Engineered Lift Planning
in Melbourne
Lift Plans, Lift Studies and Documented Method
A crane lift plan is the document that proves a lift has been worked out properly before anyone hooks a load. It confirms the crane can hold the weight at the actual radius, that the ground will support the machine, that the rigging suits the load, and that everyone knows the sequence and who is responsible for what.
For straightforward lifts, it is a short exercise. For heavy, complex, or high-risk work, it becomes an engineered document, and most principal contractors will not let a crane on site without one.
Lift Study or Lift Plan? The Industry Is Not Consistent
If you have been asked for a lift study and quoted for a lift plan, or the other way around, the confusion is understandable. The term lift study is not clearly defined in Australian Standards, Codes of Practice or crane industry guidance, so contractors may use it differently. In practice, a lift study is a feasibility check that confirms the lifting gear, applicable deductions and the crane’s rated capacity at the pick-up and set-down points. A lift plan is the complete document, adding the ground assessment, rigging design, lift sequence, responsibilities, exclusion zones and stop-work conditions. An engineered lift includes calculations prepared and signed by a qualified engineer, usually where ground bearing, slab capacity or a complex lifting arrangement requires it. When a contractor requests one of these documents, we confirm exactly what is required to prevent unnecessary costs or resubmissions. Send us the lift details, and we will scope the documentation for projects across Melbourne, Geelong, Bacchus Marsh and Western Victoria.
What a Lift Plan Covers
Working from the crane Codes of Practice, a properly prepared lift plan addresses:
The load itself. Verified weight, dimensions, center of gravity, and suitable lifting points, established rather than taken from a drawing.
Crane capacity at radius. Rated capacity confirmed at both the pick-up and set-down positions, not just at minimum radius.
Ground bearing pressure. Verification that the ground can support the maximum pressure the crane will apply, which is required for heavy lifts.
Position of the load. Where the load starts and where it finishes, usually supported by a plan view of the site.
De-rating allowances. Factors that reduce available capacity, including multiple crane lifts and the additional radius created as tilt panels rotate off the bed.
Rigging requirements. Slings, chains, shackles, spreader bars and lifting beams specified for the load and the sling angles involved.
Wind limits. Maximum wind speed for the lift where the load presents a large surface area, and the point at which work stops.
Spotter duties. Where spotting is required, what the duty involves, and who is responsible for performing it.
What a Lift Plan Covers
Working from the crane Codes of Practice, a properly prepared lift plan addresses:
The load itself
Crane capacity at radius
Ground bearing pressure
Position of the load
De-rating allowances
Rigging requirements
Wind limits
Spotter duties
When Engineered Planning Is Required
The Contractor Requires It
Principal contractors, building managers and councils frequently require documented lift planning as a condition of site access, regardless of how routine the lift looks.
The Setup Is the Risk
Cranes established on suspended slabs, over basements, beside retaining walls or embankments, or adjacent to underground services all need engineering assessment of the support before the machine arrives.
The Lift Itself Is Complex
Dual and multi crane lifts, tilt panel work, demolition rigging, loads with awkward geometry, and lifts near powerlines or occupied areas all warrant engineered planning.
Call us now at 0457 000 637.
How it Works
How it Works
Start with the load and the setup position.
Start with the load and the setup position.
Send the lift and the site
Load details, pick-up and set-down positions, hook height, crane setup location, ground conditions, overhead services, and any contractor requirements.
Send the lift and the site
Load details, pick-up and set-down positions, hook height, crane setup location, ground conditions, overhead services, and any contractor requirements.
Feasibility confirmed
Machine selection checked against rated capacity at both positions, deductions applied, and the documentation scope confirmed.
Feasibility confirmed
Machine selection checked against rated capacity at both positions, deductions applied, and the documentation scope confirmed.
Documentation prepared
Ground assessment, rigging design, sequence, diagrams,s and method statements produced, with engineering sign-off where required.
Documentation prepared
Ground assessment, rigging design, sequence, diagrams,s and method statements produced, with engineering sign-off where required.
Reviewed and executed
Plan issued for contractor review, amended if required, then briefed to the crew and followed on the day.
Reviewed and executed
Plan issued for contractor review, amended if required, then briefed to the crew and followed on the day.
What We Prepare
Six documents and assessments, produced individually or as a package:
Lift studies. Feasibility assessment confirming machine selection, gear arrangement, and rated capacity at both positions.
