Boom pump (concrete)
A concrete boom pump is a truck-mounted pump with an articulated placing boom that delivers concrete over height and distance. How it differs from a line pump.
Ask Chalkline about this →A boom pump is a truck-mounted concrete pump with a hydraulic, articulated placing boom that delivers concrete over height and distance from the truck to the pour. The operator manoeuvres the boom tip with a remote, placing concrete where it is needed without barrowing or running hose along the ground.
Boom pump vs line pump:
- A boom pump has the placing boom mounted on the truck; concrete is pumped up and out through the boom. Faster placement, good for suspended slabs, upper levels, and pours set back from where the truck can park. Booms are sized by reach (commonly around 20 m up to 60 m or more).
- A line pump (trailer or truck-mounted) pumps through ground-level hoses that the crew lays out and moves by hand. Cheaper and more compact, suited to smaller or low-access pours.
Setting up: a boom pump needs a stable, level set-up area, room to deploy its outriggers (the outrigger footprint is wide), and a clear path for the boom.
The big WHS hazard: overhead powerlines. Contact between a concrete placing boom and overhead powerlines is a known cause of electrocution and fatalities. The set-up location and boom envelope must keep clear of powerlines, and a SWMS for the pour should address it. Treat overhead-line clearance as a hard go/no-go check before the boom goes up.
Other practical points:
- The concrete mix has to be pumpable: confirm the slump and mix with the supplier and pump operator.
- Book the boom size to the reach and volume; an undersized boom or a truck that cannot get close enough stalls the pour.
Also known as: concrete boom pump, truck-mounted concrete pump.
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Last updated: 2026-05-24. Verified: 2026-05-24. Quarterly review for currency.