Hoist Anemometers

Constructing a 68-storey tower in Canary Wharf is challenging for numerous reasons. A key challenge we face is unpredictable and high wind-speeds.

We have installed hoist anemometers to all of our external hoists. These provide constant measuring of wind speed at the hoist cage and take away the responsibility of measuring and monitoring at particular intervals from the hoist drivers.

A monitor/alarm unit receives the wind speed information and generates an alarm signal should wind speeds exceed a safe level.

A desired parking floor is set into the control system, should the wind input be triggered by the monitor/alarm unit.

The hoist, if moving at the time, will ramp down to a controlled stop in the same way it does to a programmed landing. The hoist will then travel to the parking floor.

If the hoist is at a landing with the doors open or the emergency stop pressed, it will remain at that floor until the emergency stop is reinstated and the doors are closed. The hoist will then travel to the parking landing.

The hoist will remain at the parking landing and display HW until the wind speed has dropped below the set alarm level. When the wind speed has dropped below the alarm level the hoist will display the current floor and automatically return to service.

Hoist anemometers have ensured the hoists cannot be operated, whilst wind speeds exceed the safe level specified by the manufacturer.