Selecting the correct equipment for your industrial construction jobsite is no small task, especially when it comes to light towers, which are essential for 24/7 construction and after-daylight operations.
Jobsite location, what type of industry you’re operating in, as well as unique lighting needs are all aspects contributing to what light tower will be the best option to provide efficient lighting on your jobsite.
Fuel capacity
Fuel capacity is especially important for remotely-located projects and/or projects with a long continuous run time. Fuel tanks are an option to pair with your light towers, if needed, to reduce trips to and from your site for fuel.
Fluid containment systems
Many provinces and states have strict regulations and environmental fines and penalties for even small oil or fuel spills. A fluid containment system is designed to hold at least 110% of the fuel and crankcase oil in the light tower to help prevent spills, and their subsequent environmental damage. These are sometimes referred to as secondary containment systems.
For highly-sensitive environments, selecting light towers with fluid containment systems are a must. There are full selections of light towers come with 110% fluid containment systems so you can be assured that the environment you’re operating in will be protected from any potential spills.
Lamp options
Metal halide or LED lamps are two lamp options when it comes to light towers.
Metal halide lamps are cheaper to buy up front, but LED light towers are less costly to own over time as they require less power. Metal halide light towers are good for evenly lighting large sections of worksites. Metal halide lights generally take around 3 – 5 minutes to achieve full brilliancy.
LED lamps are costlier to initially purchase, but save money over time because of their reduced cost to operate. The lamps in LED lights are brighter, and the elements last longer. LED light towers typically provide more focused, concentrated light, which may be better for illuminating a specific area within a jobsite. LED lights can turn on and off quickly, with no time delay for full brilliancy.
Ease of setup
When it comes to seamless and continual operations, both equipment transportation and setup can be an underrated time consumer if not properly planned. Equipment that is not ready to go when needed can have a domino effect on operations, potentially causing downtime.
Consider the length of your job as well as a plan for unloading the equipment when it arrives on site. For example, on short-term jobs, vertical mast towers are often chosen because of their ease of setup in comparison to horizontal mast light towers.
Size of light tower
When choosing an industrial light tower, there are two factors to consider when it comes to sizing – the size of the generator, as well as the physical size of the unit itself.
When it comes to generator size, consider whether auxiliary power is needed (sometimes referred to as daisy-chaining). Light towers come in a variety of sizes, with generators typically ranging from 8kW – 20kW. Be sure to select the right generator size to avoid wetsacking.
Wide or narrow body equipment
Light towers come in two options – narrow body or wide body. Both styles have pros and cons. A wide body light tower is more stable and easier to tow because of its center of gravity, whereas a narrow body light tower is more compact, but moves around more while being towed to the jobsite.
What’s next?
Now that you know more about light towers, you can more easily make a decision on which type best suits your project. Every type of light tower has its own benefits, and it is up to you to decide. If you need to rent a light tower, just contact us and we’ll get you started. And keep in mind that if your rental needs to be serviced, our mechanics can go to your jobsite, or it can be hauled back to the yard. If you need to book equipment for your next project, call 877-740-RENT (7368) today to book with Partner Rentals.
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