Both Regal Towers have been part of Saskatoon's skyline for decades. Yet they are some of the most well kept and upgraded buildings in the city. Currently Boardwalk Communities is replacing Regal Towers windows. Candor Build Construction Company was in need of Swing Stage Equipment for this project. They subcontracted Northern Strands to install the suspended access equipment that would be needed to install the windows.
Being an older building, Regal Towers lacked fall protection anchors that are commonplace in newer buildings. This meant there was nothing conventional for the outrigger beams or lifelines to anchor to (Outriggers are horizontal beams that extend over the parapet wall for the suspension cables of the swing stage platforms to connect to. This presented some unique challenges for our Suspended Access team.
The Northern Strands Swing Stage team had to devise solutions to overcome the lack of traditional anchor points:
- Engineers approved the installation of D-Plate points. Multiple anchors were installed at various points across the roof. All anchors were labeled and softeners were included at potential wear points.
- Wood cribbing boxes were fabricated to raise the outriggers over the parapet wall.
- To anchor the outriggers our team used the utility building that sits on top of the main roof, after engineers had deemed the structure was adequate. Our Suspended Access crew wrapped cable around the entire building structure and softeners were once again employed on the wire rope at the structure corners to prevent damage. This was a unique and forward thinking solution
- Panoramic views of the overall set up:
Northern Strands has the largest Suspended Access equipment fleet in Saskatchewan. We are locally owned and operated out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Contact Northern Strands to quote your next job
staging@northernstrands.com
306-242-7073
There are a number of important factors to consider when using chain to lift a given obstacle. Shiny, gold, Grade 70 Transport chain is intended for load binding only. This chain is used to hold heavy items down to a flatbed truck and the gold-chromate finish as well as the carbon-steel construction makes this chain easy to spot and more difficult to break.
With this said, this chain should not be used for lifting unless it has been fabricated by a sling manufacturer and the manufacturer is required to follow guidelines for fabrication. ASME and/or ASTM standards must be followed and they require that either grade 80 or 100 chain be used in sling fabrication, due to the alloy steel construction and its ability to elongate when overloaded as opposed to snapping suddenly. The manufacturer will also have to put a tag on the chain sling that indicates what maximum load or Working Load Limit can be safely applied to the sling, making it easier for end users to know the limitations.
When lifting any objects off of the ground, the weight of said object as well as the capacities of the lifting device and rigging must all be known before making the lift. This important guideline is something that the Northern Strands' Training Division focus on in the Below the Hook Rigging training. Sections 208 and 209 of the Saskatchewan’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulations refer to this concept directly as well.
When in doubt about whether to lift a load with a certain chain or not ask yourself this question: Does the chain have a tag on it indicating its Working Load Limit?
If yes – there are a number of other questions you should ask yourself after this to determine that all of the parameters related to the lift are safe.
If no – do not attempt the lift and look for an alternative solution.
When performing any sort of lift whatsoever, it is important that workers are trained in safe rigging practices and that they are competently supervised. Whether you are an employee or an employer, feel free to contact Northern Strands about our various Safety Courses and our Below the Hook Rigging Seminars.
For more information about Below the Hook Rigging Seminars click here: Hook Rigging Seminars
For more information about all Safety Training Courses click here: Safety Training Courses
Northern Strands Training Division Contact Information
Email: training@northernstrands.com
Phone: 306-242-7073
In the industry there is a misconception that portable outrigger beams and parapet clamps being used with powered suspended access equipment can be tied back using fibre rope, and often times it is old vertical lifeline rope that is used for this application. However, using rope in this application is an incorrect practice.
Under the national CSA Safety Code For Suspended Platforms, the tieback cables for portable outriggers and parapet clamps must be of equal strength as the primary suspension rope. Since most powered climbers use a 5/16” or 8.4mm diameter wire rope that has a breaking strength of 10,000+lbs, the use of 5/8” polysteel lifeline (which has a breaking strength of only 9,000 lbs when new) is not adequate. In addition to that, ropes are usually terminated at the anchors with knots, and ANY knot will reduce the strength of rope by at least 25%. While ropes of the proper strength and construction (and when terminated with the proper approved knots) can be used with rope access systems and manual bosun’s chairs, they should never be used with any powered suspended equipment that has wire rope as the primary suspension line.
At Northern Strands, we will always supply the proper tieback cables and wire rope clips for this connection, and provide complete instruction on proper rigging of tieback cables as part of our Suspended Access Equipment Training course.
The picture below shows an example of a correct outrigger tieback with wire rope
For more information visit http://www.northernstrands.com/suspended-access-systems.aspx
"Northern Strands is proudly Saskatoon, Saskatchewan owned and operated."
Northern Strands Suspended Access Division has designed a unique Portable Electric Winch System for material handling. Why did we design a Portable Electric Winch System? To offer an alternative to Air Winches. Our Portable Electric Winch System was designed with portability and ease of use in mind.
Who can benefit from the use of this unique winch? Ironworkers, sheeters, insulators, industrial mechanical contractors, plant maintenance workers, and anyone that has a need for temporary hoisting solutions in a somewhat confined space.
Features include:
- 1st Layer rating: 1,100 LBS W.L.L
- Mid drum rating: 700 LBS W.L.L
- Full drum rating: 500 LBS W.L.L
- Variable speed.
- Accurate load weight readout.
- Anti-two-block.
- Positive controls.
- Controlled descent.
- Counterweighted system, no need to anchor the unit.
- No need for a compressor.
- Overload protection.
- Ease of use.
- Long pendant control keeps the operator away from the suspended load.
Our Portable Electric Winches are available to rent today!
Contact our Suspended Access Division for all your material handling, work platform, tugger, winch and swing stage needs. Our products are available to rent throughout Canada.
Visit our website at http://www.northernstrands.com/suspended-access-systems.aspx
staging@northernstrand.com
Phone 306-242-7073.
Northern Strands is proudly Saskatoon, Saskatchewan owned and operated.