Short answer: a mast climbing work platform is installed in stages. Level the base frame on firm ground, assemble the platform and guardrails, build the mast section by section, tie it to the structure at the specified intervals, then check limit stops, levelling and earthing and run a test. Only trained, authorized installers should do this work.
This overview follows the user manual of the P1500 single-mast and P3000 twin-mast work platforms made by ALPMAKSAN, an İstanbul-based manufacturer of mast climbing work platforms and construction hoists. It explains the sequence so site teams know what to plan. It does not replace the manual or an on-site installation briefing.
Who is allowed to install a mast climbing work platform?
Only authorized, qualified and specially trained personnel. The manual stresses that most accidents with mast climbers happen during assembly and dismantling, so the site project manager must authorize each installer, and qualified technical staff must be on site to deal with problems.
Installers wear gloves, helmet and non-slip safety boots, and use a fall-protection harness on an appropriate anchorage wherever a fall of more than 2 m is possible. Training bodies such as IPAF run dedicated installer courses that cover base set-up, mast erection, ties, levelling and final checks.
What must be ready before installation starts?
The site must meet national requirements and all permits must be in place. The ground must be able to carry the machine and must not be muddy, snow-covered or icy. The area needs drainage, lighting, a power supply close to the machine (to limit voltage drop) and room for the transport vehicle and lifting equipment.
Check the delivery against the delivery note and inspect every part. Anything broken, deformed or corroded is replaced before use. Our site preparation checklist and tie-in spacing checklist cover this stage in detail.
What are the installation steps?
The manual describes this order for the standard P1500 and P3000 configurations:
- Position the base frame parallel to the wall. Set the screw supports and ground support pads so the main frame is clear of the ground, and level it on both sides of the mast with a spirit level at least 1 m long. Use timber packing under the lower part of the machine to spread the load.
- Check the locking pins of the automatic levelling device and the lower limit stop plates.
- Assemble the platform. Add platform sections on both sides of the drive unit and join them with locking pins, up to the permitted length (platform length is 10 to 30 m depending on the model: up to 10 m on the P1500 and up to 30 m on the P3000). On the twin-mast P3000, the two main units are set at the required mast spacing and joined through the platform sections.
- Fit the ladder, guardrails and access door. Guardrails go up to a height of 1.10 m and all have toe boards. The door safety switch is fitted so its roller faces the wall. The platform is 1 m wide, and extension rods and floor plates adjust it to the facade.
- Connect power and signal cables, switch on the main switch, and check the emergency stop and the proximity switches.
- Build the mast. Lift mast sections onto the platform with a forklift or crane, bolt each one to the specified torque, raise the platform, and repeat. Each mast section weighs 65 kg. The last section is the red top mast section, and the mast must not stand far above the highest wall tie. If lifting equipment is available, up to four sections can be pre-assembled on the ground.
- Tie the mast to the building at the specified spacing (see below), check verticality with the 1 m spirit level after each tie, and fit the mast protector at the top.
- Check limit stops, levelling switches and earthing (see below).
- Test run. Do the brake test and a full test run before the platform is used for anything else.
How are the wall ties installed?
Each wall tie connects an anchorage on the mast to a frame fixed to the building. The building structure must be able to take the loads the ties transmit, and the building owner or responsible authority must approve those loads before installation starts. Embedded parts must be fixed in concrete that has reached its required strength. If chemical or expansion anchors are used, they must be approved for the application and supplied with technical data.
The manual gives tie spacing and first-tie heights in a table, valid for standard operating conditions only. Other values apply only if the manufacturer confirms them in writing, so do not use a figure from a general article for your building.
What is checked after the mast is built?
- Lower limit stop: lower the drive unit until the limit switch just touches the lower striker and adjust the striker if it does not. On a twin platform, check both columns.
- Levelling switches (twin platform): raise both main units about 3 m. The switches must act at a height difference of 10 cm per 10 m of platform length. This is created with the manual brake release to prove the switch works.
- Earthing: an insulated 16 mm² copper bonding cable runs from the main unit chassis to the grounding point.
What changes between single-mast and twin-mast installation?
| P1500 single mast | P3000 twin mast | |
|---|---|---|
| Base frames | One | Two, spaced to the mast distance |
| People allowed on the platform while fitting guide rail frames | Up to 2 | Up to 4 |
| Levelling check | Not applicable | Levelling switches checked and calibrated |
| Limit stop check | One column | Both columns |
For help choosing between them, see single-mast vs twin-mast MCWP.
What limits apply during installation?
- While guide rail frames are being fitted, no more than 2 people on a single-column platform, 4 on a double-column platform, and the lifting load must not exceed 75% of the rated load.
- Plan the load so it is as small as possible when the platform reaches the maximum height above the last tie.
- Until the test run is complete, the platform may carry only its own mast sections and wall ties.
- Installation is prohibited when wind exceeds the limit in the manufacturer's manual.
- If work stops, bring the operation to a safe condition: tighten all bolts of the last component and switch the main switch off.
- No one may stand under the platform while it moves.
OSHA lists improper erection and dismantling among the common causes of mast climber incidents, together with inadequate foundations and exceeding weather limits.
Frequently asked questions
Can the site crew install the platform themselves?
Only people who are authorized, qualified and trained for installation, with the manufacturer's manual in hand. Otherwise ALPMAKSAN installation support should be requested.
Is a crane required?
A forklift or a crane can place the mast sections on the platform. A crane makes mast erection faster because several sections can be pre-assembled and lifted together.
Can installation be interrupted overnight?
Yes, but only at a clearly identifiable stage: bolts of the last component tightened, the main switch off and locked, and the work area secured.
Does installation stop for bad weather?
Yes. Installation is not allowed above the wind limit in the manufacturer's manual, and work stops if a storm approaches.
When is the platform ready to use?
After the limit stops, levelling switches and earthing are checked, the brake test is done and the test run is completed successfully. See our daily inspection and brake test guide.
Plan your installation with ALPMAKSAN
Send us your building height, facade drawings and platform width, and we will plan the installation with you. For the P1500 and P3000, the manual is supplied with the machine.
Sources
- IPAF: MCWP Installers course
- OSHA eTool: Mast climbers
- ALPMAKSAN P1500 / P3000 user manual (installation chapters)
Updated: 2026-10-28
This guide gives general planning information. Installation must follow the manual supplied with the machine and the instructions of qualified personnel on site.