When it comes to a crane or another heavy duty piece of machinery that requires pressing weight onto a surface, it is always necessary to ascertain the surface on which the crane rests, as that surface can determine the effectiveness of the crane. For this reason, many companies are turning to a piece of merchandise called a crane pad to prevent slippage and difficulty with the surface.
A crane pad is a piece of material that goes between a crane leg and the surface. The crane pad can range in different types of materials and thickness. What matters with the crane pad is the ability to absorb the weight and force of the crane leg. This matters due to the ground with crane is being used on.
While cranes can often be placed on concrete or another non-porous surface, sometimes construction crews and labor crews are forced to place the crane on a porous surface, such as the ground. This can be difficult, as the weight of the crane and the force exerted from the movement of the crane can force the crane’s leg to sink into the ground, throwing off the movement and slowing or stopping a day’s work.
A good example of the value of a crane pad, which is often similar to ground mats, outrigger pads, and plastic cribbing blocks, comes with another heavy object–the recreational vehicle.
According to the Recreational Vehicle Association, approximately 9 million households in American own RVs. It is a fairly big business when it comes to outdoor recreational activities. In 2013, the estimated revenue of campgrounds and RV parks was around $5 billion.
The average RV owners is 48 years old, married, and with an annual income of $62,000 or older. RVs owners are likely to own their own homes and spend their disposable income traveling, sometimes for three weeks or more.
An RV often needs what is called a “jack pad” which can be seen in some ways as similar to a crane pad. A jack pad is a piece of material that ranges in thickness and goes between the jack of the RV and the ground. This is due to the RV often sitting on dirt and ground as opposed to concrete. This “jack pad” often can keep the RV from sinking into the ground.
In the United States, OSHA–the Occupational Safety and Health Administration–states that cranes much be assembled on ground that is firm, drained, and graded sufficiently, in conjunction with support materials, such as blocking, pads, and mats. All of these to provide adequate support and levelness.
The goal also is to support the crane with the block or the crib and to transmit the load to the supporting surface, while preventing shifting, toppling, or excessive settlement under the load.
There are many different types of crane pads, mats, or cribs to choose from. A quick search using a search engine will provide many results to peruse.
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