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Martin Coult
Registered Users
Posts:10
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| 07/02/2000 4:16 PM |
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When handling SIP panels on site, what do you old hands recommend as the best (mechanical) method?
What's the best way to grip the panels?
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Al Cobb
Registered Users
Posts:3
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| 07/02/2000 8:31 PM |
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Martin,
The best method is experienced hands and a strong back. However, lets assume your referring to "jumbo" panels, and a crane
is a must. I've tried many methods over the past ten years, and found one that I think works best for my crew and I.
I use 7/8" round bar and forge the bar into a very large hook. The blade is broad, tapered, and pointed, and the shaft
terminates into a three inch round eye. These hooks are used in sets of four to lift and set roof panels. The blade is driven
through the top skin and positioned so as to distribute the load. Short roping the upper pair of hooks will allow any roof pitch to
be accomodated with a hanging panel of similar slope. The hooks can be quikly inserted and removed. The scare left is very
small, and we always fill the void created by the hooks with expanding foam prior to felting the roof. The unscientific testing we
have performed to ensure safety would suggest that properly installed hooks can lift a 700lb panel with a safety factor of better
then two.
I've made and sold dozens of sets of these hooks and always received positive feedback.
As for lifting jumbo wall panels, I'm still forging around some new ideas, and I'll keep you all posted of my success.
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Steve Andrews
Registered Users
Posts:334
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| 07/04/2000 4:54 PM |
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Martin, since you mentioned "mechanical" handling, I'm assuming you're asking about the best method for handling larger roof panels, since they always require a crane; wall panels, even large ones, don't necessarily require a crane. Larry Nelson (Thermal Shell Homes; Houston, TX) has built about 60 SIP shells, most with SIP roofs on them. Since he isn't yet on the Net, here's a summary of the approach he uses.
1. Temporarily attach two (of four) 12"x16"x1/4" custom-made steel plates to the first panel to be raised to the roof. Each plate has a vertical piece of steel, several inches long and several inches tall, that sticks up from the plate; an eye in the vertical piece is large enough for threaded chain to slip through it. The plates are centered in the panel and spaced about 4-feet in from each end (assuming a 20' panel, +/-). Each plate is attached to the top OSB facing of the panel with durable, reusable screws--probably 3/8" x 1.75" concrete screws, probably a dozen or more per plate.
2. A chain is passed through each plate's attachment eye and then attached to the crane's hook or straps. For the first panel, one chain is left long, the other's length is made shorter, so that when the panel is lifted, it will naturally be inclined at an angle that matches the roof's slope. For the first panel, you'll need to lift the panel with the crane a couple of times and shorten chain until the panel's angle when lifted in the air actually matches the roof slope; then mark the length on the chain with a brightly colored magic marker so that each time you hook the chain to the plate and boom, it matches the roof slope.
3. Lift the panel to the proper location on the roof. The roof crew fastens it in place while the ground crew attaches the other two plates to the next panel to be lifted. Once the roof crew finishes attaching their panel, they unscrew the plates and the crane brings them back down to the ground crew. Then you repeat the process with the already-prepped second panel. Etc. etc.
So for Nelson it's four plates, two chains and about 200 screws, plus your crane.
Note: some panel manufacturers specify that panels should not be lifted by their top skin. However, when pressed, they are rightfully much more worried about lifting panels along any outside edge by their top skin than they are by lifting the middle of the panel. For for other techniques than the two in this and the previous post, talk with your manufacturer; they can be clearing houses for good construction methods.
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Martin Coult
Registered Users
Posts:10
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| 07/05/2000 12:46 PM |
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Thanks for the posts on handling.
I've seen photos of hinged roof systems from Holland which appear to be hitched from the sides - it's an impressive task, for sure!
See it yourself (text in Dutch though..)
http://www.opstalan.nl/3_productendiensten.htm
I assume that their panels are framed.
I've also seen some sort of caliper arrangement which tightens on the lift. A rope is fixed to the bottom of the panel to allow guidance. Anyone using such a method?
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