You have a slab, roof or basement to pour, and the pump supplier needs to know what to send. The boom pump vs line pump choice comes down to four site facts: the reach needed, where the truck can stand, the ground and overhead limits, and the size and length of the pour. Check them in that order. This guide then lists exactly what to tell the supplier.
Boom pump vs line pump: what is the difference?
A boom pump carries the pump and an articulated placing boom on one truck. The operator steers the boom to the pour point. No pipe has to be laid between pour points.
A line pump is a stationary pump, on a truck or trailer. It pushes concrete through steel pipes and flexible hoses that a crew lays out to the pour. It suits restricted access and small pours.
Both take concrete from a hopper that mixer trucks discharge into. For the wider chain, see concrete equipment explained, from batching plant to trowel.
How far and how high does the concrete have to go, and from where?
Measure from the place the pump can stand to each pour point. You need two numbers: how high the concrete must go, and how far it must travel sideways.
Boom reach is stated as vertical reach and horizontal reach. The supplier's data gives both for each boom. The two maximums cannot be used at once: a boom raised high does not reach as far sideways, so check your worst point against the supplier's reach data.
If the pour is high and far from where the truck can stand, you have three options:
- A larger boom that covers both distances.
- A line pump with a pipeline run up and across the structure.
- A different truck position that shortens the distance.
Tip. Mark every pour point on a site sketch. The farthest and highest point sets the minimum reach. Ask the supplier to confirm that reach from the stated truck position.
Can a boom pump truck get in and set up on your site?
This is where many boom pump bookings fail. A boom pump needs room to set up on its outriggers, firm and level ground that can carry the outrigger loads, and clear space around the boom.
Check these on site:
- Access route: gate width, turning room, soft verges, ramps and tight corners.
- Ground: backfilled trenches, fill, basement slab edges and drain covers under an outrigger can fail. Ask your engineer or the site owner whether the spot can take the load. The operator sets the outriggers as the manufacturer requires, usually on spreader pads.
- Space above: trees, scaffolding, crane booms and cables can block the boom.
- Overhead power lines: a boom must stay well clear of them. Electricity can jump a gap without contact, so "not touching" is not safe. An unmarked line near the pour is a reason to stop and re-plan, not to work around.
The safe distance is set by the line owner and the site rules. Confirm it with them before mobilising.
When does a line pump win: basements, narrow access, long runs, small pours?
A line pump wins when the boom truck cannot get close or cannot set up:
- Basements and below-ground pours, where the pour points are down a ramp or behind a wall. A boom can sometimes reach into an opening from ground level, so ask the supplier.
- Narrow access, such as a villa plot or a lane where a large truck cannot enter.
- Long horizontal runs, where the pour is far from the only place a pump can stand.
- Small pours, such as footings or a small ground slab, where a boom adds setup for little gain.
- Overhead obstructions, such as a low roof edge or cables, where a boom has no room to unfold.
The trade-off is labour and time: someone must lay, support, move and clean the line. Ask the supplier how far their line pump can run on your job.
What do the crew and the site need to provide for each pump type?
For a boom pump, the site provides the standing place and clear air. The crew works at the end of the boom, with clear communication to the operator. The end hose can move suddenly, so people stay out of its path and never stand under the boom.
For a line pump, the crew lays and supports the pipes and hoses, moves them as the pour advances, and works at the placing end. Agree the pipe route and the pour sequence before the pump arrives. The line can hold pressure, so a blockage is cleared by the operator by the manufacturer's procedure, never by opening couplings.
Both pumps need two more things.
First, mixer trucks must be able to reach the pump hopper one after another. The access route and the delivery rate are part of the pump decision. The ready-mix ordering and pour-day checklist covers ordering.
Second, the pump needs a washout area on site for cleaning the line and hopper at the end of the pour. Agree where it is, and where the wash water goes, with the site owner.
What causes blockages and delays, and how are they avoided?
Most delays come from four causes:
- An unsuitable or too-dry mix. This is a common cause of blockages. Agree a pumpable mix with the ready-mix supplier and the pump operator, within the specification. Never add water on site to ease pumping unless the engineer has approved it.
- Poor priming. A pump line is normally primed with a lubricating slurry or grout before the concrete. Ask the operator how they prime and where the priming material goes.
- Late or gapped truck arrivals. Concrete standing in a line can stiffen, and it stiffens faster in hot weather. Plan the route and delivery rate with the ready-mix supplier.
- A pump that does not fit the site. A boom that cannot reach, or ground that cannot take the outriggers, is found out on pour day.
The fix is a short call before the pour to agree the mix, the sequence and the truck flow.
Which pump for which job: a quick decision table
If your job fits two rows, check the stricter limit first, usually access or overhead lines.
| Situation | Usually better | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Elevated slab or roof, truck can stand close, clear air above | Boom pump | Fast placing, fewer people on the line |
| Many pour points within reach of one truck position | Boom pump | The operator moves the boom, not the pipes |
| Basement or pour below ground | Line pump, unless a boom reaches in | The pipeline follows the ramp or opening |
| Narrow lane or small gate | Line pump | A smaller truck or trailer can get in |
| Overhead power line near the pour | Re-plan first | Confirm safe options with the line owner |
| Small pour or footings | Line pump | A boom adds setup for little gain |
| High and far from the only truck position | Larger boom, or line pump with pipeline | Check both vertical and horizontal reach |
For example, say you are pouring a roof slab on a plot with one narrow side street. The truck can only stand in that street, and the far corner of the roof is across the building. Ask whether the boom's stated vertical and horizontal reach covers that corner from the street. If not, ask about a line pump with a pipeline up the structure.
What to tell the pump supplier
Send these in one message, with a sketch:
- Site address and map pin, the access route and the gate width.
- Where the pump can stand, and what the ground is there.
- Every pour point, with its height and distance from the truck position.
- Any overhead lines, scaffolding or crane booms near the pour.
- Pour date, start time and expected duration.
- How mixer trucks will reach the hopper, and where the washout area is.
Ask the supplier to state back the reach and the area the pump needs.
How to do this on Maedah
Post one request for a concrete pump. Name the pump type you think fits, or ask for both, and add the city, the site pin on the map and the pour date. Describe the pour points and site limits in the request.
Suppliers who offer concrete pumps in your city can send sealed quotes. They line up side by side, so compare what each includes, then agree price and payment with your chosen supplier. To plan how many machines the job needs, read how to estimate how many machines a project needs.
