Industries
Steel erection crane services
The right crane for the lift, with NCCCO-certified operators and riggers for steel erection. Based in West Texas, working statewide.
Crane service for steel erection
Steel erection runs on crane picks. We bring the crane, the operator and the rigger to work with your ironworkers.
Lifts we take on include:
- Setting columns and beams
- Setting trusses and joists
- Lifting steel deck bundles
- Picks for your ironworker crew
Structural steel and joist erection lifts
Steel goes up in a set order. Before the first pick, the steel is shaken out on the ground and sorted by piece mark so the right member is ready for each hook. Columns are set on anchor bolts first, then beams and girders are flown in to connectors working at height. Connectors bolt up each connection before the load line is released, and bays are plumbed and bolted up as the frame grows.
After the main frame, the crane sets bar joists, joist girders and bundles of metal deck. Deck bundles are landed near supporting members so the decking crew can spread sheets. Many erectors use multiple-lift rigging to hang several beams on one hook, which is allowed only under specific rules for the rigging and the crew's training. The raising gang's foreman calls the sequence, and the crane works to the ironworkers' pace.
- Review erection drawings, piece weights and crane setups for each area.
- Confirm footings and anchor bolts are ready before steel arrives.
- Shake out steel by piece mark within reach of the crane.
- Set columns, then fly beams and girders to the connectors.
- Land joists and deck bundles where the erector marks them.
- Move to the next setup, then demob after the frame is topped out.
Crane and operator for steel erection
Every job goes out with the right crane for the lift, an NCCCO-certified operator and a rigger.
Steel picks run smoothly when the erection plan is settled before the crane shows up, so have this ready when you call.
- Erection drawings and the heaviest piece weights
- Erection sequence and planned crane setup spots
- Footing and anchor bolt sign-off
- Steel delivery schedule and shake-out area
- Size of your ironworker crew
- Building height and the longest reach needed
Rigging plans and safety plans for steel erection
Steel erection puts people at height next to a moving load. Connectors wait on the beam while the operator flies it in, so the operator needs a clear view of the load or a qualified signal person. OSHA covers this work in its steel erection standard, Subpart R, along with the crane rules in Subpart CC. Our rigging plans and safety plans set out crane positions, picks and signals.
Wind is the other big factor. Long beams, joist bundles and especially deck sheets catch the wind, and a gust at height can swing a member into a connector. The plan sets wind limits and calls for tag lines. Crane setups matter too, since the crane often moves several times to reach every bay, and each spot needs firm ground or mats.
Book a crane
Call dispatch or send a lift request. Tell us the load, the location and the date.
FAQ
Questions about steel erection crane services
Do you bring ironworkers, or just the crane?
Just the crane side. Every job goes out with the crane, an NCCCO-certified operator and an NCCCO-certified rigger. The ironworkers, connectors and bolt-up crew come from your steel erector, and the crane works to your foreman's sequence, flying each piece to the connectors and holding it until the connection is made.
What is a shake-out on a steel erection job?
Shake-out is sorting the steel on the ground after delivery. Pieces are laid out by piece mark and grouped by area, so the next member in the sequence is always within reach of the crane. A good shake-out saves a lot of crane time, because the hook is not waiting on someone hunting for a beam.
Can a crane set metal deck bundles on bar joists?
Yes, but where they land matters. Deck bundles go on the frame near supporting members, not in the middle of a joist span, and the joists generally need their bridging in place first. The erector marks the landing spots, and the rigging plan accounts for bundle weights and the reach to each spot.
More from Concho Crane Co.
