When a pressurised pipeline is severed, the fluid escaping from the open end exerts a thrust on the pipe. In some instances, the applied moment will exceed that necessary to cause the pipe material to be in a plastic state across the whole cross-section and plastic flow develops. Where this occurs the continuing thrust generates a rapidly accelerating rotational displacement of the section of pipe on the break side of the plastic zone, the phenomenon called pipewhip. In order to assess the potential threat to equipment within the zone swept by the whipping pipe, a knowledge of the extent of the hazard zone and the kinetic energy of the whipping pipe is required, This paper describes an experimental investigation of these features for rupture of a pipe run which contains several co-planar bends, A simple method for determining the maximum extent of the hazard zone is described and generalised kinetic energy data are presented for impact onto particular targets.