Installing large steel staircase components inside a developing building presents a very different lifting challenge to working in an open area. Structural beams, multiple floor levels, access equipment and installation teams can all reduce the available working space, particularly when components need to be positioned high within the structure.

For this new office building project, a TMC 525 Articulated Crawler Crane was used to support the installation of 10 steel staircase stringers weighing approximately 1,200kg each, along with two complete 3,000kg stair units.

While the heavier stair units were installed at low level, the individual staircase stringers had to be lifted and positioned at heights of up to approximately 25 metres.

The Staircase Installation Challenge

The staircase installation was taking place while the building’s steel frame and surrounding structure were already in place.

Rather than simply lifting components vertically from an unrestricted position, the crane had to operate around structural beams, floor levels and other parts of the developing building. Long staircase stringers then had to be brought through this structure and positioned where required by the installation team.

The working area was also shared with MEWPs and personnel carrying out the installation. This created a congested environment where the crane’s boom, the suspended staircase components and other access equipment were operating in close proximity.

With the stringers being long, narrow steel sections, controlling their position was particularly important when moving them between structural elements and towards their final installation points.

Lifting Staircase Stringers Up to 25 Metres

A total of 10 staircase stringers, each weighing approximately 1,200kg, were lifted during the project.

Some of these components needed to be positioned at heights of up to approximately 25 metres within the building.

At this height, the challenge was not simply reaching the required floor level. The stringers also had to be manoeuvred into the structure, where beams and surrounding steelwork reduced the available space.

The articulated configuration of the TMC 525 allowed the boom to work through and around parts of the building structure, helping to position the load where a more conventional straight-boom lifting arrangement could be restricted by surrounding obstacles.

The TMC 525 has a maximum hook height of 20 metres, increasing to 32.5 metres when equipped with its six-section jib, depending on the crane configuration and lifting requirements.

For this project, that reach supported the installation of staircase components across several levels of the new office building.

Working Around the Building Structure

One of the main advantages of using an articulated crawler crane for this type of staircase installation is the ability to work around obstacles rather than relying solely on a direct lifting path.

This type of working environment can present significant challenges when lifting long steel components. Even when sufficient lifting capacity is available, structural elements can limit where a crane can position its boom and how the load can approach its final installation point.

The TMC 525 combines an articulated boom with continuous 360-degree rotation, giving the operator flexibility when positioning loads within complex structures.

Its crawler-mounted design also makes it suited to specialist lifting applications where a crane needs to be positioned within a construction site before carrying out the lift.

Working Alongside Installation Teams

The staircase installation was carried out alongside operatives using MEWPs and other access equipment.

The access platforms needed to reach many of the same areas as the crane and staircase components. This meant the lifting operation had to take place within an already busy working area. Accurate positioning was therefore important, particularly as the staircase stringers approached their installation locations.

The TMC 525 is operated using a multifunctional radio remote control, allowing the crane operator to control the machine away from a fixed cab position and select an appropriate viewpoint for the lifting operation.

For staircase installation inside a steel-framed building, this can be particularly useful where visibility changes as the load moves through different levels of the structure.

Installing the 3,000kg Stair Units

Alongside the individual stringers, the project also involved lifting and positioning two complete stair units weighing approximately 3,000kg each.

These heavier staircase sections were installed at low level, adding a different lifting requirement to the project.

The TMC 525 has a maximum lifting capacity of 14 tonnes, allowing the same crane to support both the heavier low-level stair units and the lighter individual stringers installed higher within the building.

Using the same type of specialist crane across these different stages of the installation provided a practical lifting solution for components that varied significantly in weight, position and required working height.

Why Articulated Crawler Cranes Suit Staircase Installation

Steel staircase installation often involves more than lifting a component from ground level to a floor opening.

Long stringers and complete staircase sections may need to travel through structural steelwork, beneath or around beams and into areas where conventional lifting equipment has limited access.

An articulated crawler crane can provide greater flexibility in these situations by combining lifting capacity and reach with a boom that can be configured around structural obstacles.

For this office development, the TMC 525 supported lifts ranging from 3,000kg complete stair units at low level to 1,200kg staircase stringers installed at heights of approximately 25 metres, while working within and around the developing steel structure.

GGR Group supplies a range of specialist lifting equipment for staircase installation, structural steelwork and restricted-access lifting applications. Speak to the GGR Group team to discuss equipment options for your next lifting project.