April 7, 2021

A Guide to Crane Use in Glass Lifting

Written by Rebecca Clayton

Does your project require a crane?

Cranes can be required for lifting large, heavy panes of glass or to reach points of a building that people cannot. Crane use can be an expensive aspect of a project, so it is important to budget for lifting equipment, to reduce the risk of incurring any unexpected expenses when the project is underway.

As a general rule, IQ Glass does not include crane use within any quotations, because where a crane is required for glass lifting, it will likely be required for other elements within the project.

Crane Surveys

If you do require a crane, you will need to have a crane survey to determine which type of lifting equipment is suitable for the project. Cranes can be costly, due to the numerous factors involved in hiring one. Basic crane hire will include the crane itself and a crane operator, as well as a spotter in some cases to maintain a safe environment. Additional costs will be incurred in some cases, including road closures in locations where roads may not be large enough for a crane to operate through traffic or when there is no other route to the property.

Glass Sizes and Weights

Glass lifting equipment will be required if the glass weight exceeds 200kg, but there are also a number of other instances where lifting equipment is required. For example, if the size of a glass pane exceeds 2.4 meters in both height and width, it is sensible to budget for a crane to lift the glass. Another example of when we will require the use of a crane is if we are installing a glass roof above ground level or where it is not possible or safe to maneuver the glass manually.

Access

Depending on the project type and surrounding environment, glass lifting equipment may be essential due to lack of access. This is why IQ likes to be involved as early as possible in a project, to determine whether there will be sufficient space to carry the glass through, as often large elevations of glass are used on the rear elevation of a home. Projects where there is no side or back route to the garden should factor this into their budgeting.

There are many types of cranes, suitable for different uses, including a spider crane, mobile crane, and our own glass lifting technology Roboglaze. The use of a crane should be determined by the project manager and organized externally before IQ Glass arrives on-site to install the glazing.

If you have any questions or are unsure regarding crane use on your project, please get in touch with the team on 01494722880. The team is on hand to discuss your project needs and determine glass lifting requirements on an individual basis.