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BS 7121-5:2019

$215.11

Code of practice for safe use of cranes – Tower cranes

Published By Publication Date Number of Pages
BSI 2019 128
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This part of BS 7121 gives recommendations for the safe use of tower cranes, including self‑erecting tower cranes other than mobile self-erecting tower cranes (which are covered in BS 7121‑3).

NOTE The types of tower crane are set out in Annex A.

Subjects covered include safe systems of work, selection, erection, extension (including climbing), dismantling, maintenance, inspection, thorough examination (including testing), operation, and the planning and management of lifting operations. It also covers the appropriate selection and training of personnel involved in the safe installation and use of tower cranes.

This part of BS 7121 is intended to be read in conjunction with BS 7121‑1.

PDF Catalog

PDF Pages PDF Title
7 Foreword
9 1 Scope
2 Normative references
10 3 Terms and definitions
13 Section 1: General management of lifting operations with tower cranes
4 Management of installation and lifting operations
4.1 Safe system of work
4.2 Control of the installation or lifting operation
14 Figure 1 — Flow of information between personnel involved in lifting operations
15 4.3 Duties of the person appointed to control the lifting operation
17 Table 1 — Example load and environmental hazards associated with lifting operations
18 Figure 2 — Relationship between complexity index and lift category
19 Table 2 — Illustration of the categorization of lifts based on environmental and load complexities
21 5 Planning of the lifting operation
5.1 General
23 5.2 Risk assessment
5.3 Method statements
24 5.4 Team briefing/induction
5.5 Selection of cranes
25 5.6 Siting of crane
5.7 Contracts
26 6 Selection and duties of personnel other than the appointed person
27 Section 2: Selection of tower cranes
7 Selection of tower cranes
7.1 General
30 7.2 Remote controls
8 Siting of crane
8.1 General
31 8.2 Crane standing and support conditions
8.3 Out-of-service wind speed
33 Figure 3 — UK out-of-service wind region map for tower cranes
34 8.4 Tower crane foundations
37 8.5 Proximity hazards
40 Section 3: Safety and operational considerations
9 Safety
9.1 Modifications and materials
9.2 Product modifications and updates
9.3 Identification of person directing crane movements
9.4 Personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety equipment
41 9.5 Work at height
42 9.6 Access and egress (including emergency escape)
46 Figure 4 — Base enclosure
47 Figure 5 — Anti-climb panels
Figure 6 — Trapdoor
48 Figure 7 — Trapdoor and base enclosure lock
9.7 Fire risk assessment and fire extinguishers
49 9.8 Attachments
50 9.9 Limiting and indicating devices
53 9.10 Machinery guarding
9.11 Lightning protection
9.12 Base ballast
54 9.13 Counterweight ballast
9.14 Travel alarms
10 Procedures and precautions
10.1 Operator working hours and resources
Table 3 — Minimum number of operators required for continuous single shift operation of tower cranes
10.2 Crane operation
10.3 Working on cranes
55 10.4 Crane not in regular use
56 10.5 Reporting of defects and incidents
10.6 Leaving the crane unattended
58 11 Operating conditions
11.1 Rated capacity
59 Figure 8 — Adverse effect of a swinging load on load radius
60 11.2 Mode of operation and control
61 11.3 Handling of loads near persons
11.4 Multi-crane lifting and lowering
11.5 Special duties
12 Lifting of pre-slung loads
62 12.1 Single-use slings
63 12.2 Lifting pre-slung loads
12.3 Load-resistant nets
13 Slinging and handling of loads
13.1 General
13.2 Signalling systems
64 14 In-service and out-of-service wind speeds
14.1 In-service wind speed
65 14.2 Consideration of wind speed during planning of lifts
66 15 Crane documentation
15.1 Rated capacity charts
15.2 Instruction manuals
15.3 Reports of thorough examination/test certificates
15.4 Maintenance records
15.5 Erection/dismantling and transport
15.6 Operator’s documentation
15.7 Medical records
15.8 Plans and method statements
16 Pre-use checks, maintenance and inspection
67 17 Thorough examination, including testing
17.1 General
17.2 Age and utilization
17.3 Change of ownership of the crane
68 Section 4: Tower crane erection, dismantling and alteration
18 Erection, dismantling and alteration
18.1 Planning
72 18.2 Manufacturer’s erection and dismantling instructions
73 18.3 Craneage
18.4 Components and materials
75 Figure 9 — Bolt grip length to diameter
76 Table 4 — Bolt and nut grades and properties
77 Figure 10 — Marking on initial installation
79 18.5 Electrical supply
80 18.6 Personnel
18.7 Briefing of the erection team
18.8 Communication
81 18.9 Protection from falls from height
18.10 Control
18.11 Inspection before erection
18.12 Weather conditions
82 18.13 Working area and exclusion zones
18.14 Installation and use of self-erecting tower cranes
83 19 Tower crane climbing
19.1 General
84 19.2 Structural considerations
Figure 11 — Typical tie
85 19.3 Risk assessment
86 19.4 Method statement
87 19.5 Climbing process
91 19.6 Thorough examination, including testing of the crane after climbing
92 19.7 Maintenance of climbing equipment
93 Annex A (informative)  Types of tower crane and associated machinery
Figure A.1 — Types of tower
95 Figure A.2 — Types of jib
98 Figure A.3 — Types of base
100 Figure A.4 — Rail-mounted tower crane
101 Figure A.5 — Lorry-mounted tower crane
102 Annex B (informative)  Example evaluation of potential tower crane usage
Figure B.1 — Example evaluation of potential tower crane usage
103 Annex C (informative)  Tower crane classification
Figure C.1 — Variation of service life with intensity of loading for Group 3
104 Annex D (normative)  Emergency plan
108 Annex E (normative)  Rescue from height
112 Annex F (informative)  Tower crane climbing
113 Figure F.1 — Typical external climbing sequence
114 Figure F.2 — Typical internal climbing sequence
115 Annex G (informative)  Example of thorough examinations and checks for climbing frame
118 Annex H (informative)  HSE guidance on luffing jib tower cranes
119 Annex I (normative)  Example form showing controls for lifting inside the crane manufacturer’s radius
Figure I.1 — Example form for lifting inside the crane manufacturer’s radius
120 Annex J (normative)  Maintenance, inspection and thorough examination
Annex K (informative)  Hydrogen embrittlement in high-tensile fasteners
122 Annex L (normative)  Recommendations to reduce the probability of failure due to HE
123 Table L.1 — Comparative testing regime: property grade 10.9/12.9 engineering bolts/ studs
124 Bibliography
BS 7121-5:2019
$215.11