What Structural Considerations Affect the Design of the Crane?

A bridge crane can be supported by the roof/ceiling, a freestanding support system, or can be tied back to the existing building supports. In an existing building structure, you have to have a clear understanding of the load ratings for the roof, concrete and foundation, and existing building supports.

A third-party should come in to provide a structural survey—you may need independent surveys of the:

• Concrete or flooring to determine load ratings
• Roof load ratings
• Existing structural support load ratings

To make sure the building is structurally sound to support an overhead crane system, it’s the customer’s responsibility to have their building surveyed by a third-party, or by their own building engineers, prior to the installation.

A crane installer may be able to help coordinate the effort, but they will not perform the surveys or load ratings themselves. The results of these ratings can determine if the crane is supported from the roof, is a free-standing design, or can be tied back to existing supports.

The deadweight of the crane, or the loads on the structure which remain fixed even when the crane is not performing a lift, need to be considered. Ceiling beams, flooring, and support beams can be reinforced with internal bracing, or can be totally redesigned to spread the load between multiple points versus a single point.

Clearance space around the area that the crane will be installed in will also affect the design and specifications of the crane. If there’s low headroom in the facility, then the crane may have to be designed to be under running vs a top running design. If the crane needs to lift material high into the air, then a top running double girder design would be ideal. If hook approach on either end of the bridge is a factor, then a single girder bridge design will allow your trolley the most travel across the bridge to take advantage of the full span of the crane system.

Lastly, the installers will need to have a clear understanding of the building’s voltage supply. The customer will need to confirm whether the building is equipped with a 230V or 460V electrical supply. This voltage needs to be determined prior to ordering any components such as hoists or end trucks.

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