To get wind loads for a tower crane in KSA , you usually need a site- specific wind assessment based on the crane location, height, terrain, and the crane’s out-of-service condition, rather than a single fixed number. A practical route is to have the crane supplier or a qualified structural engineer calculate it using the applicable wind standard and the crane manufacturer’s data; services for tower cranes commonly base this on site location, wind speed, height, terrain, and recurrence interval, and apply out- of-service wind loads plus the relevant crane load cases.

What you need

  • Crane make/model, jib length, hook height, and configuration.
  • Exact site location in KSA, because wind speed varies by region and exposure.
  • Terrain category and surrounding obstacles.
  • Whether you need in-service or out-of-service wind loads.
  • Manufacturer’s wind sail area / projected area data, if available.

Typical process

  1. Confirm the governing standard for the project.
  2. Get local wind speed data for the site.
  3. Use the crane geometry and projected area.
  4. Check both operating and parked conditions.
  5. Have the result reviewed and signed off by the engineer or crane specialist.

Standards used in practice

For crane wind loading, engineers often rely on crane-specific guidance and structural wind standards, and tower crane assessments commonly reference out- of-service wind loading and the load cases in crane standards. One widely cited crane wind-load reference is the crane wind-load assessment standard, and site-specific services typically align calculations with recognized wind- effect codes.

KSA-specific note

For Saudi Arabia, the key point is that the wind load should be tied to the project location and authority requirements on that job, not guessed from a generic number. In real projects, this is usually handled by the crane supplier, the temporary works engineer, or the EHS/structural consultant using local meteorological and code-based inputs.

What to ask for

Ask for a “tower crane site-specific wind load calculation ” that includes:

  • Basic wind speed for the site.
  • Reference height and exposure.
  • Out-of-service wind pressure on the jib and tower.
  • Overturning and foundation reactions.
  • Crane free-vane / parked condition checks.

Practical next step

If you already have the crane model and site city in KSA, the fastest path is to request a calculation package from the crane manufacturer or a temporary works engineer using those inputs. If you want, I can turn this into a short email request template for the supplier or consultant.