Prop Jack Load Capacity

Prop jacks, also known as support prop, acrow prop, acro prop, scaffolding porp, or adjustable shoring prop, play a vital role in construction, repairs, and a variety of heavy-duty tasks.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the concept of strut jack load capacity, exploring how it is defined and calculated, the different types of prop jacks and their respective load capacities, and factors to consider when choosing the right strut jack for your needs.

Definition And Applications Of Prop Jacks

Definition:

A prop jack consists of two main components: an inner tube that slides into an outer tube. Typically, the inner and outer tubes are made of materials like steel or aluminum that are very strong. The inner tube is adjustable in length and can be locked using a collar or pin.

Example Applications Include:

• Construction Industry: The construction industry uses jacks to provide support for formwork of concrete slabs, beams and columns. They also have applications in temporarily supporting floors, walls and ceilings during renovation or repair.
• Theater and Special Events: The theater industry uses prop jacks to set up stages, platforms, and temporary structures.
• Shipbuilding and Repair: In shipyards, prop jacks are used for variety of purposes, like supporting ship components during construction or repair.   

Load Capacity Of Prop Jacks

Load capacity of a prop jack is the maximum load the prop jack can support before breaking.

In the market, there are steel prop jacks, and there’s also an aluminum prop jack with different load capacities, depending on the model and material of the product.

Steel Prop Jacks:

• Light Duty prop jacks: This includes jacks with a capacity of approx. 1,500kgs. Light duty jacks are most commonly used when the load capacity is up to 1,500kg. Light weight jacks will be used for tasks such as supporting temporary formwork, or lighter steel work.
• Medium Duty prop jacks: Includes capacity to approximate 2,500kgs. Medium duty steel props will be used to support construction sites, supporting concrete slabs, beams or columns.
• Heavy Duty prop jacks: Heavy Duty props can support loads up to 5,000kgs. Heavy duty props would be used on bigger construction projects or industrial applications where greater loads are required.

Common sizes for steel prop jacks:

- Size 1 (1.75 to 3.1 meters): At the lowest height (1.75 meters), the jack can safely support 3,400 kg (7,496 lb). At the highest setting (3.1 meters), it can manage approximately 2,000 kg (4,409 lbs).

- Size 2 (2.0 to 3.5 meters): The jack at the lowest height (2.0 meters) can provide 3,000 kg (6,614 lbs). at the highest setting of 3.5 meters, this jack may only manage 1,800 kg (3,968 lbs).

- Size 3 (2.4 to 4.0 meters): This jack at the lowest height (2.4 meters) can safely hold 2,500 kg (5,512 lb). At the highest setting, it can bear approximately 1,500 kg (3,307 lb).

Aluminum Prop Jacks:

Aluminium prop jacks are lighter and easier to move around than Steel prop jacks however, the load capability is generally limited.

- An example of a standard aluminium prop jack: Typical load capacity: ranges from 500 kg (1102 lbs) to 1500 kg (3307 lbs).

- Typical uses: They are used in lightweight construction, where supporting temporary structures and props that need to be moved around regularly, in addition to regular construction work.

Typical sizes of aluminium prop jacks and their load capacities:

- Size 1 (height range: 1.6-2.9m): Approximately 1200kg (2646 lbs) at the lowest height and approximately 800kg (1764 lbs) at the highest.

- Size 2 (height range: 2.0-3.5m): Approximately 1000kg (2205 lbs) at the lowest height and approximately 700kg (1543 lbs) at the highest.

- Size 3 (height range: 2.4-4.0m): Size 3 can take up to 900kg (1984 lbs) at the lowest height and around 600kg (1323 lbs) at the highest height.

Influencing Factors

The prop jack has a few characteristics that can influence the prop jack load capacity

• Material: The material is critical for the load capacity of prop jacks. High-grade steel or aluminum materials will last longer and provide more durability under heavy loads.
• Design and Construction: There are many parts to the prop jack that determine the load capacity. The tube wall thickness, the locking mechanism, the shape and design of the base and head plate, etc.
• Height and Extending distance: Once a prop jack is in place, the height has a determining factor on the capacity it has to carry. The prop jack can extend out even further to the side but there will be less capacity as the height increases.
• Environmental Conditions: Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and exposure to corrosive substances can affect the performance and load capacity of prop jacks.

Choosing The Right Prop Jack

Prop Jack-playing is important for the safety and reliability of construction and some of the key factors to consider when selecting the proper prop jack are:

Adjustable Height:

The prop jacks must have proper height adjustment without losing structural integrity

Construction Material And Durability:

-Steel Prop jacks: are known for being strong and extremely durable for handling large loads, which is why they are most used and are typically galvanized to stop rusting.

-Aluminium Prop jacks: are known for their lightweight and ease of use but most importantly for their lighter load capacity while reaching heights of 10, 12, or 16. They are best for very adjust heavy loads but with more frequent changes.

Safety Features:

-Prop jack should have a foolproof lock feature to keep it from moving until no longer needed, or a captive locking device that secures the prop jack in place, a non-slip base for stability, and regular inspections

Project Specific:

-Adjustable Steel Props: are used for almost any general construction use since they are adjustable for height.

-Push-Pull Props: Typically used for concrete beams and visible concrete walls

-Heavy Duty Props: Typically used in very heavy industrial construction where the loads are very heavy.

Safety And Maintenance Of Prop Jacks

Safety Precautions:

• Load Limit - Always follow manufacturer load limit information to avoid overloading the structure.
• Proper placement - Ensure the appropriate base plates and surfaces for the jacks.
• Locking - Make sure the pins and collars are locked before loading any loads.
• Do Not Side Load - The jacks are for vertical loads only.
• Inspect - Check for signs of component wear, corrosion, or damage prior and during use.

Maintenance:

• Clean - Keep the jacks clean and free of debris; use solvent and lubricant appropriately.
• Lubricate - Keep the parts lubricated to prevent rust and to maintain the ease of the motion for the components.
• Store - Always store in a dry area to decerase the exposure to moisture to help prevent rust from forming and the jacks from weakening.
• Replace Part - Replace parts as needed as this is a piece of equipment that endures difficult weather and environmental hazards and make sure to have an inventory of spare parts available.
• Training & Supervision - Be sure the jacks are being used with supervision and training.
• Documentation - Keep documentation of routine inspections, maintenance, and any incidents that occur for history reference and replacement of any items. 

Summary

Understanding and selecting a prop jack with the appropriate load capacity is essential to ensure work safety and efficiency. By correctly assessing work requirements and selecting the appropriate prop jack, combined with regular maintenance and inspection, safety hazards at work can be effectively avoided. I hope this article can provide you with valuable references when selecting and using a prop jack.

FAQ

Q: What are the sizes of acrow props

Size 0: 1.014m-1.829m

Size 1:1.753m-3.124m

Size 2:1.981m-3.352m

Size 3:2.590m-3.962m

Size 4:3.200m-4.876m

Q: What is the HSN code for prop jack?

The HSN code for prop jacks, particularly those used for scaffolding, shuttering, propping, or pit-propping, is 73084000. This code falls under the category of structures and parts of structures made of iron or steel​.

Read More

What Is A Prop Jack?

How To Use Acrow Props-Complete Guide

Acrow Prop Specifications