Full lift plans—complete documentation covering load, crane, ground, rigging, sequence, responsibilities, and stop conditions.
Ground bearing calculations. Crane pressures calculated for the configuration and load, with pad and mat sizing to suit the assessed capacity.
Rigging design. Sling arrangements, angles, spreader bar and lifting beam specification for the specific load.
Safe work method statements. SWMS prepared for the lifting activity to the standard your site requires.
Site diagrams. Plan views showing crane position, outrigger spread, load path, exclusion zones and set down location.
Submitting to a principal contractor with a specific format or template? Call 0457 000 637, and we will prepare it to their requirements rather than issuing something that gets returned.
What
We
Prepare
Submitting to a principal contractor with a specific format or template? Call 0457 000 637, and we will prepare it to their requirements rather than issuing something that gets returned.
Six documents and assessments, produced individually or as a package:
What is a crane lift plan?
The document that sets out how a lift will be performed safely. It covers the verified load details, crane capacity at the actual working radius, ground bearing verification, rigging arrangement, the load path, wind limits, spotter duties, and who is responsible for each part of the operation.
What is a lift study?
A feasibility assessment that confirms the lifting gear arrangement, any deductions that apply, and the crane’s rated capacity at the pick-up and set-down positions. It establishes the basic parameters before a fuller lift plan is prepared.
What is an engineered lift plan?
A lift plan where the supporting calculations are prepared or verified by a qualified engineer. It is generally required where ground bearing, slab capacity, or the complexity of the lifting arrangement goes beyond standard assessment.
When do I need a lift plan?
Whenever the principal contractor, building manager, or council requires one, and in practice for any lift that is heavy, complex, performed near services or occupied areas, or set up on ground that needs assessment; routine lifts on firm ground with clear access often need only basic documentation.
What is included in a lift plan?
Verified load weight and center of gravity, crane rated capacity at both positions, ground bearing verification, the position of the load before and after, de-rating allowances, rigging requirements, wind limits for large surface area loads, and spotter duties with named responsibility.
Who prepares the lift plan?
We prepare it. Where the assessment requires engineering sign-off, the calculations are prepared or verified by a qualified engineer. Where the site requires a specific template or format, we prepare it to that.
What is ground bearing pressure and why does it matter?
It is the pressure the crane exerts on the ground, determined by the crane’s mass, its configuration, and the load on the hook. The ground’s capacity must exceed that pressure or the crane can sink or overturn. It is the most common reason a setup position has to change.
Do I need a geotechnical engineer?
For heavy lifts, and for setups on slabs, over basements, or near embankments and retaining walls, yes. Surface appearance is unreliable because weak layers below can fail under load. The crane’s calculated pressures should be provided to the geotechnical engineer as part of that assessment.
Can a crane set up on a suspended slab?
Sometimes, but only where the slab rating and any propping requirements have been assessed and approved by an engineer. It is never a decision to make on the day.
Does a tilt panel lift need special allowance?
Yes. As a panel rotates off the bed, the effective radius increases, which reduces available capacity. That de-rating has to be built into the plan rather than discovered mid-lift.
Do dual crane lifts need engineered planning?
Effectively always. Multiple crane lifts require de-rating of both machines, synchronized movement, defined responsibilities, and documented method, and most contractors will not permit them without engineered documentation.
What does lift planning cost?
It depends on the complexity. A feasibility study on a routine lift is a small exercise. Engineered documentation involving ground assessment, rigging design and geotechnical input is a larger one. Call 0457 000 637 with the lift details for a scope and a figure.
Which areas do you cover?
All Melbourne metro suburbs, with Maidstone, Werribee and Caroline Springs among the areas we attend most often, extending through Geelong, Bacchus Marsh, Melton and Ballarat, plus regional Victoria.
0457 000 637
Open 24 hours
25 Rowsley Station Rd, Maddingley VIC 3340
Contact Us
We prepare lift documentation for work across Melbourne and regional Victoria from our base at 25 Rowsley Station Rd, Maddingley VIC 3340, and because we also supply the cranes and crew, the plan reflects the machine that will actually attend rather than a generic configuration. Maidstone lifts are constrained by setup rather than weight. Cranes stand on the street beside services and close to boundaries, which makes the position assessment and the load path the critical parts of the documentation.