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Hot Tub Crane Lifts - How to Avoid Disaster
If you’re buying a hot tub or spa, there’s one big question that most people completely forget about. I’m sure you’ve measured to see if it fits in the space - great, but did you ask yourself how you’re going to get the hot tub into your desired spot? Unless you’re very lucky with access, you’re probably going to need a crane to move your hot tub into place. This article covers all the do’s and don'ts of moving a hot tub with a crane, including how not to die during the process…
Do I Need a Crane to Move Hot Tubs and Spas?
This is the first thing you need to work out. If you are buying a hot tub, chances are you’re going to need some professional help manoeuvring it into your garden. Especially if it needs lifting over a house, fence, garden wall or trees.
For tricky hot tub installations, sometimes a crane is the only way to get your spa into place. The good news is that hot tubs tend to be easy work for crane operators. They are not heavy compared to most crane jobs, and it's a quick operation (the actual lift only takes a few minutes). When a lift is carried out by professionals with plenty of experience and knowledge, lifting a hot tub into place using a crane tends to be a relatively easy and safe task.
Hot tubs come in all shapes and sizes, with the majority of them being relatively large and extremely heavy - even before they are filled with water. Without a crane, lifting a hot tub into position is an extremely difficult task.
Crane lifts can come with many potential hazards. Private gardens are usually located near main roads, other houses, vehicles and occupied buildings. This means lifting a hot tub or spa must be done with great care to minimize the risk of property damage or injury to pedestrians.
The Don’t Die Safety Guidance
Man Dies after Hot Tub Fails from crane - tragically it’s a true story and more common than you imagine. After a recent incident in South Wales and Bristol, where a hot tub was dropped onto a man as it was lowered or another where a tagline caught on the building and the hot tub slipped killing the crane owner, it's time to take safety seriously.
A correctly planned Hot Tub lift will be safe, a great event in itself, provide endless Instagram photo opportunities and make you the envy of friends and family.
1. Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail
The key to an uneventful and safe hot tub install is planning and in this article, we’ll look at everything you need to know to stay safe.
New guidance has been issued to reduce the chances of repeat accidents with Hot Tubs and Spas. The Construction Plant-Hire Association (CPA), the Association of Lorry Loader Manufacturers and Importers (ALLMI) and SPATA co-developed guidance for the safe lifting of one-piece pools, exercise spas and hot tubs.
The majority of hot tubs are delivered to domestic customers who don’t understand that it is necessary to plan or control the lift. In the new safety requirements, it is now clear that domestic customers should not be offered a crane hire agreement, instead, they should only be offered a contract lift.
This safety guidance has been broken down into understandable sections by Splash and Relax, but you can also download a detailed free copy via the CPA website.
2. How to Pick Hot Tub Movers for a Crane Delivery
For a complex hot tub delivery, you can’t just hire any spa movers or any crane service. It’s important to look for companies that:
- Are licensed and insured - This should be obvious. You need to be covered in the event of any damage to your (or your neighbour’s) property.
- Have prior experience - There are certain considerations you need to take when placing a spa by crane. It’s so important that you find a team that specializes in moving hot tubs by crane, or at least has done the job before.
- Will do a pre-delivery check - Professionals will be able to spot obstructions or potential issues that the untrained eye would miss. To avoid any nasty surprises on the day, pick a company that will visit your home ahead of time to confirm everything is good to go.
When lifting pools into their location, there are a number of depending factors:
- The size and weight of the spa
- The type of crane needed (based on how far and high it has to reach)
- If any road closure is necessary
- If any overhead cables need removing temporarily
Before you unload your hot tub, you should inspect for any damage and check if any rainwater has entered. Any accumulated water should be drained and packaging material should be removed.
