Aerial work platform
A platform (also work platform, Hubsteiger or Steiger HAB is abbreviated) a device with a residence stage , and a hydraulic or electromechanical drive; it is a work platform with an entry and exit, mostly in the floor area. The stages work with different mechanics depending on the objective z. B. via a movable arm, a scissor construction or a vertical mast. Lifts with only vertical movement are called lifting platforms .
Areas of application
Are used z. B .:
- Articulated arm platforms to reach street lights , trees , overhead lines or low voltage lines , on which work usually has to be carried out at short notice,
- Scissor lifts often for use in the hall area for assembly work below ceilings or
- mast-guided climbing platforms for long-term and large-scale operations with material transport such as B. Glass facade assembly,
- Fire-fighting, rescue and technical operations by fire brigades.
Designs
Elevating work platforms can be differentiated according to various criteria:
- anchored or movable
- working platforms permanently connected to a structure or
- freely movable work platforms.
- Type of lift construction
- Scissor lifts,
- Boom lifter,
- Articulated telescopic platforms,
- on a mast as with mast-guided climbing platforms (EN 1495)
- Type of lifting drive
- Hydraulics
- Rope mechanics
- Gear or worm drive
- Movability
- Mounted on truck frames, powered by PTO
- Mounted on a rail vehicle
- Mounted on a slowly moving frame with wheels
- Mounted on crawler tracks
- Mounted on an expanding frame
- Mounted on trailers , externally (electrically) fed
- Load capacity
- Load capacity up to 200 kg
- Load capacity up to 1,000 kg
- Load capacity up to 8,000 kg.
- height
- Low heights up to approx. 12 m
- Medium heights up to approx. 30 m
- Great heights up to 100 m and above
- Lifting speed
- Low lifting speed
- high lifting speed
Many aerial work platforms are built on a truck chassis.
There are truck working platforms with operating heights of over 100 m or ranges of up to 40 m. Areas of application for these giants are wind turbines, industrial plants such as tall chimneys, cooling towers, tank systems and radio masts. These truck platforms are also predestined for work in building renovation or for film and television recordings, concerts or sporting events. Climbing platforms are used if the work requires larger work surfaces or material transport on a large scale. This z. B. for wind turbine assemblies up to a lower diameter of 13 m with so-called scan climbers.
In addition to these "giants", hydraulic truck-mounted work platforms are often used for the daily work of craft businesses, municipal companies and energy suppliers. If, for example, aerial work platforms with a height of 11–20 m are often required in municipal companies for the maintenance of lighting, devices up to 30 m working height or more are used for tree pruning or for building and facade cleaning and for painting or roofing work .
In most cases, four hydraulic supports, which, depending on the model variant, can be extended individually, in pairs or completely and are mounted on the vehicle frame, ensure the necessary stability during work.
The aerial work platforms can be set up on a wide variety of carrier vehicles. Whether it is a 3.5 t, 7.5 t or 18 t chassis, a 2 or 3-axle vehicle, depends primarily on the working height of the aerial work platform to be set up. In Germany, they are considered self-propelled work equipment and are subject to different approval regulations for road traffic than the vehicle on which they are built.
As a special system, u. a. so-called telescopic forklifts can be equipped with a work platform and thus converted into an aerial work platform. The load capacities and working heights are only linked to the capabilities of the telescopic forklift.
The boom system
The boom system, which, depending on the model variant, can consist of a telescopic forearm boom, a telescopic upper arm and a movable jib, is of decisive importance for the performance and mobility of the truck-mounted work platform.
The more mobile the boom system of the stage, the easier it is to use hard-to-reach locations, e.g. B. in trees, halls and on lines.
In the case of telescopic boom systems with round profile technology in the direction of the load (as with the truck crane), the telescopic arm system can be designed more easily than with the conventional "polygon" profile. Static calculations, however, show a strong deflection (“Fishrod Effect”, comparable to a fishing rod), which makes it difficult to retract the telescope in particular.
Special designs of the swivel device (e.g. "crank swivel table", "variable tower") serve on the one hand to save installation length on the carrier vehicle, on the other hand to avoid a lateral overhang when swiveling.
