Tower cranes are essential heavy construction equipment that offer unrivalled safety, efficiency and mobility when moving and lifting heavy loads across varying heights. However, every project is different. And for this reason, tower cranes are also designed to meet unique project needs. That means you will hardly find a one-type-fits-all model on the market. Therefore, you will need to make some crucial considerations when hiring one. Unfortunately, it's easy to overlook essential aspects in your selection, especially if it's your first time in the market for a tower crane. Therefore, here is a checklist of some of the critical considerations you need to know when hiring a tower crane.
Load Capacity
Tower cranes can only move or lift your heavy loads to a maximum weight. And for efficiency and safety, it's imperative to select a tower crane that matches your loads' weight demands. That's because a low-capacity tower crane can easily cause accidents and damages to the materials and property onsite. On the other hand, one with a higher capacity than you need would only be an expense because you will waste time and labour. Therefore, determine the maximum weight you need to lift and go for a tower crane whose lift or load capacity is slightly higher than what you think you will need.
It's worth noting that the load capacity also entails the height over which you need to lift the materials. Typically, the higher you intend to raise your construction materials, the more the load lifting capacity you need. That means you will need to consider the tower crane's boom length to ensure you select the correct one. Therefore, it would also help to determine the maximum height over which you want your load lifted.
Accessibility
Is your site easily accessible for the tower crane? Knowing and handling accessibility issues early enough before hiring a tower crane goes a long way in ensuring your project runs smoothly. Therefore, think about aerial and other onsite obstacles that may make it challenging for the crane to access your site or for operators to install and dismantle it. For example, overhanging objects, power and telephone cables and buildings are obstacles to watch out for. It also helps to consider how the crane will be transported to your site when thinking about access issues. That's because not every project site has paved access with large roads to fit the crane. Therefore, you may need to use alternative routes with some roads being closed, meaning you will need to apply for permits from your local council.
Hoisting Speed
It also helps to think about the crane's hoisting speed. Hoisting speed may affect efficiencies and make a difference in project delays. Therefore, evaluate your needs and consider how fast you need materials to move.
For more information about tower cranes, contact a local company, like Everwilling Cranes.
Are you involved in a building project but confused about exactly what equipment you need to hire to carry out the work? Sometimes the world of heavy construction equipment can be bewildering. There are so many types of heavy equipment and each one of them has slightly different capabilities. If you know that you need work done but aren’t sure what equipment you should hire to do it then this website can help. Here you will find helpful articles explaining the capabilities of all types of heavy construction equipment and telling you everything you need to know before arranging machinery hire.