Flexible double-cage hoist for high operational efficiency in tall building construction

High operational efficiency in the use of hoists is crucial for the successful completion of high-rise building projects. Simply increasing the number of hoists may not be possible because of insufficient space or budget limits. However, adopting the “double-deck” concept can be an effective approach to improving the operational efficiency of hoists in projects with such constraints. This study proposes a flexible double-cage hoist for use in such projects. In a case study, we found that combining the proposed hoist with existing single-cage hoists enabled a smaller number of hoists to achieve significantly higher efficiency at lower cost than a group of single-cage hoists. The optimal combination showed a 16.6% decrease in total operational costs and a 7.9% increase in operational efficiency. Using the proposed hoist could therefore enable the successful completion of high-rise building projects at lower cost.