How To Choose The Right Construction Lift – A Complete Guide

How To Choose The Right Construction Lift – A Complete Guide

Meta Description: You need to know about choosing the right aerial scissor lift for construction projects. Compare boom lifts vs scissor lifts and understand their applications, advantages, and more.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of two popular types of aerial lifts used in construction: boom and scissor lifts. It analyzes their key features and capabilities to help contractors choose the right equipment for job site needs.

Both boom lifts and scissor lifts have advantages and limitations. Understanding these characteristics is important for maximizing safety, efficiency, and productivity on construction projects requiring heavy work.

Key Takeaways

• Boom lifts offer higher working heights of up to 210 feet and horizontal reach, ideal for jobs requiring access to high or hard-to-reach areas. Scissor lifts have lower heights, up to 70 feet, but offer wider platforms and more weight capacity.
• Boom lifts come in straight, articulating, towable, and crawler types, while scissor lifts are electric or rough terrain. Each type has advantages for different applications.
• Consider the project requirements, safety features, and costs when choosing between boom lifts or scissor lifts to ensure you select the right equipment that maximizes efficiency and productivity while meeting your construction needs.

Understanding Your Project Needs

Proper planning is essential for any construction project. Before selecting equipment such as aerial lifts, it is important to understand the specific needs and requirements of the worksite thoroughly. Evaluating various factors about the project job site conditions carefully will ensure you choose the right lifting equipment.

Evaluating Worksite Conditions

Assess the terrain and ground surfaces. Consider if the surfaces will be delicate, uneven, soft, or rough to determine if aerial equipment with specific tire types like foam-filled or flotation tires would be required.

Examine potential obstacles. Note any overhead or surrounding obstructions, like trees or structures, that may impede movement or workspace. Equipment with enhanced maneuverability could be preferable.

Determining Lifting Capacity

Calculate the number of workers—account for enough space on the platform, including room for tools, construction equipment, and materials. Lifts with increased payload capacities may be needed.

Consider the weight of materials. Determine if any heavy items need lifting, and selecting an aerial option with a dynamic lifting range is advised.

Assessing Height Requirements

Evaluate the maximum workable elevation. Measure anticipated heights to ensure equipment platform heights can adequately reach required areas.

Account for any additional vertical or horizontal reach. Assess needs beyond straight lifting to choose options with adjustable booms or articulating capabilities.

Considering Available Space

• Inspect entry and exit points—note size constraints to doorways or areas where equipment will be transported to select compact machinery when needed.
• Examine the work area footprint. Assess square footage concerns and choose equipment suited to the available space to avoid obstacles and maximize efficiency.

Thoroughly understanding specific project conditions and needs upfront allows for selecting the most suitable aerial lifting equipment. Proper planning at this stage can help ensure work proceeds safely and efficiently.

Common Types of Construction Lifts

Various types of construction lifts are commonly used on project sites to provide safe and efficient access to elevated work areas. Each type has its advantages depending on the job requirements. Understanding the key differences between these lifting machines is important to select the right equipment for specific tasks.

Boom Lifts

Boom lifts, also known as aerial work platforms, are versatile lifting devices that extend an articulating or telescopic arm to provide elevated workspaces. They come in models like straight boom lifts, full articulating boom lifts, and towable boom lifts. Straight boom lifts have fixed arms that extend vertically, while articulating booms can bend their arms, allowing workers to access tight spaces easily. Towable boom lifts are lighter options that are easily transportable.

Scissor Lifts

Scissor lifts have platforms supported on crisscrossing arm structures that enable vertical movement only. Compared to boom lifts, they offer larger workspace areas on their platforms. They can carry more weight, making them suitable for tasks that require transporting several workers, tools, and materials together. Both electric and rough terrain models are available.

Forklifts

Forklifts are versatile machines used for handling and transporting heavy construction materials on-site. Telescopic forklifts feature extendable booms with lifting attachments, combining forklift functionality with elevated work capability. Rough terrain forklifts can traverse long distances efficiently over challenging outdoor terrains while carrying bulky loads.

Telehandlers

Telehandlers, or telescopic handlers, are similar to telescopic forklifts but offer higher lift heights through extended booms. They provide excellent reach and lifting capacity for tasks like loading and unloading of trucks. Telehandlers are beneficial for material handling at construction sites with uneven surfaces.

Articulated Lifts

Articulated lifts, called knuckle lifts or booms, have jointed arm sections that allow precise positioning around obstacles. This makes them suitable for jobs requiring maneuvering in tight spaces, such as electrical and piping repairs, exterior cleaning, and maintenance. Their flexible design allows workers to access hard-to-reach areas with ease.

Key Factors to Consider When Selecting a Construction Lift

There are several important factors to consider when selecting the right type of construction lift for any job site. Whether the project requires lifting workers, materials, or both, choosing a lift with suitable characteristics can help improve safety, efficiency, and productivity. Some key evaluation aspects include the lift’s platform size and capacity, reach capabilities, available power sources, incorporated safety features, and maneuverability.

