Tower Crane Flood And Wind Resistance Operating Instructions

In the event of heavy rain and accompanying strong winds, precise meteorological monitoring is the first line of defense for ensuring the safety of tower cranes. Industry experts point out that traditional mechanical meteorological equipment has wind speed limitations for startup and is prone to wear and tear. However, modern construction sites have generally introduced ultrasonic automatic weather stations. These devices use the time difference method for measurement, without mechanical wear, and possess the ability to "respond in real time with second-level accuracy", capable of capturing the minute dynamic changes in wind speed and direction in real time.

According to the flood and wind prevention operation guidelines issued by multiple regions, tower crane operations have strict wind speed red lines: when the wind speed at the highest point of the lifting machinery exceeds 9.0m/s (level 5 wind), the installation, dismantling, and jacking-up and adding-sectioning operations of the tower crane must be immediately stopped; when the wind speed exceeds 12.0m/s (level 6 wind), all outdoor lifting and hoisting operations must be completely stopped. In the event of winds above level 8 or extreme weather such as heavy rain, hail, etc., construction sites must decisively and completely stop work and quickly evacuate personnel to a safe area.

Before a strong typhoon or extreme heavy rain arrives, the "revolving braking" operation of tower cranes is an easily misunderstood step. The operation guidelines clearly require that tower cranes must "release revolving braking" in adverse weather conditions, that is, open the wind marker brake of the revolving mechanism to allow the lifting arm to freely rotate 360° with the wind, thereby significantly reducing the wind load torque borne by the tower body.

 To ensure safety, before operation, the hook must be retracted to the highest position, the trolley must be retracted to the minimum arm root position, and ensure that there are no obstacles in the safe revolving passage. At the same time, for articulated tower cranes, the lifting arm must be adjusted to the specified angle range according to the instructions; in necessary cases, the lifting arm can be lowered. In addition, the power supply of the tower crane must be cut off, and the cable ends separated to prevent the tower crane from twisting the cable during free rotation, and ensure that the lightning protection facilities are in good condition and effective.

For tower cranes that cannot be lowered in height or are in special working conditions, the regulations have set clear standards for reinforcement and drainage. In terms of tower reinforcement, if the on-site conditions prevent lowering the tower height, guy ropes can be used to reinforce the tower, which is equivalent to adding an additional "soft attachment"; when conditions permit, the tower should be lowered below the height of the building, and the attachment rods should be used to fix the lifting arm and the balance arm to the building respectively.
At the same time, maintenance personnel need to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the bolt connections of the standard sections and the anchor bolts of the tower, ensuring that the specified preload is achieved; check the strength of the attachment rods and the reliability of the connections to prevent the use of slender rods. In terms of rainproof and drainage, it is necessary to ensure that the drainage of the tower foundation is unobstructed to prevent soil loss at the bottom of the foundation, which could lead to settlement or cracking. For ancillary facilities such as sheds, fences, and scaffolding, additional reinforcement measures such as lashing and supporting should be taken to prevent collapse due to heavy rain erosion or strong winds.

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