Lifting height
The purpose of an aerial lift is to raise people into the air, so the first issue to consider is the machine’s maximum operating height. Spend a little time measuring the height of the jobs you intend to use the aerial lift for and you’ll have one of your major buying criteria.
The heights given on aerial specification sheets are from the ground to the floor of the platform. The actual working height is 1.8 m (6 ft) above that. In other words, if an aerial lift has a platform height of 3.6 m (12 ft), the working height is 5.4 m (18 ft).
Lifting or operating capacity
The lifting or operating capacity is the weight the lift can support. The general range is between 135 and 900 kgs (300 and 2,000 lbs). If you want an aerial lift that can handle two workers plus their equipment, you want a lifting capacity between 225 and 320 kgs (500 and 700 lbs).
Size
Do bear in mind that if you need an aerial lift with a large lifting height and heavy lifting capacity, it’s going to be a sizeable piece of equipment. This means you need to check if it can access your working environments. Many aerial lifts have to enter doorways and pass through gates, so you may have to take this type of restriction into account.
You may also have to transport your aerial lift from one work site to another. If so, the machine’s size will dictate whether you need a trailer or a lorry.
Power
Petrol, diesel, electric or butane engines propel aerial lifts and provide the power for the hydraulics. Electric lifts are ideal for work in factories and warehouses, or for large scale interior decorating and maintenance. Outdoor lifts have petrol or diesel engines to avoid the inconvenience of regular recharging. Dual fuel or bi-energy engines can change between butane for indoor use and petrol for outside.
Terrain
Aerial lifts work on one of two types of terrain: slab and rough. Slab aerial lifts are for smooth, flat surfaces indoors or out. They are electric or butane powered and have non-marking tyres (see below). Rough terrain aerial lifts have petrol, diesel or dual fuel engines and are fitted with pneumatic tyres for greater stability and hold.
Tyres
As mentioned above, aerial lift tyres are either non-marking or pneumatic.
- Non-marking tyres. These are smaller than pneumatic tyres and made of solid rubber. Their great advantage is that they don’t mark floors, making them perfect for indoor use.
- Pneumatic tyres. Pneumatic tyres cope well with rough terrain and have good traction qualities. On the other hand, you must check the pressure regularly and watch for punctures. You can, however, buy foam filled pneumatic tyres that never deflate.
