international
construction
september 2013
HIGH RISE
26
The rise of the super skyscraper
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in Changsha, Hunan province, as well as the 636 m Wuhan
Greenland Center in Whuan.
Such immense structures present challenges for architects,
contractors and construction equipment manufacturers alike.
Take something as innocuous as the internal lifts, for example.
Until recently, designers had to live with the fact that a building’s
elevators were limited to a maximum height of around 500 m
due to the weight of the steel cable.
Alternative material
Manufacturer Kone has been working on this issue, and this
year launched an alternative to steel rope, Ultra Rope, which has
a carbon fibre core and a high-friction coating. Kone claims this
can double elevator travel heights to up to 1,000 m by reducing
rope weight and the overall elevator moving mass.
Indeed, Kone says Ultra Rope’s lightweight carbon fibre core
cuts elevator moving masses by up to -60% compared to steel
– a fact that it says has opened up a world of possibilities in
high-rise building. The lifetime of carbon fibre is also said to be
at least twice that of conventional steel rope, and no lubrication
is required to maintain it thanks to its coating.
As well as playing a significant part in the internal workings
of a completed high-rise structure, hoists and winches have a
key role during the construction process. Alexandre Chanteclair,
tower crane product manager for Europe, Africa and the Middle
East at Potain, said it was important to plan the length and
Minimum requirements
Call for Europe-wide tower crane training
T
he Committee of European Construction Equipment (CECE) is calling for Europe-wide
minimum training requirements for people who operate and maintain tower cranes.
The organisation, which represents European construction equipment
manufacturers, has been working with tower crane makers, which recommended
harmonised European tower crane fitters’ licenses and tower crane drivers’ licenses.
“Our goal is to increase safety on construction sites – Europe-wide. This is why we need
harmonised training of crane fitters and crane drivers”, said Peter Schiefer, Wolffkran
CEO and head of a section of CECE co-ordinating the interests of European tower crane
manufacturers.
The level of training and skills required from construction companies currently differs
throughout Europe. CECE said the minimum contents of tower crane operator training
should include knowledge about national rules and regulations, general safety obligations,
crane operating techniques, accident
prevention as well as practical exercises
driving an operational sequence.
The request for harmonised licenses
was sent to national ministries in
European countries where some national
requirements already exist. CECE said
it hoped to open a structure dialogue
about the issue as a first step, and
reach agreement on common minimum
requirements.
strength of hoists and winches on high-rise projects.
“The tallest high-rise tower cranes need vast lengths of rope to
carry loads to such great heights, and often work with two or
more falls,” Mr Chanteclair said. “A special study is carried out
before erecting a crane beyond its maximum free standing height.
Calculating the weight of hoist rope needed is an important part
of this planning. Certain projects require drums with more than
1,000 m of winding capacity and we offer models with more
than 1,100 m capacity.
“Another key aspect of working at height is the winch and its
working speed. A weak winch can make for slow progress at a
jobsite. And the strain placed on the winch can cause problems
and delays,” he explained.
Potain has introduced a new range of high performance
winches, one of which (the 75 HPL 30) can reach speeds of
The One World Trade Centre tower
with its iconic spire in New York, US.
Peter Schiefer, Wolffkran CEO
and head of a section of CECE
co-ordinating the interests of
European tower crane manufacturers.
Kone has launched an alternative to steel lift cable – Ultra
Rope, which boasts a carbon fibre core that it claims can
enable elevator travel heights of up to 1,000 m.
