| 1. Understand the tower crane configuration |
Before arriving at the job site, the installation team must know the installation height and boom length of the tower crane required by the customer to calculate the number of standard sections and the number of counterweights required for the boom of the corresponding length. During the installation process, if the specified height cannot be reached or more counterweights are needed due to insufficient sections, it will not only waste time and money but also make users question the professionalism of the lessor. Once the correct configuration is determined, the installation team can establish a sequence of tasks and ensure that every crew member is prepared to make the job onsite more smooth. Of course, the best way is to do a good job of data recording and shipment verification. 
| 2. Determine Mobile Cranes |
Once the installation team understands the specifications of the tower crane, they can choose the right mobile crane. An improperly sized mobile crane can waste resources or make hoisting work extra difficult and unsafe. In addition to considering the maximum hoisting weight, the actual hoisting angle and space should also be considered. A truck crane that can hoist 10t in an open field may not be able to hoist the same mass in a narrow field.
| 3. Determine the best location for crane installation |
Tower cranes must determine the best installation location from the start. The installation and dismantling of the tower crane takes a long time and requires additional risks, so once installed, the tower crane is not in a mobile position. At the same time choosing the best location for the mobile crane will also save time. Click on the link below to learn how to select the right tower crane and locate the tower crane on the project before starting construction.
| 4. Prepare the venue |
The ground on site must be level and able to support the weight of the tower crane so that it remains stable when properly installed. This is essential for all cranes but is especially important for larger cranes with heavier components. The customer must level the ground before installation, which will be verified by the crane support team. There is a two-step verification to evaluate - first with a laser lens, then with a ruler. It is also important to understand ground pressure. If the ground is loose or uneven, it must be compacted or excavated and filled with reinforced concrete. Site owners must also provide electricity, site access, and (in some cases) permission to close streets. All of this has to be coordinated in advance before starting work.
| 5. Coordinate logistics |
Many city centers have restrictions on when roads can be closed or heavy vehicles can travel in the city center. Additionally, each truck may need its own permit and be charged for rerouting the road. Both tower and mobile cranes need to be on-site at the right time with the smallest available fleet size to avoid waste and waits. The installation team and the customer must prepare the shipping sequence and installation in advance.
| 6. Check the weather |
The installation team had to keep an eye on the weather forecast and plan for a day of downtime, as the tower crane could not be assembled in wind speeds of more than 50 km/h. If the team starts to assemble and it's a storm at the moment, they have to wait until it drops to an acceptable level (which can take hours, or in the worst case, days). ZTM tower cranes are equipped with anemometers to ensure operators are always aware of wind speed.
| 7. Respect the technical manual |
Due to the many heavy components, pins and electrical mechanisms, the installation of tower cranes needs to be maintained with sufficient care, and colleagues must always strictly follow the procedures. During the training sessions, the installation team was taught to follow every detail in the technical manual. Potain tower cranes are designed with safe and efficient assembly a priority, much of which can be done at ground level, which means fewer steps to suspend the tower crane. There is a certain risk in having people assemble in the air during the assembly process, so we want to minimize that risk.
| 8. Maintain a safe perimeter |
During the erection of the tower crane, no ground crew is allowed to enter within 6 m of the standard section, and the erection team also learns this during the training. While every precaution is taken on-site, no tower crane fleet can be 100% risk-free - there is always a risk of objects falling from heights. Once the ground crew sees and hears the pin installation, it indicates the start of the process and all ground crew should keep their distance.
| 9. Use hoisting point |
Each component hoisted on the ZTM tower crane has a hoisting point, the purpose is to facilitate the user to achieve more efficient assembly. These special lifting points, built into the tower crane structure, can be hooked to them by the hoisting chain of the mobile crane. Using the correct lifting point is especially important for jib erection, as the components are long and heavy and must be installed horizontally, so the installation team should calculate the correct jib mounting point in advance for an efficient and safe installation.
| 10. keep calm and professional |
All personnel involved in the installation must be trained and equipped with the correct tools and personal protective equipment. Even with the best training and equipment, it's not always easy to stay calm in the face of enormous pressure and challenges. If crane installers feel stressed or under pressure, their risk assessment and decision-making can be affected. This puts their own safety and that of others at risk. If the crane installer is not sure he has enough confidence, the best course of action at this point is to stop the assembly and explain this to the customer. The safety of personnel remains the number one priority and must never be put at risk in order to get the job done quickly.
