Precision Picks Bring a New Fire Station’s Living Quarters Together

Building the living quarters of a new fire station came together one piece, and one carefully planned lift, at a time.

For this project, Mountain was tasked with setting 12 pre-assembled modular units that would make up the station’s new living quarters. These weren’t empty shells. Each unit arrived fully finished with electrical, plumbing, HVAC, insulation and drywall already installed, meaning every pick required extra care to protect the finished product.

Using a Liebherr LTM 1230, our crew handled units weighing anywhere from 10,000 to 35,000 pounds at a 78-foot radius. A 26-foot spreader bar and six-point pick configuration were used to distribute the load across each module.

Dialing In the Lift

While the units were built to be ready for installation, their varying weight distribution created a unique challenge for the crew. With electrical, plumbing, HVAC and other finished components located throughout each module, the center of gravity wasn't always where it might appear from the outside.

Chain falls were incorporated into the rigging to account for different pick-point lengths and give the crew the ability to fine-tune each lift. In some cases, a unit had to be carefully picked, assessed for balance, set back down and re-rigged before making the final lift.

Finding the right balance required patience and precision. Each adjustment helped ensure the modules could be safely lifted, maneuvered and placed exactly where they needed to go.

Watching the Weather

The weight and balance of the modules weren't the only considerations. Weather added another layer to the planning.

Because the units were already insulated, drywalled and finished, even a small amount of rain had the potential to compromise the finished product. The crew had to closely coordinate each pick with weather conditions to make sure the modules stayed protected throughout the installation.

With finished interiors hanging from the hook, keeping an eye on the sky was just as important as keeping an eye on the load.

A Place to Call Home

One by one, all 12 modular units were successfully rigged, lifted and set into position.

From dialing in the rigging to working around the weather, the project required careful planning and constant coordination from start to finish.

For Steve Olsen, a Mountain sales representative who oversaw the project, the job also highlighted how evolving construction methods can help keep demanding schedules moving.

“It’s exciting to see the evolution of different construction processes and how they can help meet tight construction timelines,” Olsen said. “At the end of the day, it’s about turning the project over to the customer and getting a fire station up and running for the community in short order.”

With the final unit in place, the new fire station’s living quarters were one big step closer to completion and to becoming a home away from home for the firefighters who will use them.