Important Considerations When Choosing a Tower Crane
Tower cranes a common feature in urban construction sites where civil engineers and architects are building one massive skyscraper after another. As a construction project engineer, you will be required to contact a crane hire company like Williams Crane Hire and choose the right tower crane for your project. Here are a few things you need to consider when making that choice.
Weight and radius of heaviest lifts and farthest picks
Tower cranes are placed on top of buildings in order to lift heavy building materials like concrete slabs, bulky sand bags, and heavy machinery like power generators and cement mixers. In order to make the right choice, determine the heaviest materials or equipment that you will need to lift. Also, measure the radius of your construction project area to see how far you need the crane to go. These two measurements will help you to determine which tower crane you need to get.
Boom length and tail swing
Your construction site and the surrounding area may have some fixed obstructions such as buildings, bridges, or high power lines. In addition, continuing construction could result in future obstructions being developed. You should take these into consideration when deciding which boom length and tail swing would be suitable for a tower crane for your project.
Hammer head or luffer
Hammerhead tower cranes tend to be cheaper than luffers, however, obstructions such as surrounding buildings and bridges may prevent the use of hammerheads. Look around your construction site to determine if these obstructions exist in order to choose between the two options.
Power and hook line speeds
If you are constructing a building that will be very, very tall, then a critical requirement for your tower crane would be high hook line speeds. High gear speeds are necessary for lifting light loads and returning them to the ground quickly. The hoist of the tower crane should also have enough power to lift the heaviest load to the maximum height of your building.
Noise restrictions
Construction is a noisy job, but most states have laws governing how much noise is allowable around construction sites. Consult with the municipal government on the noise limit to determine whether you will get a diesel powered tower crane or the quieter electrically powered crane.
Time limit
Tower cranes cannot simply be moved in and out of construction sites as easily or inexpensively as other kinds of cranes. It is therefore important to know when you will need the tower crane and for how long so that you and the crane hire company can discuss the terms of your hire. Most crane hire companies will require you to pay a monthly amount which you need to consider in light of your budgetary and construction needs.