Hoisting Large-Size UHPC Curtain Wall Panels: Tool Selection and Safe Construction Guide

The hoisting of large-size UHPC curtain wall panels (typically referring to panels with an individual area ≥6m² and weight ≥500kg) places extremely high demands on tool selection, operating procedures, and safety control, directly affecting construction efficiency and personnel safety. Leveraging 28 years of experience in hoisting super-large components, Qinglong Group has successfully completed hoisting projects including 12m² UHPC panels for Shanghai New World and 50mm-thick openwork panels for the Ouargla Hotel in Algeria, and has developed a full-process system of "tool matching - plan development - safety control", keeping the hoisting breakage rate below 0.2%.

1. Core Hoisting Equipment Selection: Precise Matching by Weight and Size

Lifting equipment: For panels weighing 500-800kg each (e.g., 6m², 30mm-thick UHPC panels), use 25-50 ton truck cranes with the hoisting radius controlled at 10-15m; for panels weighing 800-1500kg (e.g., 12m², 50mm-thick UHPC panels), use 50-100 ton truck cranes or tower cranes. The Shanghai New World project used an 80-ton truck crane with a lifting height of up to 35m. Lifting devices should prioritize "vacuum suction cup lifters": suction force ≥1.5 times the component weight, equipped with a pressure monitoring device (automatic alarm when pressure falls below 0.06MPa) to prevent panels from falling off. The vacuum lifters used by Qinglong have a suction area ≥30% of the panel surface area, suitable for smooth UHPC surfaces. Auxiliary lifting devices: use a combination of "spreader beam + flexible slings"; the spreader beam length should be ≥80% of the component length to ensure uniform load distribution during hoisting; flexible slings (width ≥100mm) prevent damage to panel edges and corners. In the Algeria project, this combination enabled damage-free hoisting of the openwork panels.

2. Auxiliary Tools and Safety Equipment: Ensuring Precise and Safe Hoisting

Positioning tools: use a 3D laser positioning instrument (accuracy ±1mm) to monitor the component hoisting position in real time and ensure installation precision. In the hoisting of double-curved UHPC panels for the Guangxi New Media Center, Qinglong achieved an installation deviation of ≤±2mm through laser positioning. Stabilization tools: guide ropes (diameter ≥12mm) are installed on both sides of the component, controlled by 2-4 operators to prevent swinging at height. In the hoisting of the 3-meter-high UHPC sculpture at the Shanghai Astronomy Museum, guide ropes kept the swing amplitude ≤50mm. Safety protection equipment: operators are equipped with full-body safety harnesses and anti-slip shoes; work platforms are erected for work at height; warning lines and warning signs are set up in the hoisting area to prohibit unauthorized personnel from entering. Inspection tools: before hoisting, a dynamometer is used to test the load-bearing capacity of lifting devices (≥1.2 times the design value), and a level is used to check component flatness, ensuring qualified condition prior to hoisting.

3. Hoisting Plan and Construction Process: Scientific Planning and Standardized Operation

Plan refinement before hoisting: use BIM technology to simulate hoisting paths, avoid building obstacles, and calculate lifting point positions (lifting point spacing ≤1.5m, distance from panel ends ≤300mm). Qinglong designed 4 lifting points for the 12m² panels in the Shanghai New World project to ensure uniform load distribution. The trial lift must not be overlooked: when the component is lifted 300-500mm off the ground, pause for 5-10 minutes to check the firmness of the lifting device and the balance of the component; continue lifting only when no abnormalities are found. Process control during hoisting: lifting speed ≤0.5m/min, lowering speed ≤0.3m/min, avoiding sudden acceleration and braking; during high-altitude jointing, a dedicated supervisor commands and slowly adjusts the component position to ensure seam alignment. In the Yangshengtang Pharmaceutical Hangzhou Industrial Park project, Qinglong achieved efficient hoisting of 12000m² of large-size UHPC panels through this process, with the average hoisting time per panel controlled within 30 minutes.

4. Qinglong's Hoisting Technology Advantages and Project Evidence

Professional hoisting team: all operators are certified to work, with over 5 years of experience in large-size component hoisting, and receive regular safety training and skill assessments. Customized lifting device R&D: dedicated lifting devices are developed for irregular large-size panels (such as double-curved and openwork panels), such as the curved spreader beam customized for the double-curved panels of the Guangxi New Media Center, ensuring components do not deform during hoisting. Comprehensive safety control system: a three-level control system of "pre-hoisting inspection - monitoring during hoisting - acceptance after hoisting" is established, with every procedure recorded and traceable. Project cases show that among the large-size UHPC panel hoisting projects completed by Qinglong, there has not been a single safety accident, and hoisting precision and efficiency are both at an industry-leading level. The hoisting pass rate of 12m² panels in the Shanghai New World project was 100%, earning high recognition from the owner and supervision units.

The success of large-size UHPC curtain wall panel hoisting lies in the precise matching of tool selection and plan development. Adhering to the principle of "safety first, precision and efficiency", Qinglong Group provides integrated solutions for large-size UHPC curtain wall panel hoisting with professional equipment, team, and technology, ensuring that the construction process is completed safely, quickly, and with high quality.