Tools, Equipment, and Material Handling
Match the tool to the pipe
Pipe wrenches are sized to the pipe, not to your arm: roughly a 14 in. wrench for 1 in. pipe, 18 in. for 1¼–1½ in., and 24 in. for 2 in. Pull the handle toward you with a straight, even stroke and keep the jaw facing the direction of rotation. Never add a cheater bar - it overloads the jaws, rounds the pipe, and voids the tool. Inspect hammers, slings, and cutting wheels before each shift and remove damaged tools from service.
Rigging and lifting
Know the load before you lift it: weight per foot times length. Sling capacity drops as the angle from horizontal decreases - at 30° from horizontal each leg of a two-leg sling carries nearly the full load. Keep the center of gravity below the hook, use tag lines, and never stand under a suspended load. For repetitive overhead work, use a mechanical lift or pipe jack rather than muscle.
Storage and protection
Rack pipe on dunnage with chocks so round pipe cannot roll; do not stack so high that the bottom row deforms. Cap or plug threads to prevent damage and debris. Store CPVC and other plastics out of direct sunlight and away from solvent vapors. Powder-actuated tools require a certified operator, eye and hearing protection, and a backing check before the shot.
Traps
- Length of wrench used as a measure of strength rather than fit.
- Forgetting that sling angle changes capacity.
- Dragging pipe off a stack instead of rolling it with a pipe hook.
Worked example
A 20 ft length of 4 in. Schedule 40 steel weighs about 10.8 lb/ft, so roughly 216 lb. Two fitters would each carry ~108 lb - too much for repetitive handling. Use a pipe cart or lift; that is the answer the exam wants.