Question 1

Is Ovolifts a maintenance contractor, equipment supplier or both?"

Accepted Answer

Ovolifts provides lifting solutions organised around equipment supply with the result that we can work with any contractor already approved to operate in a facility. We provide support for the contractor on a consultation basis when required either on-site or remotely.

Question 2

Are the tools available for purchase or rental only?

Accepted Answer

The tools are available for rental only. With significant investment in the equipment’s patent protection, providing them on a rental basis guards against their misuse. It also enables Ovolifts to maintain operational oversight on all projects utilizing the equipment, thus ensuring their safe operation according to the lift plan and pipe stress analysis. It also means the tools are available in on demand quantities and for short-term needs whilst Ovolifts takes ownership of maintenance and correct storage.

Question 3

My technicians have never used the equipment before. How do we plan, prepare and perform a lift?"

Accepted Answer

Ovolifts provides comprehensive training in the equipment's use, and guidance in implementing the required lifts. Safety procedures and maintenance strategies are also provided as required.

Question 4

Our company is risk averse and we consider lifting live pipes to be critical lifts. What guarantees can you provide in terms of engineering that will prevent damaging our equipment? For example by over stressing a pipe and possibly causing a loss of containment.

Accepted Answer

Before any lift is executed a comprehensive engineering analysis is required. This includes a pipe stress analysis for ensuring pipe stresses remain within engineered limits. There is a lift plan which details the procedures for handling and operating the lifting equipment, device configurations to use on a given pipe layout, a load analysis for the pipes, supporting beams and all components of the lifting devices.

Question 5

Safety is the number one priority in our facility. What happens if we lift a live pipe and there is a loss of containment using the equipment?

Accepted Answer

A Reaction Plan is developed by the client prior to lifting any live pipe. Ovolifts can assist in creating these from our extensive experience and the plan specifies the preparations to be made prior to a lift and what must be done if there is a loss of containment.

Question 6

What is a Reaction Plan?

Accepted Answer

It is a plan to protect personnel and equipment if there is a loss of containment and is developed prior to lifting live pipes. The plan specifies the actions to be taken before and during the lifting process to safely mitigate any risks.
This includes identifying the products in each pipe and their associated risks. Hot, cold, chemical burns, pressure, flammable, production impacts etc. Then specific mitigating actions are prescribed for each risk which could include; a shut-down of specific pipes prior to lifting, reduce pressure in some high pressure pipes to prevent high pressure product release, wear special PPE, provide emergency services or fire department, have pipe clamps available, provide the correct leak detection equipment such as infra-red camera or gas detectors, allow only spark-free equipment, provide specific safety instructions such as no personnel on site during lifting etc.

Question 7

How high can the jacks lift a pipe?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the jack model and the size of the supporting beam. At the very least all 3 models can achieve 4” [100mm] separation between the pipe and the support. In all cases we recommend keeping this to a minimum to limit the stresses in the pipe and ultimately this will be determined by the type of remedial work required at the touchpoint.

Question 8

Is there a situation where a pipe cannot be lifted?

Accepted Answer

Any above ground pipe resting on a support can be lifted provided there is sufficient access to install the jacks and the pipe is free of any fixed points such as weldments or branching connections. In most instances where there may not be sufficient installation access this can be mitigated through temporary support extensions or other configurations.

Question 9

What size pipe can be lifted?

Accepted Answer

The Mega Jack device has a lifting capacity of 22,000lbs [10tons] but in its minimum lifting configuration of 2 jacks this increases to 44,000lbs [20tons]. The size of pipe greatly depends on the pipe’s schedule and support spacing and there is always the option of adding in additional jacks to meet greater load requirements.

Question 10

Can the jacks lift pipes resting on shoes?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely, there is no limitation lifting pipes resting on shoes. Sometimes this requires a shim on the jack’s lifting pipe to provide extra lift.

Question 11

Our pipe racks have an assortment of directional anchors and guides, is this a limitation?"

Accepted Answer

No, provided they don’t restrict the vertical movement of the pipe. These anchors must be modified to free the pipe/s movement in the vertical direction if they’re to be lifted. The vertical extent of all other guides must also be measured to ensure the pipes aren’t lifted past their reach without external anchors to keep the pipes in place.

Question 12

Can lagged pipes be lifted?

Accepted Answer

The lagging must be removed at the touchpoint to visually confirm there isn’t a fixed point created by a weld or similar which could potentially tear if forcibly lifted. The lagging could also compress at the point of contact with the jack and for this reason our clients usually opt to remove the lagging.

Question 13

Our pipe supports have a significant amount of corrosion which has compromised their integrity, what then?"

Accepted Answer

Temporary supports can be installed adjacent to the compromised support and the lift is performed from these. This creates an opportunity not only to address the pipe touchpoints but also replace the compromised support which is now free from external loads and able to be replaced.

Question 14

Can you lift a pipe that has been hammered out of position?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in fact our tools are ideally suited for reinstating hammered pipes because the jacks can accommodate sufficient horizontal movement whilst maintaining the pipe in an elevated position. This technique is significantly safer and more controlled than using a crane to achieve the same result.

Question 15

We have circular pipe supports in our facility, what then?"

Accepted Answer

Our jacks are not limited to lifting from I-beams. Using attachments we can also lift from channel beams, concrete sleepers and even circular supports without limitation.

Question 16

Is there enough clearance around the jacks to install an enclosure or a pipe wrap?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the size of the enclosure or the pipe wrap being installed, but for these types of remedial work we always recommend a stress free lift whereby the pipe is lifted from both adjacent supports. Not only does this provide ample clearance for repairs but the pipe sees significantly less stress at the repair location compared to lifting at a single point along the pipe.

Question 17

What cost benefit assosiated with lifting multiple pipes in unison?

Accepted Answer

Cost is relative to the amount of resources and time spent per task done. We always advise our clients to considder a one coat paint system to reduce curing times, lift multiple pipes to optimise labour and install a composite pad between pipe and support for longterm corrosion protection. Thus multiple touchpoints can be repaired simultaniously with the same amount of resources and capital spent.

FAQ