Air-Cooled Chiller Rigging on a Downtown Ottawa High-Rise

A 16,000 lb air-cooled chiller needed to be lifted to the roof of a downtown Ottawa high-rise, 250 feet above, from a site with no space to work at grade. The unit was delivered by flatbed through a narrow downtown alley, surrounded by hoarding, active trades, and neighboring towers. Successfully executing the high-rise lift depended on the hoisting and rigging plan as well as the equipment used.

Downtown mechanical lifts pose challenges for poor planning. The 40-foot-long air-cooled chiller was difficult to handle, with the only offload point being a narrow alley shared with other trades. Additionally, the hoisting and rigging required for the pick needed to travel 250 feet up the face of an occupied high-rise, leaving no margin for error with potential swings into glass or steel.

The pick was engineered around the site's tower crane to facilitate the high-rise lift of the air-cooled chiller. Sling geometry was matched to the chiller's lifting points, and the offload was sequenced off the flatbed between other site activities. Tag lines controlled rotation during the ascent, and placement was coordinated with the crew waiting on the roof. Every step adhered to an engineered lift plan and complied with Ontario Reg 213/91, emphasizing safe hoisting and rigging practices.

Offloaded, hoisted using a high-rise lift, and set on the roof cleanly, on schedule, with zero incidents on a live downtown site, all thanks to our expert hoisting and rigging team.

Equipment: Daikin air-cooled chiller

Weight: 16,000 lbs

Dimensions: 40 ft L × 8 ft W × 8 ft H

Service: Hoisting and rigging for high-rise lift

Lift height: ~250 ft (high-rise rooftop)

Site: Downtown Ottawa

Method: site tower crane, engineered rig, alley offload, and rooftop placement

Compliance: WSIB, fully insured, CVOR, Reg 213/91

Have an air-cooled chiller, RTU, or heavy unit that needs to be lifted onto a roof? Send the weight, dimensions, and site address for a same-day ballpark estimate. Call or text a photo to (613) 370-0158.