Well, I work in an air conditioned office or drive to jobsites to inspect projects in an air conditioned truck. When I get out and have to walk a pipeline, I try to do that in the morning, again using a wet bandana under my hat or hard hat to keep cool. It isn't too bad except when it gets above about 95. There again, my contractors start work about 6:30 in the mornings during hot weather and knock off about 3pm with a 30 minute lunch. Usually in the afternoons they are just backfilling and cleaning up unless it is a rush job. They use EZups for shade over the welded joints on pipe or over where they plastic fusing joints, then move to the next joint. Welding is done above ground, then after cooling and wrapping, the main is lowered into the ditch. Large contractors move fast and may have as many as 4 welders going at one time leap frogging each other. Smaller contractors with one welder takes longer, but I would rather work with them as it is easier to inspect. Oh high stress mains (very high pressure) we have an x-ray crew x-raying all the welds, and I have to check them for problems.
