Crane tipping and ground collapse is one of the deadliest safety hazards on construction sites. In the crane operation site, the outrigger pad directly determines the operation safety and equipment stability. Choosing the right crane outrigger pads is extremely important, and Xinxing Plastic will help you to grasp the 5 key factors of outrigger pad selection.
What is Crane Outrigger Pad?
Crane outrigger pad is not a simple metal or wooden pad, but a special support part placed under the crane outrigger to disperse the crane load. Its core function is to concentrate the weight of the crane, uniformly transferred to a larger area of the ground, to avoid excessive local ground pressure.
Why crane outrigger pad is so important？
Preventing ground settlement
When working on soft ground such as soft soil, sand, mud, etc., if the crane’s outrigger directly touches the ground, the huge pressure will cause the outrigger to sink, which will lead to the crane tilting and overturning. The outrigger pad effectively avoids this risk by enlarging the stress area and reducing the ground pressure.
Protecting the equipment and the ground
The crane pads for heavy equipment can cushion the impact of the outrigger on the ground to prevent the ground from being crushed; at the same time, it can also prevent the outrigger from rubbing directly against the ground, reduce the wear and tear of the outrigger parts, and prolong the service life of the equipment.
Meet safety compliance requirements
OSHA (U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration) clearly stipulates that construction cranes and other heavy lifting equipment must use “pads” (i.e. mobile crane outrigger pads) to stabilize the equipment, reduce soil pressure and prevent safety accidents.
How selecting crane outrigger pads for heavy equipment？
The core principles of selection: fit the crane specifications, fit the operating environment, and take into account the safety and practicality. The following five factors, one without the other, directly determines the effectiveness and safety of the use of the plate.
Crane weight and load capacity
The size, thickness and load capacity of the outrigger pad must match the maximum weight and lifting capacity of the crane. The larger the crane load, the larger the surface area and the higher the material strength of the required plate. Under the condition of constant load, the larger the surface area, the smaller the ground pressure, the less likely to settle.
Working ground and terrain conditions
The hardness and flatness of the working ground are the key factors in determining the material and thickness of the matting. Different terrain, the requirements of the mat board are very different:
soft soil, sand, muddy ground: you need to choose a large surface area, hard material and not easy to deform the mat board, to avoid the mat board into the ground;
concrete, hard ground: you can choose the appropriate thickness of thin mat board, but still need to ensure that the material of the abrasion resistance and load-bearing;
uneven ground: you need to choose a high degree of smoothness, the bottom of the non-slip mat board, to avoid tilting, sliding, affecting the stability of the cranes. Crane stability.
Outrigger type and size
The size of the outrigger pad must be compatible with the bottom size of the crane outrigger. The surface area of the pad needs to be larger than the contact area of the bottom of the outrigger to ensure that the outrigger can fall completely in the center of the pad to avoid uneven local stress.
In addition, different types of cranes (e.g., truck cranes, tower cranes) have different shapes and sizes of outriggers, and the compatibility of the pads with the outriggers needs to be confirmed during the selection process.
Durability and service life
Cranes operate in complex environments, and the pads need to withstand great pressure and be exposed to the outdoors for a long time, so durability is of utmost importance. High-quality outrigger pads need to be resistant to wear, pressure, corrosion, aging and other characteristics, to adapt to the harsh operating environment, to extend the service life. Ordinary wooden crane foot pads are prone to cracking, rotting, deformation and other problems, not only need to be replaced frequently, but also lay hidden safety hazards.
Portability and ease of use
outrigger pads need to be frequently handled, placed, and its weight directly affects operational efficiency and personnel safety. Heavy plates (such as steel plates) may cause injuries when handling and are inconvenient to transport; light plates may not meet the load-bearing requirements.
Wooden outrigger pad vs UHMWPE outrigger pad
Currently on the market crane outrigger pad, mainly divided into wood and UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) two materials.
Advantages of wooden outrigger pad
The only advantage of wooden outrigger pad is its low cost and convenient material. In some temporary, light load operation scenarios, some staff will choose wooden pallets or boards as outrigger pads, which seems to save costs, but actually hides many risks.
Core advantages of UHMWPE outrigger pads
UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) is a high-performance synthetic material, by virtue of its excellent performance, has become the preferred material for crane foot pads, which is fully compliant with OSHA safety standards, and is widely used in various types of construction and lifting operation scenarios.
