Types of Vertical Masts Discussed to Help You Make the Right Choice

When you take on a construction project, you anticipate different challenges at every stage of the undertaking. These challenges range from finding the right materials, equipment, workers with the right skillset to project-specific setbacks. One of the common structural setbacks is the inability to access certain areas of the site, which calls for specialised equipment to facilitate the work. A good example is working on hard-to-reach areas that are high above the ordinary reach of construction workers. You need access equipment that will help your builders work on these areas without compromising quality and safety. In this article, you will learn about vertical masts and the reason they are a good fit for your construction project.

Single-Stage Vertical Mast

A single-stage vertical mast is a vertical assembly designed to raise, lower and tilt loads or workers. The single-stage mast comes with one channel with a limited reach in terms of lift height. It is advisable to invest in a single-stage vertical mast if you need the equipment for manageable heights such as ceilings and attics. They also work best with self-propelled or walk-behind equipment used intermittently within the site.

Two-Stage Vertical Mast

A two-stage vertical mast is also referred to as a duplex vertical mast. It comes with full free lift provided by a primary centre-mounted hydraulic cylinder. The primary hydraulic cylinder also pushes the carriage at a ratio of two to one until the carriage reaches the top of the innermost rails. When this happens, the hydraulic fluid reroutes to the secondary cylinders mounted to the side. This enables the direct lift of the rails or work platform used by the workers.

Three-Stage Vertical Mast

A three-stage vertical mast, also referred to as a triplex, comes with three sections that extend the mast to extreme lift heights. The middle of the mast comprises a hydraulic cylinder designed to raise the work platform to the topmost section of the mast. The additional sections stage up for free lift to push the platforms tens to hundreds of feet high. Three-stage vertical masts are the best when you are working on multi-storey buildings.

You might think that the most important aspect of a vertical mast is the height it can reach. However, you must pay attention to the lowered height to ensure that the work platform can fit through entrances, overhead restrictions or inside vans during transit. Reach out to a professional who offers access equipment hire to learn more. 


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