A Saturday and Sunday in January of 2017 will likely go down as two of the most historic days in America.
Although the purpose, beliefs, and even gender of the of the crowds on those two days were very far from each other, both of these days indicated much about what is both right and wrong in this country.
As the nation went about the peaceful transfer of power that we are most known for across the world with the inauguration speech of President Trump, an entire group of people planned to make their own voices heard at the Women’s March. The fact that the two groups are on opposite ends of the spectrum on a plethora of platforms is an example of how the same space can be used for two very different purpose. Even though the messages were not the same, many things about the two very different gatherings were.
When, for instance, the National Park Service prepared for the crowds of the inauguration ceremonies they knew that some of their plans for the crowds would also be used for the Women’s March on Washington. The portable restrooms would remain, many of the street barricades would as well. Underneath the area where some of the crowds for the largest gatherings were inspected, the same outrigger pads for cranes that were used as a stage on Friday would be the same outrigger pads for cranes used on Saturday.
In fact, large stabilizer pads for cranes find a purpose in a variety of environments for a variety of reasons. Although the people and equipment using these surfaces are very different from each other, crane pads, ground mats, and other kinds of stabilizing surfaces, they all serve to protect the ground and provide a dependable and safe surface.
Outrigger Pads for Cranes Are an Initial Part of Many Construction Projects
Known for their use in particular parts of the country, outrigger pads for cranes enable construction crews to achieve their goals in some very interesting situations. In swamp areas, in places with uneven ground, and even in places as diverse as the ice and snow fields of the Arctic, it is stabilizer pads for cranes that allow projects to get started.
In America, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that cranes must be assembled on ground that is not only firm, but also drained and sufficiently graded. Crane pads, used in conjunction with supporting materials like blocking, cribbing, pads, and mats, are the answer to providing adequate support and levelness for the construction projects of all sizes.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) states that outrigger blocking or cribbing must have a singular goal. That is to provide sufficient strength to prevent crushing, bending, or shear failure. With specific requirements for thickness, width, and length, the ASME makes its recommendations and sets its requirements for the purposes of safety and stability. These surfaces serve to completely support the float, transmit the load to the supporting surface, and prevent shifting, toppling, as well as excessive settlement under the heaviest of loads.
To begin to understand their diverse uses, consider some of these ways that outrigger pads for cranes and other stabilizing services are used:
- RV camps around the country often depend on the accurate placement of steel crane pads. These vacationing homes on wheels depend on a level and stable surface in order to use their homes for cooking, sleeping, and showering.
- Concerts and other kinds of local gatherings often make use of these crane surfaces to provide a predictable surface for temporary crowds in temporary locations.
- Any job site that requires a large crane is in need of crane mats. And while some locations are less stable than others, every construction site requires a predictable and stable surface.
- Church gatherings, community events, and other happenings require lots of planning. And while the crowds who gather pay attention to the speakers, the bands, and the opportunities for purchasing souvenirs, all of these activities are on top of the reliable surface that was installed before any other plans were made.
- Pipelines across the world depend on the stability provided by crane mats and pads. Long before cranes and other large pieces of equipment arrive, mats are in place.
