TOWER CRANES - STRUCTURAL AND WIND DESIGN Survey

ENGINEER SURVEY

Click here to access END USER SURVEY.

The SC&RA Tower Crane Committee is conducting a confidential survey to better understand current practices, challenges, and opportunities related to wind loading, design standards, and operational safety for tower cranes. Wind-related risks remain one of the most significant safety and productivity concerns in tower crane operations. Inconsistent application of OSHA, ASCE, ASME, and manufacturer guidance can result in delays, near misses, and unrecognized hazards. Your real-world experience, as an end user or engineer, is critical to identifying gaps between design intent and field practice.

By completing this short survey, you will help the Committee identify best practices, improve training and procedures, enhance manufacturer guidance, and strengthen monitoring and decision-making related to wind risk. Aggregated results will be used to develop industry recommendations and technical guidance that promote safer, more consistent tower crane operations.

The survey is voluntary, takes only a few minutes, and all responses will be reported in summary form only. Your participation will support the future of tower crane safety and design standards. Thank you for your valuable input. Questions may be directed to Senior V.P., Crane & Rigging, Beth O’Quinn at boquinn@scranet.org.

JR Moran, Chair

SC&RA Tower Crane Committee

400%

1.How familiar are you with U.S. standards and best practices used to address wind loading, wind-related safety, and design requirements for tower cranes (including manufacturer guidance, OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1435 Subpart CC, ASCE/SEI 7, ASCE/SEI37, and ASME B30.3)? Check all that apply.(Required.)

Not familiar with these wind or design standards

Familiar primarily with manufacturer wind limits and operational guidance

Familiar with OSHA Subpart CC requiremenets

Familiar with ASME B30.3 requirements

Familiar with ASCE/SEI 7 and ASCE 37 wind design concepts

2.Do you believe current wind load design standards for tower cranes are well understood and consistently applied across the industry?(Required.)

Yes, generally well understood and consistently applied

Partially understood and inconsistently applied

Poorly understood and inconsistently applied

Not well understood or widely applied

Unsure / no basis to judge

3.Which factors do you consider most critical when designing for wind loads? Check all that apply.

Crane Height

Jib Length

Site Exposure

Seasonal Wind

Other (please specify)

4.How often do you incorporate site-specific wind studies into crane foundation design or placement?(Required.)

Every tower crane installation

When required to do so by GC

Never, we use information provided in the crane's Operating Manual

5.Based on your understanding of current U.S. tower crane wind design standards and best practices, how should manufacturer C25 wind speed thresholds be used in practice?(Required.)

Used as the primary controlling limit

Used as guidance alongside applicable standards

Used only after project-specific engineering review

Unsure/no basis to judge

6.Do you believe it is acceptable to design the tower crane foundation based on the wind design parameters of the building under construction?(Required.)

Yes

7.How well do current high-wind emergency procedures for tower cranes align with the intent of applicable design standards and manufacturer wind criteria?(Required.)

Very

Not Very

Never

8.Where do you believe the greatest opportunities exist to improve how wind-related risks for tower cranes are addressed in practice? Check all that apply.(Required.)

Design-stage wind evaluation

Interpretation or application of standards

Manufacturer guidance clarity

Site-specific procedures

Training and competency

Real-time monitoring and response

Communication and decision-making authority

9.From a safety and operational standpoint, do you believe signage or billboards should be permitted on a tower crane mast or counter-jib?(Required.)

Yes