What usually is required from the customer for indoor operation? Floor impact. Working height / Outreach. Machine measurements. Maneuverability. You can panic when calculating the floor load requirements for operating and driving on jobsite such as shopping malls, golf courses, pool areas, patios, and driveways. As well as thinking of what kind of working platform is suitable for the operation? Boom lift, scissor lift, or tracked lift? Mayon Machinery is here to help you in figuring it all out and offer you the complete solutions for your height access challenges.
Before deciding on the proper equipment for the job, it’s important to calculate ground pressure and live load to your structure of the underground, from concrete slabs to concrete pavers.
Here are some basic definitions that might provide clarity to common misconceptions.
The effect the compact lift has on the ground surface material itself (tile, concrete, wood, etc.). This is the measurement that determines the puncture point of the surface material and the structure itself. Another term for this concept is “point load,” and should be considered when identifying the durability of the surface material when operating machinery on top of it, especially in the case of tile. Force is typically measured in pounds per square inch (psi). It is defined as the pressure that results when a force of one pound-force is applied to a one-square-inch area. One psi is approximately 6,895 pascals (N/m2).
Surface Load
The effect the weight of the machine has on the surface material. This measurement reflects the weight or mass of the machine over the contact area with the floor. The question to ask here is: Can the surface material support the overall transient weight of the machinery when moving? In the case of a Teupen lift, the tracks’ surface area in contact with the floor is much greater than a similarly capable wheeled machine.
Live Load
Any temporary or transient forces that act on a building or structural element. Live loads typically include people, furniture, vehicles and virtually everything else that can be moved throughout a building. We measure uniform live loads as kg per square meter (kg/m2). The acceptable live load will vary considerably based on the occupancy and expected use of a structure or structural element. Live load considerations are important during both the transport and the operation of machinery on floor surfaces and the supporting structure.
1. Live Load Boom lift
A = l x b (m²)
Live Load = m (kg) ⁄ A (m²)
Example:
l: 6,38 m
b: 2,01 m
m: 5045 kg + 225 kg
Live load = 5270 kg / 12,82 m² = 411 kg/m²
2. Live Load Scissor lift
A = l x b (m²)
Live Load = m (kg) ⁄ A (m²)
Example:
l: 1,89 m
b: 0,76 m
m: 1420 kg + 230 kg
Live load = 1650 kg / 1,44 m² = 1146 kg/m²
3. Live Load Tracked lift (in transport position)
A = l x b (m²)
Live Load = m (kg) ⁄ A (m²)
Example:
l: 7,20 m
b: 1,58 m
m: 4270 kg
Live load = 4270 kg / 11,38 m² = 375 kg/m²
4. Live Load Tracked lift (in working position)
A = l x b (m²)
Live Load = m (kg) ⁄ A (m²)
Example:
l: 4,89 m
b: 5,65 m
m: 4270 kg + 200 kg
Live load = 4470 kg / 27,63 m² = 162 kg/m²
The definitions above are important to understand when calculating the ground pressure or floor load for a specific job.
Ground Pressure
Ground pressure is defined as “the pressure exerted into the ground by an object calculated by the object’s weight divided through its ground contact area.”
Mayon Machinery is able to provide you all of the applicable measurements needed to calculate the impact of machinery on your floor surface. Please do not hesitate to contact us for help. With a trusted dealer providing expert assistance in calculations and implementation, you can be assured of a seamless operation every step of the way.