Rooftop Crane Frame and Shoring

Thompson Miller Specialty Rigging

The Challenge

Retrofitting older buildings in the tight landscape of Toronto requires equipment to be lifted to the roofs of large buildings with minimal impact on traffic flow and road closures. 

To overcome this issue, our client mounts cranes on the rooftop for use during construction.  Equipment can then be raised without using a road crane that would block traffic for extended periods. Objective Engineering Inc. was retained to design a structural steel support frame to mount the crane and design the shoring to safely support the crane and loads on the existing building structure. 

The Solution

The steel frame was designed in modular sections that could be brought up through the existing building or hoisted with a swing hoist and assembled on the rooftop using bolts. The crane was assembled and attached to the frame and the frame was attached to the building. The shoring was installed below the steel frame contact points, distributing the load over a larger surface area to prevent damage to the building. Steel posts were used as the shoring support in conjunction with steel plates and threaded bars to hold them in place. The thread bar anchors were an actively tensioned anchor system that minimized or eliminated deformations.

About Thompson Miller Specialty Rigging

With their team of machinery movers, crane operators and engineers, they can develop a solution for every difficult equipment move. They offer turnkey solutions including structural steel, concrete work, excavation, and demolition to support their customers' requirements. Visit their website Thompson Miller Specialty Rigging.