Do work assignments in rough terrain - such as B. on construction sites, cemeteries or parks, robust and compact work platforms on crawler chassis are the right work tool, because they adapt to the given ground conditions. However, caterpillar platforms with plastic chains are also preferred on exactly the opposite terrain, namely on sensitive floors such as tiles or in gyms. The caterpillar chains distribute the weight of the work platform optimally over a wide area and thus protect the ground.
Work basket
The control panel is located in the work basket on the platform. All movements of the work platform can be controlled from here.
Depending on the access platform model, the work baskets have load capacities of 100–1000 kg. A distinction is made between plastic and aluminum work baskets. For work under live electrical lines, double insulation against 1,000 volts is required, but this is usually part of the standard equipment.
In the construction site area, self-propelled diesel-powered telescopic and articulated telescopic platforms are mostly used, which reach a working height of between 12 and 44 m.
Alternatively, scissor lifts are often used in such areas . Although these usually offer a larger space, they can only be extended vertically and reach low heights (6–33 m working height). On the other hand, there are usually much higher load capacities for personnel and material. Pole-guided climbing platforms can be used up to heights of 250 m and more.
Related to the aerial work platforms are the aerial rescue vehicles such as turntable ladders and telescopic masts with rescue cages . These are structurally better suited for fire fighting work and rescue from heights. Manufacturers of telescopic masts are mostly well-known manufacturers of aerial work platforms such as WUMAG elevant and Bronto-Skylift .
safety
For commercially used aerial work platforms in Germany, an annual safety check according to BGG 945 and 945-1 inspection book for lifting platforms (also known as UVV test) (according to the guidelines of the professional associations such as TRBS 1203) in conjunction with the Association of Electrical, Electronics and Information Technology ( VDE) regulations and DIN standards prescribed.
The wearing of PPE (personal protective equipment) such as protective shoes, protective helmets or high-visibility clothing is regulated for every commercial operation by the relevant professional association. This applies to the entire duration of the work activity, including of course while a work platform is being operated. According to the current legal situation, there is a general regulation regarding the wearing of PPE, in particular a belt / fall protection, unlike z. B. in Great Britain, Holland or Italy, in Germany not. The creation of a PPE can, however, in addition to the respective trade association, z. B. also be prescribed by the employer, or on private, factory, exhibition grounds by the site owner. As a result of changes in the law, from summer 2009 every working platform must have an attachment point or attachment point for attaching protective equipment against falls. Old platforms are to be retrofitted.
The horizontal alignment of the base is done manually using a circular bubble or automatically using position or pressure sensors in the hydraulics.
In the trade association rules for the operation of lifting platforms (BGR 500, Chapter 2.10), among other things, the employment restriction is regulated. It says: “Only people who have reached the age of 18, who have been instructed in the operation of the lifting platform and who have demonstrated their ability to do so to the employer may be employed with the independent operation of lifting platforms. You must be expressly instructed by the company to operate the lift. The order to operate aerial work platforms must be given in writing. "
The prescribed instruction must be carried out annually by the company, i.e. the employer, in accordance with the accident prevention regulation BGV A1 "Principles of Prevention". The content of such instruction has been regulated in Germany since April 2010 by BGG 966 and GUV-G 966. Since practical exercises with different types of aerial work platforms are provided, which not every entrepreneur can provide, the instructions are often carried out by external training centers. This gives entrepreneurs the guarantee that their employees are fully trained in the operation of aerial work platforms in accordance with the requirements of the employers' liability insurance association.
This instruction is only required for commercial use, private individuals are not affected. A driver's license such as B. for cars and which is mandatory for everyone without exception, there is therefore no for aerial work platforms. Colloquially, the certificate for participation in the instruction is often referred to as a driver's license, operator ID or license.
Examples
simple mobile aerial work platform
Truck aerial work platform for catenary construction
Aerial work platform on a road- rail vehicle for catenary assembly
Boom lifter in action on the old slewing crane in the inner pool of the Arsenale in Venice.
Aerial rescue platform as a truck body in a narrow alley in Italy
Similar devices
Individual evidence
- ↑ Steiger is a legally protected term / product name of the work platform manufacturer Ruthmann. The word has established itself as a synonym for work platform.
- ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original dated June 6, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Chapter 2.10, paragraph 2.1 Employment restriction.
- ↑ http://publikationen.dguv.de/dguv/pdf/10002/g-966.pdf .
Web links
- Regulations and rules of thumb for the safe use of aerial work platforms (PDF file; 928 kB)