Lifting Crane GC3

Types of Cranes

There are different types of cranes available on the market, each one able to meet different needs of the construction industry:

Small and Large Ascending Crane

As the name suggests, it is ascended, that is, with each new concrete floor, the crane rises along with the building. The ascending crane should preferably be fixed in an elevator shaft, truss or opening in the slabs intended for its installation. The ascent is done by manual or automatic means, such as manual hoists, electric hoists or hydraulic systems.

It is useful for various load capacity needs, small plots of land and very vertical buildings. On the other hand, it is necessary to adapt the planning so that this crane can be removed without interfering with the installation of elevators or other equipment.

Fixed Tower Crane

This is the most remembered model in terms of crane. The tower, a vertical spatial lattice structure, is fixed to its own foundation, while the boom may or may not have height adjustment. When this boom allows vertical movement, there is more flexibility in transporting loads.

Although there is only one foundation for the crane, it is possible to attach it to other elements such as parts of the building to be constructed, generating horizontal loads that must be taken into account. One advantage is that it allows more than one building to be serviced at a time.

Mobile tower crane

While the ascending crane stands out for extremely vertical buildings, mobile tower cranes are useful in very horizontal buildings, such as some types of shopping centers, for example, or condominiums.

The crane stands on properly fixed rails, with the tower moving on wheels. It is not attached to buildings or the ground, which means it has limited height.

The average salary of a crane operator in Brazil can vary between R$2,600.00 and R$6,000.00, depending on the type of equipment.

Brazilian technical standards related to the use of cranes

ABNT NBR 16463-1:2016 – Cranes – Part 1: Requirements for the preparation of instruction manuals.

ABNT NBR 16463-2:2016 – Cranes – Part 2: Identifications.

ABNT NBR ISO 4309:2009 – Load handling equipment – ​​Steel cables – Care, maintenance, installation, inspection and disposal.

ABNT NBR 8400:1984 Errata 3:1987 – Calculation of equipment for lifting and moving loads – Procedure.

Working with cranes, due to their agility and also the risk they present, is also regulated by NR 18 (Regulatory Standard No. 18). It prohibits working with this equipment if there is a possibility of interference with the electrical grid, bad weather or very strong winds. As with freight elevators, NR 18 reiterates that people should not be transported using a crane.

Another provision of NR 18 that deserves to be highlighted refers to the geometric shape of cranes and their height in relation to other surrounding elements. Since they end up becoming natural lightning rods, electrical grounding is required.

The load capacity of a crane can vary greatly, ranging from 600 KG (0.6 TON) to 8000 KG (8 TON)

Both the winch and the crane are equipment designed to lift large loads. However, the differences between them are that the crane is a fixed piece of equipment, while the hoist is a mobile piece of equipment that operates on wheels or tracks.