipe rack hire is ideal when working on a construction site with limited or no on-site storage capacity.

What are pipe racks?

Pipe racks belong to a subcategory of lifting equipment called “lifted equipment”. Instead of raising or lowering a load—the usual function of most lifting gear and accessories—lifted equipment is used to suspend and carry loads. This means lifted equipment includes anything from containers, tanks and skips to drum rackets, gas cylinder racks and cargo nets.

Like all types and subtypes of lifting gear, mobile pipe racks are designed to make carrying, moving and storing pipes and other tubing safe and convenient. They are typically made from steel; come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colours; and have castors for easy manoeuvrability. Many have a fully folding or collapsible design. This makes them easy, safe and efficient to transport and store when not in use.

All mobile pipe racks should be labelled with their safe working load (SWL). You should take care not to exceed the SWL when you load them up.

Lakeside-Hire pipe racks: the main features

Our mobile pipe racks are made from heavy-duty steel, which is powder-coated for optimal protection and durability. They are fitted with ultra-robust industrial swivel castors for easy movement on site, and have been rigorously tested and certified to ensure that all safety standards have been met. Furthermore, they are stackable and fully collapsible, which means they can be easily transported and compactly stored away when not in use, restoring space on your construction site.

Each of our pipe racks supports a 1 tonne load, but a simple kit will upgrade the capacity to 2 tonnes. They hold pipes and conduits up to 3 metres in length, but a linking kit will double this capacity to 6 metres.

Here’s a rundown of the key features of the pipe racks available from Lakeside-Hire:

• 1 or 2 tonne safe working load
• 3 metre length capacity
• 6 metre length capacity by virtue of a linking kit, joining two racks together
• Powder-coated heavy-duty steel structure
• Ultra-robust industrial swivel castors, two with brakes
• Stackable up to 6 units high
• Fully collapsible
• Fully tested and certified

How to use pipe racks safely

First you should carry out a risk assessment, determining and evaluating the general risks from using your pipe rack. You should conclude that its design is as safe as physically possible while still being capable of performing its intended function.

Here are some operational instructions to ensure that you use your mobile pipe racks safely:

• 1. Spread the load evenly throughout it.
• 2. Manoeuvre it with at least 2 people.
• 3. Do not exceed the SWL.
• 4. Always push the pipe rack rather than pulling it; this prevents trip hazards.
• 5. Ensure the brakes are on if you leave it unattended and/or on a slope.
• 6. Always use the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) for the intended load.
• 7. Only stack your pipe racks using mechanical plant machinery; do not manually lift and stack them.
• 8. Do not stack more than 6 pipe racks on top of each other.
• 9. Make sure you inspect and maintain them daily. Check for signs of damage on the load-bearing arms, e.g. cracks in the metal. Check that the brakes are functioning correctly, free from dirt and other materials. And check that the wheels are turning freely, with the bearings intact and the split retaining pin in good condition.

If you find you are having difficulty moving your pipe rack, this may be due to the following:

• • Loose rubble under the wheels.
• • The brake is on.
• • It might be overloaded.
• • Increased resistance on the ground, e.g. on grass or clay.

Tips before hiring

Before you spend money on mobile pipe racks, make sure they are suitable for what you need to store or transport, or whether a larger piece of storage or lifting equipment would be better. You should also consider whether you need multiple pipe racks.

Next, consider whether you want to purchase or hire them. Hiring can be much more cost-effective, particularly for short-term and medium-term projects, and at Lakeside-Hire, pipe rack hire prices are up to 70% cheaper than competitors. We also offer nationwide, next-day delivery, plus free delivery for hire periods of 3 weeks or more.

For more information about pipe rack hire, please contact us on 0330 134 6224 or hire@www.lakeside-hire.co.uk. You can also request a call back. To find other secure storage options such as site boxes and cages, have a look at our wide range of site accessories.

FAQs about pipe rack hire

1. What are pipe racks?

Pipe racks are structures typically made from steel that are used to carry and store pipes, conduits and other tubing on construction sites and manufacturing plants. Mobile pipe racks have castors for easy transportation on site, and are designed to make storing or moving pipes safe and convenient.

2. How do you use a pipe rack safely?

Always observe the safe use instructions that come with them. Typical instructions for mobile pipe racks are outlined above and include requirements as to moving/loading, PPE, stacking and maintaining.

3. Why should I hire a pipe rack from Lakeside-Hire?

Here is a list of reasons:

• Lakeside-Hire has access to 90+ depots nationwide and can deliver your pipe rack the very next day at whatever time suits you.
• Delivery is free for 3-week hire periods or longer.
• We fully inspect and maintain our equipment before hire.
• You don’t need a large corporate account with us in order to get the benefit of great hire rates.
• Our prices are up to 70% cheaper than our competitors.

We have proven ourselves a hassle-free solution for construction companies all over the UK.