Boom lifts are extremely useful pieces of equipment for many types of worksites. Generally, this equipment is used to lift materials, professionals, and tools to elevated areas. They open up the ability to access and work safely in otherwise unreachable locations.
However, not all boom lifts are the exact same style or type. They can vary in capability as well as their quality-of-life features. If you’re in the market for one, it’s a good idea to get knowledgeable about your choices. Below, we will cover the different boom lift types, boom lift sizes, and their various benefits.
Telescopic boom lifts, like other boom lifts, have a platform that allows workers and equipment to be elevated on the end of an arm. This arm can extend out like a telescope, allowing for greater reach and earning it its name.
The platform can elevate to heights of over 180 feet, though many are closer to the 40-80 foot range. This makes this boom lift ideal for maintenance and construction work on tall buildings and towers.
Due to their long booms, telescopic boom lifts are usually wider at the base and are a little more challenging to turn, so they’re best used in more open locations that don’t require tight, precise navigation.
Articulating boom lifts also earn their name. Their platform is also attached to the end of an arm, but this arm is attached to a base that can rotate. In this way, a user can lift themselves vertically while also actively changing their position horizontally. Height-wise, these go up to 125 feet, falling a little short of the telescoping boom lifts.
The tradeoff is the added flexibility in the range of motion. They may also have an additional range of motion in more than one section in the arm, allowing for a lot of versatility in movement. This makes articulating boom lifts ideal for work in hard-to-reach areas that may have obstacles or barriers to maneuver around.
Atrium boom lifts or Spider Lifts tend to be smaller and weigh less than their counterparts. They move using tracks, and they have outriggers that fold down to secure them when deployed for stability. The tracks make them ideal for moving over more challenging or uneven terrain.
Due to their design and use of outriggers (which are spread out), crawler atrium lifts have a more evenly distributed weight. This helps make atrium lifts a better option for work areas where the ground could be damaged, such as pavement or grassy areas. They can also operate on uneven ground.
Within these different boom lift types and boom lift sizes, there are many other differences and features worth considering, such as fuel source. You now have options for gas, diesel, electric, and hybrid versions of different boom lifts.
Like other vehicles, boom lifts come in four-wheel and two-wheel drive versions, depending on the type of terrain1 these will be used in. In addition to their height, boom lifts have varying sizes of platforms, so understanding how much room you need for workers and materials helps determine how large of a platform you need.
Finally, you can choose different types of tires, such as foam-filled ones, to accommodate the worksite environment. Other considerations include:
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Both articulating and telescopic boom lifts raise people, tools, and supplies to elevated work areas. However, they are not without their differences. Articulating boom lifts attach to a rotating base. They also have bends in their arms, known as knuckles, providing the ability to maneuver over and around obstacles.
Conversely, telescopic boom lifts have a single arm without knuckles. The arm can extend to reach elevated heights but doesn’t have the same articulation. The benefit is that telescopic boom lifts can typically extend to greater heights (over 180 feet) compared to articulating boom lifts. A wider base gives them the stability needed for such a long boom.
Put simply, articulating boom lifts maximize mobility, while telescopic ones prioritize height and simplicity.
When selecting a particular boom lift, consider the project objective and the environment. Atrium boom lifts, for example, are suitable for use on soft or uneven ground. The added outriggers fold down and provide additional stability.
Consider the maximum height requirements for current and future projects. If the height exceeds 180 feet, a telescopic boom lift is the right choice. If the project involves maneuvering obstacles and accessing hard-to-reach areas, an articulating boom lift may be a more suitable option.
Cost and whether the boom lift is for indoor or outdoor use are additional factors to consider. Cost estimates should include the machine and long-term maintenance costs. Whether the worksite is indoors or outdoors will help determine the size lift to purchase and whether an electric-powered model is suitable to minimize emissions indoors.
Built-in safety features reduce the risk of accidents. For instance, modern boom lifts typically have guardrails and harness attachment points for protection against falls. Emergency stop buttons bring equipment to a halt to prevent accidents. Certain boom lifts also feature specialized sensors that detect when loads exceed the manufacturer’s allowable weight limits, as well as tilt sensors that assess the risk of the load tipping over. Thanks to battery backups, some lifts can handle power outages. Still lowering workers from an elevated area even when the primary power source fails2.
Don’t rely solely on built-in safety features. Ensure your team receives proper training in boom lift operation to further minimize potential problems.
Maneuvering an elevated worksite can be challenging, but boom lifts make the process easier. The ability to lift numerous supplies and heavy equipment at once eliminates a lot of back and forth that slows down work. Using boom lifts to access elevated locations may make scaffolding unnecessary.
Regular boom lift maintenance can extend the life of your investment and protect any manufacturer warranties. A mechanic should inspect lifts approximately every three months or 150 hours of use.
Creating daily safety checklists is also a good idea to ensure the lift is ready to use without a hitch. A list might include:
Specifics may vary depending on the model, but these are just a few examples of maintenance practices worth preparing for.
Factors worth considering when determining how often to complete inspections include the frequency of use and the harshness of the environment. Harsher environments and increased use will lead to more wear and tear, making inspections and maintenance necessary sooner3.
