Precision HVAC Equipment Rigging at Cazenovia High School
Moving a nearly 1,000-pound heat pump through tight access, stairs and multiple elevation changes.
Quick Project Facts
📍 Location: Cazenovia High School | Cazenovia, NY
👷 Client: Salt City Mechanical
🏗 Services: Specialized Rigging & Equipment Moving
🚜 Equipment: Chain Falls & Machinery Skates
🤝 Project Partners: Salt City Mechanical
📅 Completion: July 28, 2026
HVAC Equipment Rigging at Cazenovia High School
HVAC equipment rigging in an existing building can present challenges that go far beyond the weight of the equipment. At Cazenovia High School, Trimble Services partnered with Salt City Mechanical to support the replacement of a heat pump.
Both the existing unit and its replacement weighed just under 1,000 pounds. However, the weight itself was only part of the challenge. Moving the equipment through the existing building required navigating multiple elevation changes, interior hallways, a set of stairs and restricted access points—all without the use of a crane or conventional lifting equipment.
Moving HVAC Equipment Through an Existing Building
First, the crew moved the nearly 1,000-pound existing heat pump up approximately six feet in elevation and through the building. From there, the unit had to travel down a set of stairs spanning approximately six feet of elevation before exiting through the exterior doorway. Installing the replacement required navigating the same route in reverse.
However, the existing building limited the use of traditional equipment. At the exterior stairs, there was no suitable overhead attachment point and not enough space to position a gantry. The equipment itself also lacked the lifting points and attachments needed for the move.
As a result, the combination of elevation changes, restricted access and limited attachment options required the crew to develop a rigging plan around the building rather than relying on conventional lifting equipment.
Specialized Rigging for Restricted Access
Trimble’s crew developed a hand-rigging plan using chain falls, machinery skates and specialized rigging techniques to maintain control of the equipment throughout each stage of the move.
To remove the existing unit, the crew bolted on attachment points where needed to create suitable rigging locations. Then, they maneuvered the heat pump through the building and across the elevation changes. The crew carefully moved the unit down the stairs and through the exterior doorway.
Once the existing heat pump was removed, the crew reversed the process. They brought the new unit into the building and moved it along the same restricted route to its final location.
Completed in One Day
Through careful planning and coordination with Salt City Mechanical, the crew completed the removal and replacement within a single day. The team moved the new heat pump into position with no damage to the equipment or the existing building.
Ultimately, the Cazenovia High School project demonstrates how HVAC equipment rigging in existing facilities can require a very different approach from a traditional crane lift. When stairs, restricted openings, elevation changes or limited overhead access prevent the use of conventional equipment, the right rigging plan becomes the solution.
Trimble Services would like to thank Salt City Mechanical for the opportunity to support their team on this project.