How to Select I-Beams

Hello Lance,

4 meters is a wide span and If the pipe is buried properly you most likely would not cause a problem to the line. If the soil is not compacted, over the pipe, in the case of new construction, of a gas line, then you might could compact the soils before crossings and beef up a concrete pad to add strength at a lower total cost.

The concrete trucks have axle weight limits, & your ready mix supplier, will give you the trucks axle weight from knowledge, as a number they watch carefully , due to road weight limit laws. This number, will tell you the strength of the crossings weight limit requirements, that you will want to design/build to.

I Hope that helps you.

Best Regards,

Joe Woodall, Managing Partner

Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy

Dewy Rose, GA. 30634 CSA

DON'T!!!!!

First thing- call the operator of the natural gas line and discuss your needs with them. They know what they have and what it will take to cross it if you have your information such as truck gross weight, axle weights, etc. There are too many variables involved to guess that you have selected the right information from a table or a few short calculations. It could end up being the last decision you are able to make in your soon to be short life!

If your are in the USA, the DOT requires pipeline companies to work with you to find a solution to your problem. Any problem with them, give the DOT pipeline div. a phone call. It's an 800 #. Pipelines are not things to be guessed about. That Innocent yellow marker could be over a 48" or bigger pipeline with an internal pressure in excess of 1,000 psi.

I am an Ass't Fire Chief and a Hazardous Materials Specialist who is also a sem-retired Chem Eng. No war stories but the risks are too high to handle this project with other than a full professional investigation and risk analysis.

Why not look at having the cement truck load hopper buggies and have the buggies cross over the "pipeline bridge"? They would take a little more time but their rental would probably be cheaper in the long run compared to "bridging" for a heavy cement truck. They would also sure reduce the risk factor!

Let a professional advise you in this endeavor.

HELLO LANCEV.

Unless you own the pipeline, the owners of said pipe line have an easement right to use the property and that right gives them the right to determine just what you must do to cross their easement. Especially since NG pipe lines are considered a utility. I suggest that you contact them, and ask for a copy of their easement contract and consult an Attorney if you feel the need to. Likely they have some specifications as to what you must do to cross their underground utility.

TMF