Structural stability, strong load-bearing: UHMWPE material has high hardness, good toughness, can withstand huge loads, not easy to crack, deformation, can be a long-term stable support crane operations;
waterproof and anti-corrosion: UHMWPE sheet as a crane foot pad do not absorb water, do not absorb oil, and can resist corrosion of acids, alkalis, solvents and other types of chemicals, will not rot, swelling and other issues, suitable for complex operating environments;
Light weight: compared with steel and wooden matting, UHMWPE matting is lighter in weight, which is easy for staff to carry and place, reducing labor intensity and fuel costs during transportation;
Long service life: with excellent resistance to abrasion, aging, and UV (ultraviolet) resistance, even if it is exposed to the outdoors for a long time, it can still maintain good performance, and its service life is several times that of wooden matting.
Wide temperature adaptability: UHMWPE material can be in the temperature range of -20 ° C to 80 ° C, to maintain stable mechanical properties, will not become brittle because of the temperature is too low, and will not be softened because of the temperature is too high.
How to correctly use crane outrigger pads
Choosing the right pads is the foundation, and correct use is the key. Only the combination of the two can maximize operational safety. The following step-by-step guide to help you quickly master the selection and use of skills.
Step 1: Calculate the load and determine the specifications
First, clarify the rated weight of the crane, the maximum lifting capacity, combined with the actual load during operation, to calculate the load-bearing capacity and surface area of the required plate. Generally speaking, the larger the load, the larger the surface area and the thicker the mat board.
Step 2: Evaluate the terrain and choose the right material
According to the hardness and flatness of the working ground, choose the corresponding matting material. For soft soil and complex terrain, UHMWPE is preferred; for temporary light load and hard ground, if wooden matting is needed, choose high-quality wood with hard texture and no cracking, and replace it in time.
Step 3: Match the outrigger size
Measure the bottom size of the crane outrigger to ensure that the surface area of the mat board is larger than the bottom area of the outrigger, and the shape of the mat board is suitable for the outrigger, so as to avoid that the outrigger exceeds the range of the mat board, which will lead to uneven local force.
Step 4: Take into account the practicality
Combined with the handling needs of the operational scenario, choose a moderate weight, easy to carry the pads. Give priority to UHMWPE material, its lightweight design can greatly improve the handling efficiency and reduce safety risks.
500 x 500 x 30mm Crane Outrigger Pads in Factory
5 Points for Correct Use of Outrigger Pad
Point 1: Check before use
Before each use, you need to check whether the plate is cracked, worn, deformed and other damages, if there is a problem, stop using it immediately and replace it with a new one;
Point 2: Place it flat
Place the plate smoothly in the predetermined position of the outrigger to ensure that the plate and the ground completely fit, no tilting, no shaking, to avoid stones and debris under the plate;
Point 3: centered alignment
The bottom of the crane outrigger, accurate fall in the center of the mat board, to ensure that the outrigger completely cover the mat board, to avoid local stress;
Point 4: check the stability
After the outrigger falls, check whether the mat board is stable, whether the ground has signs of settlement, if there is tilting, sinking, immediately adjust the position of the mat board or replace the mat board with a larger size;
Main point 5: Regular maintenance
After use, clean up the soil and debris on the surface of the matting in time, store it in a dry, ventilated place, avoid sun exposure and rain (especially wooden matting), to extend the service life of the matting.
Where can I buy high quality UHMWPE crane outrigger pad?
Choosing high-quality UHMWPE outrigger pads can not only guarantee the safety of operation, but also reduce the long-term cost of use. Currently, Xinxing Plastic is a professional supplier of UHMWPE crane outrigger pads, focusing on providing safe and durable outrigger pad solutions for the construction industry.
The UHMWPE outrigger pads produced by Xinxing Plastic are made of high quality UHMWPE raw materials and are manufactured in strict accordance with the industry standards, with the following advantages:
- strong load-bearing capacity, can withstand thousands of pounds of pressure, suitable for all kinds of heavy-duty cranes;
- light weight, 2 x 2 feet (about 0.6 x 0.6 meters) of the plate weighs only about 13.6 kg, easy to carry;
- waterproof, corrosion-resistant, anti-aging, long service life, no need for frequent replacement;
- fully compliant with OSHA safety standards, ensuring operational compliance and avoiding safety risks.
Although the initial purchase cost of UHMWPE outrigger pads is slightly higher than that of wooden pads, in the long run, their long service life, low maintenance costs and high safety make them more cost-effective, making them an ideal choice for companies to ensure operational safety and reduce costs.
