Height and lifting capacity: Precisely measuring and locking into the "performance range"
Building height and lifting capacity are the two fundamental factors in selecting tower cranes. In terms of lifting height, the final height of the tower crane must take into account the total height of the building, the installation height of the components, and necessary safety margins. Generally, the bottom of the tower crane's hook needs to be 8 to 15 meters above the top of the building (for cast-in-place structures, it needs to be 12-15 meters higher, and for frame structures, it needs to be 8-10 meters higher). For super high-rise buildings over 200 meters, traditional attached tower cranes are no longer sufficient and it is advisable to preferentially use internal climbing tower cranes, achieving "one-time completion" by climbing up the core tube in a circular manner.
In terms of load matching, it is essential not to merely focus on the maximum lifting capacity, but to comprehensively consider the "lifting moment" (lifting capacity × working boom length). When selecting the equipment, one must sort out the weight list of prefabricated components, reinforcing bars, formwork, etc., and identify the heaviest component and its farthest lifting position. For example, in prefabricated buildings, due to the large single-piece weight of prefabricated components, the lifting capacity at the arm end is extremely demanding. Industry experts suggest that, while meeting the maximum lifting capacity, the actual working lifting moment of the tower crane should be controlled below 75% of the rated lifting moment to ensure the safety and service life of the equipment.
Site and Environment: Adapt to Local Conditions to Overcome "Space Limitations"
The physical space of the construction site and the surrounding environment directly determine the installation form of the tower crane. For open sites, flat-head or pointed-head small-crawler jib tower cranes are highly cost-effective choices, as they have a wide coverage and minimal interference among multiple tower cranes; while in narrow sites such as urban core areas, the articulated tower crane can effectively avoid surrounding obstacles thanks to its ability to rotate and extend the lifting arm and its small footprint.
In addition, the geological conditions of the site cannot be ignored. The foundation of the tower crane has extremely high requirements for the bearing capacity of the foundation. If there is a soft soil foundation, pre-pile foundation reinforcement must be carried out in advance. At the same time, during the planning and layout, it is necessary to avoid structural conflicts such as underground anti-people defense areas and shear wall columns, and ensure an absolutely safe distance from high-voltage lines within the rotation radius.
Group Tower Collaboration and Economy: Coordinated Planning Achieves "Optimal Efficiency"
When multiple tower cranes are required to work collaboratively on a project, collision prevention regulations must be strictly followed. Adjacent tower cranes should maintain a reasonable horizontal spacing (≥2 meters) and a vertical height difference with different elevations (≥2 meters to 6 meters), and mandatory collision prevention systems and hook visualization equipment should be equipped.
In terms of cost control, the selection should take into account the overall life cycle benefits. For projects under 100,000 square meters or with a shorter construction period, the leasing model usually offers better cost advantages; while for projects lasting more than 3 years or where the enterprise has a continuous need for prefabricated construction, purchasing a model with strong versatility is more cost-effective. At the same time, it is recommended to prioritize the use of tower cranes equipped with variable frequency motors to reduce energy consumption and improve control stability.
