1.

A Tower Crane Mast Section is set into a foundation with

steel pedestals. The Mast Section is plumbed to a degree of
1:500 (i.e. it is not allowed to deviate more than 1 inch from
plumb for every 500 inches vertical).
2. After concrete is poured and cured, the crane is ready to be
erected.
3. Mast sections are added until the needed height is
achieved. The turntable (operator cabin included) is added
in the same way and is often the heaviest piece of the
crane. In some applications this section is split to reduce
weight on the mobile crane. This step is avoided when
possible, since it may add two hours to the installation
process.

4. The Tower Top is added and four large pins are added as
the connecting members.
5. The jibs for the crane are assembled, while the bolts on the
Mast Section bolts are tightened.
6. The Counter Jib is erected as one piece. It is connected by
large gates or pins at the turntable.
7. This connection is elevated by the mobile crane to around
15 degrees above horizontal.
8. The pendants are connected by pins with cotter pins. Then
the Counter Jib is lowered to horizontal. Sometimes the
Machine Package with Electrical Panel and Hoist is with the
Counter Jib and other times it’s installed separately. After
this, any needed Erection Ballast is installed in the Counter
Jib.
9. The Working Jib of the crane is installed at the turntable and
elevated with the Mobile Crane.
10. The Tower Crane hoist is connected to the pendant
attached to the jib and pulled up to the Tower Top and
connected with a pin.
11. The Jib is lowered back to horizontal. The trolley is now
installed if it wasn’t on the ground.
12. The installation of the Outer Section of the Jib is installed
with the installation of three pins.

13. Finally the Ballast (up to 60,000 lbs) is installed on the

Counter Jib and the structural erection of the tower crane is
complete. In most cases this ends on the first day.
14. To make the crane operational, the ropes must be
installed on the crane. The hook is moved along the
Working Jib with a Trolley.
 15. Ropes are attached to the trolley and a winch. This work
can take between an hour and three depending on the size
of the crane and its design.
16. The Load Line that hoists the rope is installed after the
trolley lines. It runs from the back of the crane, through the
tower top and out under the jib to the outer tip of the crane
and is pinned in place either through a thimble or through a
wedge and socket.
17. Set the motion limits for the hoist and trolley, followed by
performing a load test to 100% of the cranes capacity. You
now have a functional Tower Crane.

The entire process includes up to 13 trucks, can include seven

crane erectors, three crane operators, two mobile cranes. If no
problems occur, most cranes can be erected in one day by a
competent crew. The installation of the ropes and load testing
can take up to a full day as well, but on small cranes, it can be
done in the same day. Erecting a tower crane costs range
between $15,000 for the smallest of the fixed base cranes to over
$60,000 for crane erections requiring large mobile cranes.
(According to Seattle market rates).
 University Of Jordan
Faculty of Engineering and Technology
Department of Civil Engineering

Construction Methods
Installation of Tower Cranes

Name:
Doa’a Ibrahim Ghnaimat

Reg. No.
0067211