Precautions for Transporting and Hoisting Fiberglass Slides

Fiberglass slides are brittle; their surfaces are prone to scratching, and flange joints are susceptible to cracking or chipping. The inner surface of the slide must be protected from impact damage. Key points cover four stages: transportation, loading/unloading, hoisting, and on-site storage.

I. Transportation Precautions

1.    Packaging and Protection

•    Apply protective film to the slide's inner surface and flange mating surfaces; use thickened foam corner protectors for edges and flanges. Wrap the entire unit in EPE foam (pearl cotton) and then stretch wrap to prevent scratches, paint loss, impacts, or cracks. 

•    Reinforce large slide segments with wooden frames or crates; bare transport is prohibited. Prioritize protection for flange joints to prevent damage from bumps or impacts. 

•    Affix labels indicating "Fragile," "This Side Up," and "Keep Dry"; strictly prohibit rolling or crushing. 

2.    Vehicles and Loading

•    Use flatbed trucks with rubber or soft padding on the bed; strictly prohibit direct contact between sharp, hard objects and the fiberglass body.

•    Arrange segments according to their sequence numbers; do not place heavy objects on top of the slides. Heavier items must not crush lighter ones; place cushioning material between segments. 

•    Use only soft straps for securing; steel cables must not directly compress the fiberglass. Place rubber pads at strap contact points to prevent cracking the shell. 

•    For oversized (width/height) components, obtain necessary permits in advance and plan routes to avoid height restrictions and rough, potholed roads. 

•    Cover with waterproof tarpaulins during rainy weather to prevent water damage; do not transport alongside corrosive chemicals. 

3.    In-Transit and Arrival Inspections

•    Minimize transshipment and avoid repeated loading/unloading. Upon arrival, verify segment numbers one by one and inspect the inner walls and flanges for cracks, chips, or scratches; document findings with photographs.

II. On-Site Storage

1.    Place timber supports (at least 100mm thick) on the ground; do not place slides directly on the ground to avoid moisture damage or cracking caused by uneven pressure. 

2.    Store slides with the sliding surface facing up or on their sides; do not place them upside down, as this could crush the flange openings. Use soft padding to separate stacked segments. 3.    When stored outdoors, items must be covered with waterproof tarpaulins and shielded from direct sunlight; keep away from sharp components and welding operations to prevent weld spatter from damaging the fiberglass surface. 

4.    Personnel are prohibited from stepping on the slide shell or flange areas.

III. Key Points for Lifting Operations (Highest Risk)

Directly wrapping steel wire ropes around the fiberglass body is strictly prohibited, as this can easily cause cuts or stress-induced cracking.

1. Pre-lifting Preparations

1.    Develop a specialized lifting plan; verify the weight and center of gravity for each slide section and check the lifting point markings on the drawings. Conduct safety and technical briefings for personnel; ensure lifting operators hold valid certifications. 

2.    Selection of lifting gear: Use wide, flat nylon slings (soft slings); do not use steel wire ropes to directly cradle the fiberglass body. Place rubber pads at all points where slings contact sharp edges or flanges. 

3.    For large, long slide sections, prioritize the use of a spreader beam (balance beam) to distribute the load and prevent bending, deformation, or shell cracking. 

4.    Inspect the crane and lifting gear to ensure they are in good condition. Ensure the ground is solid and level, establish a safety exclusion zone, and strictly prohibit personnel from standing beneath the suspended load. 

5.    Lifting operations are prohibited when wind force reaches Level 5 or higher; large, curved slide sections have a large wind-catching surface area, which can lead to significant swaying and collisions that damage components.

2. Lifting, Moving, and Positioning

1.    Secure the load strictly according to the manufacturer's marked lifting points; lifting points must be positioned above the center of gravity. Do not alter the rigging positions arbitrarily, as tilting or twisting could cause the fiberglass to crack under stress. 

2.    Perform a trial lift: raise the load 100–200 mm off the ground to check for balance and rigging security before proceeding with the full lift.

3.    Use taglines to control swaying. Avoid sudden starts, stops, or sharp turns, as well as side-pulling or angled lifting. Move the load slowly and steadily to prevent collisions with steel support structures, buildings, or hard objects on the ground. 

4.    During positioning and lowering, move slowly and avoid sudden impacts or dropping the load heavily. Do not force, pry, or strike the fiberglass flanges during mating, as this could cause the flanges to crack or shatter. 5. Adhere to the "Ten No-Lift" principles for hoisting operations: do not lift if signals are unclear, the load weight is unknown, the load is insecurely slung, the lift involves diagonal pulling/hoisting, or wind speeds are excessive, etc.

3. Post-hoisting and positioning inspection

Inspections after the component is lowered into position: check the shell for cracks, the flange for edge chipping, and the inner surface of the slide track for dents or scratches; verify the segment ID number before proceeding with bolt connection and installation.

IV. Common Prohibited Actions

❌ Directly slinging the fiberglass slide shell with steel wire ropes
❌ Single-point lifting or lifting points offset from the center of gravity, causing twisting
❌ Stacking heavy objects on the slide during transport or transporting without protective covering
❌ Personnel stepping on the slide body or flange surfaces
❌ Forced lifting during high winds; violently hammering or prying the flange during positioning
❌ Leaving the component uncovered outdoors (exposure to direct sunlight or rain) or allowing welding spatter to burn the surface

Company: Guangzhou Milan Amusement Technology Co.,LTD

Website: milanamusement.com

Contact us: Ms Aimee

WhatsApp/Wechat: +86-19875114360

Email: milanamusement@163.com

Address: No.28,Lanxing Street,Gaosha Road,Dagang Town,Nansha District,Guangzhou