Setting rooftop HVAC units, chillers, and mechanical equipment is precise, heavy work, and our 150-ton crane has the height and reach for multi-story commercial buildings. We place the unit exactly where it needs to land, the first time.
Why Rooftop Equipment Placement Is a Specialized Lift
Rooftop HVAC units, chillers, and mechanical equipment combine three challenges at once: significant weight, height that puts the load far from the ground, and a landing spot that usually has little tolerance for error. A rooftop curb is built to a specific unit’s footprint, and the equipment has to land on it cleanly, often with existing ductwork, piping, or other rooftop equipment nearby that cannot be disturbed.
As the load goes higher and farther from the crane, the crane’s usable capacity drops. A machine rated for 150 tons at a short radius may only be rated for a fraction of that at the height and distance a multi-story rooftop lift requires. Matching the right crane to the building height and the unit’s weight is the first and most important step in the job.
How We Plan a Rooftop Equipment Lift
Before the lift, we confirm the unit’s weight and dimensions, the building height, the crane’s setup position relative to the building, and the exact landing location on the roof. From that, we calculate the crane’s capacity at the actual radius and height required, not just its maximum rating. The rigging is planned to keep the unit level and controlled through the full lift, since HVAC equipment is frequently top-heavy or unevenly balanced.
On the day of the lift, the crew sets up, the crane operator and ground crew coordinate the pick using a spotter on the roof, and the unit is guided into position on the curb or pad. Precision here saves significant time versus repositioning a unit that lands even slightly off-target.
Working With HVAC and Mechanical Contractors
We regularly support HVAC and mechanical contractors as the lifting step of an installation or replacement. Your crew handles the mechanical connections, ductwork, and startup. We handle getting the unit safely from the ground or the truck to its final position on the roof. Scheduling is coordinated so your crew is ready to receive and secure the unit the moment it lands.
Multi-Story and Difficult Access Buildings
Our 150-ton crane with a 124-foot main boom is specifically suited to tall commercial buildings, where reach and height push past what a smaller crane can manage. For buildings with limited ground access around the perimeter, or roofs with obstructions that limit where a unit can be set down and repositioned, we plan the approach in advance rather than working it out on site.
What Equipment Types We Place
- Rooftop HVAC units and package units
- Chillers and cooling towers
- Air handlers and mechanical skids
- Generators and electrical equipment
- Replacement units where the old unit must be removed first
Removing an Old Unit at the Same Time
Many rooftop equipment jobs involve removing a failed or outdated unit before the new one goes in. We can handle both the removal and the placement in the same visit, coordinating the sequence so the old unit comes off and the new one goes on with minimal downtime for the building’s mechanical systems.