Platform Size and Capacity

The platform of the spider lift is where workers or cargo will be placed to be lifted to the required work area. Its size and weight allowance must match the number of people and load that must be transported. Lifts with roomy, extendable platforms, like certain scissor lifts, can accommodate more workers and gear. This prevents frequent trips that waste time. However, platform size must also be practical for the lift’s mobility and safe operation.

Reach Capabilities

The height a lift can access and, in some cases, its horizontal reach are important specifications. Vertical access determines the jobs a lift is suitable for. While scissor lifts provide only vertical movement, boom lifts, like articulating models, can reach complex areas by lifting and extending sideways. Telescopic boom lifts offer the highest vertical heights. Towable boom lifts have good mobility but less elevation. Matching a lift’s vertical reach profile to a project’s needs is paramount.

Power Source Options

Depending on the model, construction lifts are powered by electricity, diesel fuel, or gasoline. While electric lifts are quieter and emit no emissions, diesel/gas options tend to be more durable for rugged outdoor environments. When choosing between electric, diesel, or dual-fuel-powered lifts suitable for indoor/outdoor use, the worksite location and tasks must be considered. Fuel/energy efficiency also affects long-term costs.

Safety Features

Safety should always be the top concern. Lifts must have guardrails, fall protection anchors, and automatic braking or load-sensing systems. Operator training and pre-use inspections are equally important. Rough terrain lifts suitability for uneven ground must also be assessed factoring in a job site’s soil conditions to ensure stability is never compromised. Choosing lifts incorporating all necessary precautions leads to accident-free job sites.

Maneuverability

Ease of navigation is important whether a lift needs to function in tight spaces or traverse long distances on a site. Scissor lifts have straightforward vertical movement, while boom lifts, like articulating models, can access complex areas by lifting and extending sideways. Options with increased maneuverability streamline a project’s workflow—features like outriggers further aid stability when positioning a boom lift as required.

Maximizing Productivity with the Right Equipment Choice

Choosing the appropriate equipment for lifting workers at construction sites is crucial for maximizing productivity and completing projects efficiently. An ideal lift selection allows crews to access work areas smoothly while carrying the necessary tools and materials.

Considering Setup and Operation Efficiency

Considering different setup options and operation efficiency is important when lifting personnel to work surfaces. Scissor lifts generally have a quicker setup process than boom lifts since their arms lift the platform directly without extensive unfolding of booms or outriggers.

However, boom lifts often allow for faster horizontal movement between sites than scissor lifts, which can only move vertically. Opting for lifts featuring self-leveling features like outriggers can significantly reduce setup times. Controls that are simple yet efficient to use also improve operation productivity.

Evaluating Lift Capacity and Platform Size

The size and weight capacity of the lift’s platform are important factors. Larger platforms with higher weight limits mean workers can carry additional tools and materials and have space to maneuver. This reduces the need for frequent trips up and down.

Platforms accommodating multiple workers, technicians, and supplies avoid delays caused by loading/unloading. Due to their design, scissor lifts generally have greater payload capabilities than boom lifts. However, boom lifts often provide higher reach for jobs requiring lifts to access hard-to-reach areas.

Choosing a Lift with Optimal Reach

Considering the reach capabilities of different equipment is crucial when productivity is a priority. Boom lifts, like articulating and telescopic options, offer vertical and horizontal movement, allowing access to various work surfaces. Their adjustable boom arms further aid precise positioning.

This proves that spider lifts are beneficial when working at job sites with obstacles that require lifts to maneuver around. Meanwhile, scissor lifts only move vertically. So boom lifts are preferable for tasks involving high or hard-to-access reaches. Their extensive reach abilities minimize non-working time spent moving lifts between sites.

Comparing Total Ownership Costs of Different Lift Options

When selecting an aerial lift for construction projects, considering the total cost of ownership is important in addition to the initial purchase or rental price. The total costs associated with operating and maintaining the equipment over its lifespan need to be carefully evaluated to determine how to choose the right construction lift and the most cost-effective option for individual needs.

Rental vs Purchase Decisions

One of the first factors to consider is whether to rent or purchase aerial lifts. For short-term, infrequent projects, renting is often more practical as it eliminates long-term expenses. However, purchasing can prove more affordable for equipment used regularly on multiple jobs or long-term projects.

Costs of renting accumulate over time, while purchased lifts become a long-term investment. Estimating project duration and lift needs is important to decide if renting or buying makes more financial sense.

Operating and Maintenance Expenses

Operating costs include fuel, energy, and repairs. Boom lifts and rough terrain, scissor lift platforms; lifts run on diesel or gasoline and have higher fueling expenses than electric scissor lifts. Maintenance requirements also differ.

While all equipment needs periodic inspections, diesel lifts may require additional engine maintenance. These ongoing costs must be budgeted. Repairs can be costly and result in downtime if equipment breaks down. Choosing reliable brands that offer maintenance packages can help control repair costs.