Temporary Works Guidance #3
Tower crane foundations and ties
Tower crane foundation and tie guidance
Tower cranes are one of the most high-risk elements of temporary works that ISG
manage on a project. This guidance document will help manage the process
around tower crane foundations through design, install and monitoring
Planning
The planning stage of the project is where the Project
team should determine the type, location, and lifting
capacity of the tower crane. Whilst also considering the
access, over sailing, railways, de-rating, tying, and any 3rd
party approval requirements that are specific to the
project.
Any additional Temporary Works (TW) relating to the
construction, erection and dismantling of the tower crane
is to be considered at this stage too.
Design
A detailed TW control sheet must be issued to the TW
designer by the PCTWC with all the relevant information
including; GI, utility plans, crane loads from supplier,
location plan, relevant permanent work drawings etc.
All tower crane foundations are to be categorized as
CAT 3 for engineering risk, and High-risk for
implementation risk, in line with the updated classification
and categorization document.
The TW designer is to check the crane supplier loads
(using first principles) as part of the initial design process.
The TW designer is to include testing and inspection
criteria as part of their design package (cube, pile, weld,
bolts testing etc.) This will form part of the Inspection test
plan for each individual tower crane foundation.
Once the tower crane design is completed and issued to
the PCTWC and project team for ‘approval’ this should be
distributed to the crane supplier and installation contractor
for their review/information. Comments should be
collaborated by the PCTWC and fed back to the designer
to amend/revise and re-issue for ‘construction’ issue.
Installation and inspections
Site specific inspection test plan (ITP) that recognises the
type, complexity, and implementation of the tower crane
base should be included and understood by all parties
completing the relevant inspections, and where hold
points are needed.
Any additional TW relating to construction, erection and
dismantling to be considered by all parties and approved
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designs in place. This includes, but not limited to; mobile
crane working platforms, backpropping, and any
modifications to permanent works.
The tower crane foundation designer, or 3rd party
independent inspector should inspect all tower crane
foundations and ties at installation stage.
The tower crane foundation
designer, or a 3rd party
independent inspector
should inspect all tower
crane foundations and
ties at installation stage.
Consider an independent setting out engineer to validate
the crane base levels during installation, prior to
pour/crane erection.
See page 2 for the pre-erection inspection checklist table
taken from CIRIA Tower crane foundation and design.
This should be used as a point of reference when
creating the ITP for the tower crane foundation and ties.
Monitoring
During the first week of crane operation, it is
recommended that daily TW inspections on levels and
conditions are completed by the PCTWC.
Visual TW inspections should be carried out on a weekly
basis after this.
More detailed examination of critical items such as; bolts
and welds should be completed at 3 monthly intervals by
a competent person.
See page 2 for the foundation monitoring checklist table
taken from CIRIA Tower crane foundation and design.
This should be used as a point of reference when
creating the ITP and TW monitoring for the tower crane
foundation and ties.
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Temporary Works Guidance #3
Tower crane foundations and ties

References
CIRIA C761 Tower crane foundations and ties design –
London, 2018

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