Third Tower Crane erected
22nd September 2008
The third of the three tower cranes that will construct the Tower has now been erected.
Select Plant Hire have supplied one Comedil CTL630 and two Comedil CTL 400 cranes. The CTL630 was erected using a 500 tonne mobile standing in the centre of the site. This has then erected the two CTL400’s.
The 400’s can handle 10 tonne loads at 40m radius whilst the larger 630 will handle 9 tonnes at 60 m radius.
Each of the three cranes has been erected to their maximum free standing height determined as part of the crane design. As the steel structure of the Tower increases in height during 2009, the crane masts will be progressively tied to the structure at level 11 17, 23, 29, and 35 allowing the cranes to reach the top of the Tower.
With three tower cranes on a relatively small site there is need for careful control of their operations, therefore a full time crane co-ordinator plans the operations of the cranes, the cranes are fitted with a computerised anti-collision system, and the drivers can talk directly to each other via a dedicated radio system.
The majority of lifting operations will consist of components of the steel frame – fabricated steel columns and beams, and metal decking. The closed section of Houndsditch on the north side of the site will be used as the primary unloading area, with secondary areas in Bishopsgate and Camomile St. To protect the public using the footpath on east side of Bishopsgate during unloading operations, a protection scaffold has been erected. This will remain in position until the completion of the structural frame and the external cladding.