Lifting Structural Steel

The right below-the-hook equipment doesn't just make the lift possible - it makes it repeatable, compliant, and safe when the crane is on the clock.

Structural steel erection is one of the most technically demanding lifting operations on any construction site. You're dealing with asymmetric sections, off-centre centres of gravity, and loads that can shift in the wind before they're bolted off - all while a crane and a full crew stand waiting. Getting the rigging wrong at this stage isn't just dangerous; it's a programme delay you can't recover.

Structural Steel Lift Challenges

Unbalanced and asymmetric loads

Universal beams, columns, castellated sections, and fabricated pieces rarely have a centre of gravity where you'd expect it. Lifting from a single central point on an asymmetric section means the load angles the moment it leaves the ground - which is exactly when you lose control of it. A properly specified lifting beam or adjustable spreader lets you locate the pick points accurately and keep the load level. Know your section, know your centre of gravity, rig accordingly.

Multi-point lifts on long-span members

A single-leg lift on a long beam concentrates stress at one attachment point and risks permanent deformation to the section - or worse, a dropped load if the rigging slips. Two-point lifts with correctly calculated sling angles protect both the steel and the people below it. The 60° included angle rule isn't a suggestion; it's basic load management. For very long members, a spreader beam is the only way to keep sling angles within safe limits while maintaining full control of the lift.

Wind sensitivity at height

A steel section that's a manageable 2-tonne lift at ground level becomes a sail at 20 metres. Load rotation during the approach to connection is one of the most common causes of near-misses on steel frames. Wire rope slings resist rotation better than textile alternatives in exposed conditions. Taglines are part of the lift plan, not a site-level improvisation. If your site is exposed or the erection sequence puts loads up in the wind for any period of time, your rigging specification needs to account for that from the outset.

Restricted headroom and constrained sites

Not every steel erection job is an open-frame building with a tower crane and a clear sky. Mezzanine structures, infill projects, plant rooms, and refurbishment work regularly demand lifts through apertures, under existing structure, or with minimal overhead clearance. Standard rigging configurations don't always fit. Low-headroom chain blocks, compact spreader arrangements, and the right combination of shackle and link can make the difference between a lift that works and a lift that doesn't happen.

What the regulations require

Structural steel erection sits at the high-risk end of the LOLER spectrum. Every lifting operation should be planned against a documented lift plan, with equipment that has been thoroughly examined within its required period and is correctly rated for the loads involved.

Key standards and guidance for steel erection:

■ LOLER 1998: all lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined at the required intervals; a written lift plan is required for complex or non-routine lifts

■ BS EN 13414: specification and WLL ratings for wire rope slings; the standard your rigging supplier should be working to

■ BS EN 1677: components for slings, including shackles, hooks, and master links

■ BCSA Technical Guidance: the British Constructional Steelwork Association publishes erection safety guidance widely adopted by steelwork contractors and main contractors across the UK

■ CIRIA C703: crane stability and safe use in constrained environments

■ CDM 2015: the principal contractor must ensure that lifting operations are addressed within the construction phase plan, and that all those involved are competent

Equipment must be CE/UKCA marked, rated to the correct WLL, within its thorough examination period, and matched to the specific requirements of the lift plan. If you're uncertain about specification for a particular operation, contact us before the crane arrives on site.

Lifting & Spreader Beams

Not sure what you need for your next steel lift?

Tell us about the section, the weight, and the site constraints and we'll specify the right equipment. Our team understands steel erection - you'll get a straight answer, not a list of options to figure out on site.

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