3. How to Move a Hot Tub with a Crane
If you’re interested to see how a spa dealer moves an above ground pool into your home, take a look at this video:
4. The Handling and Slinging of Hot Tubs
Manufacturers and suppliers are responsible for providing information on the safe use of equipment within the installation instructions:
How the lifting accessories (i.e. slings) should be attached to the hot tubs
The weight, dimensions and position of the centre of gravity of the hot tub and cover.
It is important to note, swim spa and pool covers can be extremely heavy, so it may be necessary for other lifts to be carried out for this equipment. Additional safety measures should be considered because of this.
5. Selecting the Correct Attachment for Lifting a Hot Tub
It is recommended to use a lifting beam, spreader frame or lifting stillage to avoid placing compressive loads on the hot tub. Hot tubs are seriously heavy and the weight of the straps pressing on the sides of your hot tub can crush and or crack your new tub before it's even on the ground.
6. Costs of Lifting Hot Tubs, Spas and Pools
Prices do vary considerably depending on where you live. London does cost far more than a hot tub lift in the Midlands. As a rough guide prices start from £500. Using a crane to place a hot tub can take up a considerable amount of time and add additional expenditure such as local authority permits.
Prior to contacting a crane or lifting company gather together all the information they will need.
Take photos of
- Access point to your property
- Building(s) you wish to lift the hot tub over - access side and final hot tub position side
- The final position of the hot tub
Find your location on Google maps and save the link. Confirm with Splash and Relax the dimensions and weight of your hot tub.
Google Crane Hire and try it with your local town added into the search. You’ll find a mix of local independent, national and crane hire lead comparison sites. The comparison sites are probably your last option as a crane lift involves a lot of discussions. For this reason, it is best to find a local company, for example, if you’re in Sussex, you might want to call Coussens Cranes.
The cost of a typical spa lift varies widely. The main deciding factors are:
- Where you live.
- How difficult the lift is
7. The Planning Involved When Lifting Hot Tubs
The detailed guidance states that it is important to take into account the site survey to recognise site-specific hazards for a risk assessment as part of a safe system of work. This forms the basis of a ‘Lift Plan’ provided to the customer to enable the operation to be carried out safely.
8. The Two Types of Hire Contract
CPA Crane Hire (The crane driver is under your instruction for the day)
Hiring a crane from a company and managing the lifting themselves. The person hiring the crane is responsible for safety.
You are responsible for:
- Safety and welfare of crane operator.
- Safe operation of the crane.
- Supplying an appointed person.
- Carry out all work in accordance with BS7121
- Provide third party liability and hire plant insurance.
- Producing risk assessment and method statement.
They are responsible for:
- Providing a suitable crane.
- Providing a CPCS trained crane operator.
Contract Lift (A fully managed and insured lift)
Employing a contractor to carry out the complete lifting operation; they are also responsible for planning, supervising and executing the process.
You are responsible for:
- Allowing access for a full site survey from one of our CPCS appointed persons.
- Supplying information of the load to be lifted.
- Advising us of any hazards that are not evident in the site visit.
They are responsible for:
- Supplying a CPCS appointed person.
- Produce risk assessment and method statement.
- Organisation and control of the lifting operation.
- Carry out all work in accordance with BS7121.
- Provide a CPCS trained crane operator.
- Provide a suitable crane.
- Loss of or damage to other property caused solely by the owner’s negligence in the performance of the lifting contract subject to:
- Maximum liability of £25,000 in respect to goods lifted. (This can be increased with prior arrangement)
- Maximum liability of £5,000,000 in respect to loss or damage to other property and injury of persons.
A contract lift is almost always the best option as it allows the professionals, to take responsibility for almost every aspect of the process and make sure your hot tub is delivered safely.
Hot Tub Deliveries from Splash and Relax
The whole process of buying a hot tub can be complicated, but the results are definitely worth it in the end. No one knows more about Hot Tubs than Splash and Relax. Get in contact with us today and we’ll help you through the whole process, from choosing the right hot tub to getting it delivered quickly and safely. Call us on 01403 267 299 today!
