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Project Categories: Construction Equipment: Temporary Hoists

Construction equipment projects involve installation of equipment to support construction activities or to secure a construction site for protection of workers and the general public. Construction projects may include erection of a new building or the alteration, renovation, remodeling, or renewal of an outdated or damaged existing structure and associated materials, including any partial or full demolition. A temporary hoist is considered construction equipment, not an elevator.

A hoist is a moving device used for lifting or lowering construction materials or construction personnel. Typically, hoists are electrically powered and installed during the active phase of a construction project. A site may have one or more hoists to move materials or personnel. Installation of a hoist may be done in stages that follow the construction of a new building as it rises or in a single phase for an existing building.

Hoists must be installed and operated by a qualified operator, trained and authorized to operate a hoist. Property owners and contractors who illegally install hoists will be issued OATH/Environmental Control Board violations and may face court appearances, fines and/or civil penalties. Since an illegal hoist or associated equipment is typically issued multiple violations, correcting such violations can add up quickly and property owners could incur significant costs to resolve them.

Hoists are designed to handle personnel, material, or personnel and material. Personnel hoists have more stringent safety requirements. A construction site may have hoists installed for materials only and/or a personnel hoist that may carry both materials and personnel.

Types of Hoists

Bucket Hoist. An externally controlled, powered or manually operated hoist consisting of a suspended bucket contained by guide rails used exclusively for conveyance of materials within the site.

Material Hoist. An externally controlled, powered or manually operated hoist consisting of a platform, bucket, car or cage that moves vertically to raise or lower materials during construction or demolition.

Personnel Hoist. A mechanism and its hoistway equipped with a car that moves vertically on guide members, used for hoisting workers, or workers and materials, during construction and demolition.

Hoist Project Scopes

New Installation. An entirely new system on a property that had no hoist, or an additional device on a property that already has one or more devices.

Additions/Removals. Work that adds or removes a mast from an existing hoist. Hoists mast additions (jumps) increase the height of the installed device to reach additional stories.

Removal. Work that removes any one or all of the hoists installed at a site.

A construction hoist may be installed inside the building or the property, or outside the property on adjoining streets or sidewalks. Installations on a public street or sidewalk require a permit from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and may require approvals from other agencies/utilities such as the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), ConEdison, etc.

Project Notes:

Applicants must review existing installations and include locations for ALL new and existing devices on the property in construction document submissions.

Building façades affected by the installation of a temporary hoist must be restored to Code compliance per NYC BC 3314.6.1 and NYCECC Chapter R5 (Residential) and/or C5 (Commercial).