Two SEH Series construction elevators from Fraco’s newly launched product line helped speed construction of the Research Centre of the Centre hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal (CHUM-RC) in Montreal, Quebec.
Well-known for its mast-climbing work platforms, Fraco Products Ltd, St-Mathias-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, is now officially expanding its range of products by adding construction elevators and industrial lifts.
The CHUM-RC is the first phase in the redevelopment of the Centre hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal. The new campus will be relocated in front of the Research Centre and fully integrated into it. The Research Centre consists of two towers of 16 and 6 floors with a total surface area of about 732,000 sq. ft. The project is scheduled for completion in September 2013.
Over the last year, the construction site had to deal with an influx of workers and materials. For example, more than 500 employees worked on the site during peak periods. In addition, the construction of two towers needed 100,000 concrete blocks, mostly placed inside the building.
To facilitate supplying of the work crews, the blocks were moved using a pulley system with a load capacity of 5,000 lbs. That, among, other things, allowed minimum use of indoor and outdoor hoists. Also, 58,860 cu.yd. of concrete was poured in eight months.
The project site’s main challenges included: a short time for constructing a building of this size; having a small site to work on; being located in a residential area; and performing construction over a subway track and a highway.
To accelerate delivery of materials to construction crews on the floors, two Fraco SEH Series construction elevators were installed on the eastern side of the tallest tower. Both elevators had rack-and-pinion drives and were mounted on a 285-ft.-tall central mast. Each cabin was 13 ft. long and delivered 6,000-lb. payload capacity. A counterweight system allowed travel speeds to 330 fpm. Sixteen landing doors guaranteed safe access to each floor, and both elevators were used from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 6 days a week.
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