June 2003   TILT TIPS FOR YOUR TILT-UP PROJECT DANGER   The tilt-up building system seems so simple. Don’t be fooled.  Follow the little yellow road to success. 1.    Have your engineering and workshop details carried out by an engineer familiar with the tilt-up system. 2.    Make sure your engineer and architect work as a team, NOT INDEPENDENTLY OF ONE ANOTHER.  This is important. 3.    Make sure you, your engineer, understands the limitations of the available cranes for the erection of tilt-up panels, i.e. lifting capacity over rear and sides of crane. 4.    Make sure you have a panel layout design completed by your crane operator before you cast any panels.  He will know then if his crane can lift and place the cast panel. 5.    Make sure you can hire the temporary wall braces to support the panels until the roof is in place.  ONLY REMOVE BRACES WHEN YOUR ENGINEER SAYS SO. 6.    Spray chalk lines with bond breaker to prevent erasure of the lines from constant foot traffic. 7.    Always have an engineer check the reinforcing steel prior to the pouring of concrete.  If not an engineer, a senior site person who will compare the workshop drawings for each panel. 8.    Always have a person with good concentration apply bond breaker. a.    test your bond breaker before placing the concrete to make sure it is still active. 9.    Place high impact shims on footings before placing panels.   Placing of Concrete Ø            Check the concrete on delivery for slump. Ø            Attach a rope near the end of the vibrator so as to prevent the vibrator damaging the bond breaker. Lifting Day Ø            Safety first.  Review safety procedures with the erection crew.  Do this on every job. Ø            Do everything possible while the panel is on the ground. Ø            Attach rigging and clutches.  Make sure gear is properly aligned and free of snags. Ø            Attach braces. Ø            Keep everybody, not involved in the lift, off site during the erection of panels. Ø            Provide clean working area with all debris and obstacles removed. After Lift Ø            Each day check brace bolts for tightness. Ø            DON’T ever permit anyone to go beneath a panel during lift FOR ANY REASON.