quarterly
rigging review
No longer can crane
operators make their
own outrigger pads with
materials scavenged
at the jobsite. Carter
Sterling discusses the
keys to purchasing heavy
duty outrigger pads
the Author
Carter Sterling is
president of Sterling Lumber
Company, based in Blue
Island, IL
Stabilization
standards
H
ydraulic cranes continue
to get bigger and stronger.
They have crossed the
1,100 ton barrier and are not
looking back. All types of mobile
hydraulic cranes are getting
tougher, including mobile, truck-
mounted telescopic, lattice truck,
all terrain and rough
terrain, crane boom
trucks and even compact
cranes.
As one watches the industry,
the 100-ton barrier is not just
for stationary tower and boom
crawler cranes anymore. Almost
every company involved with
manufacturing or selling cranes
has a number of 100-ton plus
lifting cranes and many others
“on the drawing boards.” 1
As these lifting vehicles become
“super lifters,” safety concerns
and the need for stabilized
outriggers and outrigger
pads become increasingly
important to enlarge the
vehicle’s footprint to spread out the load.
(The US Standard for mobile cranes
states that stability-limited rate load Heavy duty outrigger pads are relatively
for a crawler is 75 percent of its tipping inexpensive and can help minimize the
load. For mobile cranes supported on chance of crane accidents by the superior
outriggers it is 85 percent of the tipping strength of their hardwood timber, long bolt
load.) 2 construction, steel pad plates and overall
pad size
Larger, stronger
It has been estimated that 53 percent of Kevin Parker of Pensacola, Fl-based
accidents are still the result of improper Deep South Rental Crane thinks outrigger
outrigger support. Improper support mats have not kept up with the larger
results from either using materials that mobile crane needs.
are not bolted together and/or of inferior “Heavy duty mats that are bolted with
strength, or not taking into account rods are critical for safe crane operation.
the soil-bearing capacity at the lift site, Ground conditions featuring high water
changing load and ground conditions.3 tables or near wetlands require quality,
No longer can crane operators make heavy duty wood mats to ensure safety.
their own outrigger mats with materials Heavy loads on ground conditions such
scavenged at the jobsite. Consequently, as soft asphalt (parking lots), back filled
the new lifting loads are well beyond the areas, gravel, peat, soft clay, loose silt,
limits of the vast majority of products or sandy soil can cause spread-out and
available in today’s market. Plastic, rubber, damage to surrounding property.”
synthetic, composite and laminated OSHA has stringent regulations
plywood pads just can’t support the lifting regarding materials and size of outrigger
needs of today’s cranes. pads. In most circumstances, adequate >28
april 2011 ACT 27
 quarterly
rigging review
dunnage will be a minimum 3-inch thick
hardwood and tightly spaced (no gaps).
Plywood, pallets and scrap should be
avoided. For size, a rough rule of thumb
is to divide the crane’s capacity in tons by
5. That will equal the number of square
footage of dunnage under each outrigger
pad. For example, a 20-ton crane divided
by 5 equals 4. A 4-square-foot or a 2-foot
by 2-foot pad should provide adequate
support under most soil conditions.
Extremes of moisture may require more.
Following OSHA guidelines, a “super
lifting” 400-ton mobile crane requires at
least an 8-foot by 10-foot pad (400 tons
divided by 5 for an 80-square foot pad)
made of 8-inch or 12-inch thick hardwood
bolted together.
Purchasing advice
Hardwood is a generic term used for any
tree that drops its leaves in the winter.
Beware of the “hardwood” outrigger pad
that is made out of a “soft” species of
lumber. Species that are often used but
should be avoided are Gum, Cottonwood,
and Soft Maple.
Technical data from the National Design
Heavy duty outrigger mat
Interior 1" diameter carriage bolts (countersunk nut and head)
Outrigger mat
Interior 1" diameter carriage bolts (countersunk nut and head)
28 ACT april 2011
About Sterling Lumber
Sterling Lumber is a 61-year-old company operating as a family business for three
generations. The company has its own sawmills, warehouses and logistic fleet. The company
is run by the Sterling family, including Christian, Carson, John, Cooper and Carter Sterling
Specifications Handbook indicates mixed
Oak timbers are able to support 800
pounds per square inch of compression
strength. This load data does not include
the additional strength of the timber bolts
holding them together or the steel plate on
top, if present.
Outrigger mats need to have a flat
surface. All the timbers must be drilled in
one pass to ensure they are flush and even
Metal plate with
countersunk bolts
flush with surface
Optional cable/
rope chokers
(4 manual grips)
across the top surface.
Don’t get cheap on the steel. Use the
heavy duty 1¼-inch diameter bolts to
secure the timbers together as opposed to
the ¾-inch or 1-inch typical.
Make sure that both sides of the bolts are
countersunk for safety.
Outriggers mats used in conjunction
with crane mats will create a very stable
and secure platform for the largest of the
crane outriggers. This dual set-up ensures
a safe working platform.
All four outrigger pads have to be stable
and secure to support heavy 100-ton plus
lifting. It only takes one outrigger to fail
for a catastrophe.
Tom and Mark Reynolds of Reynolds
Transfer in Madison, WI are running
a fifth-generation family business that
operates cranes from 22- to 550-ton
capacity. They know how important using
the right type of outrigger mats can be.
“Steel pads and mats can pulverize
concrete, cable spools are just plain
garbage, frankly the bolted timber mats
offer the right balance between strength,
flexibility, and the durability that we need,”
says Reynolds. “We put safety first and
that is why we need the best mats we can
get and we choose Sterling. They are the
best we have seen.” n
Sources:
1
Liebherr Earthmover Product group (www.liebherr.
us/en-GB/default_us-lh.wfw), Grove Cranes (www.
groveworldwide.com) / Manitowoc Cranes (www.
manitowoccranes.com), National Cranes / Runnion
Equipment (www.runnionequipment.com), American
Crane (www.americancrane.com), Tadano (www.
tadanoamerica.com), Terex (http://www.terexcranes.
com), Link Belt (www.linkbelt.com)
2
OSHA 1926, Subpart N - Cranes, Derricks,
Elevators (www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_
document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10928)
3
Iowa Face Program, National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, “Worker Dies When
Tower Crane and Water Tower Crash to Ground,” (www.
craneaccidents.com)