CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > August 2020 23 The Civil Aviation Authorities’ (CAA) guidance publication CAP 1096 - Guidance to Crane Operators on Aviation Lighting and Notification provides the construction industry with a summary of existing regulation, duty of care expectations placed upon crane users and recommended best practice. Currently, CAP1096 requires crane users to notify local aerodrome operators if the height of a crane exceeds 10 metres and was within 6km of the aerodrome as well as notifying the CAA if the height of a crane exceeds 91.4 metres (300 feet) irrespective of location. CAP 1096 is applicable to all types of crane including Tower Cranes, Mobile Cranes, Crawler Cranes, Lorry Loader Cranes and Gantry Cranes. The CPA’s Tower Crane Interest Group published a Technical Information Note (TIN) 039 which sets out requirements for tower cranes as detailed with CAP 1096. The CAA has announced a revision to CAP 1096 which is intended to take effect from 1st October 2020 which includes significant changes to previously published versions. One of the key changes is that ‘users’ must notify in advance the use of the crane or cranes, irrespective of location in the UK, where the height of the highest part of the crane during the planned lifting operation will exceed 10 metres above ground level or of the surrounding structures or trees. This means the current requirement to notify only if within 6km of the aerodrome has been annulled. Notification will in future need to be made to a dedicated email address at the CAA rather than to aerodrome operators as per the current requirement. The CAA will then contact the relevant aerodrome operators and any other interested parties. The revised CAP 1096 introduces amended recommendations for obstacle lighting of cranes and new recommendations on the marking of cranes, by contrasting colours, to aid conspicuousness. There are a number of further additional requirements and the CPA’s Technical Consultant, Ian Simpson has prepared a draft Technical Information Note (TIN 039D) to assist crane users, including tower, mobile and crawler to comply with the revised version of CAP 1096. Although the CAA has announced the implementation date of the revised CAP 1096 of 1st October 2020, Ian Simpson along with the Association of Lorry Loader and Manufacturer’s (ALLMI) Technical Manager continue to have dialogue with the CAA over the intended revisions and the impact upon the plant and construction sector. This means that the information contained within TIN 039D cannot be relied upon until further confirmation from the CAA. The CPA will also be writing to the CAA and the Department for Transport about their concerns over the potential difficulties that the new guidance will bring for mobile and tower crane owners and operators, and the absence of evidence justifying the requirements. The draft TIN can be downloaded free of charge from www.cpa.uk.net/tower-crane- interest-group-publications or https:// www.cpa.uk.net/crane-interest-group- publications-guidance/ TECHNICAL Technical New Guidance to Crane Users to Comply with UK Air Navigation Order