DECISION GUIDE

Answer these questions to help you choose the proper construction level

 

• Will the laser level be used indoors, outdoors, or both?    

 

To use the laser visually for interior construction, choose a level tool with a highly visible beam, either ~635nm red laser or ~530nm green laser. You will need a laser level detector for outdoor work, as even a highly visible green laser will be lost in daylight. Laser construction levels designed for interior work will also feature variable rotation speed or beam scanning to maximize visibility.

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• Can the laser level be disturbed by laborers, live traffic, or heavy equipment? 

 

If you work on large, busy sites, self leveling is an absolute must. A self leveling construction laser corrects for slight disturbances from wind or vibration, and will shut off for greater disturbances.  Manually leveled lasers must be periodically checked and re-leveled to assure accurate results. This is fine for small, well controlled sites such as house foundations, or deck and landscaping work. Self leveling lasers are a must for larger jobs and commercial buildings.    Self leveling is achieved by either a servo motor system or a compensator, both which can provide similar accuracy. If you are placing the laser level on a 12 foot tripod for machine control work, or up on wall angle for suspended ceiling installation, a servo leveled laser is handy because it does not have to be rough leveled. Compensator leveling systems have to be roughed-in before they can self level and are simpler electronically

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.• How much accuracy do you need in your construction laser level?  

 

Rotary construction laser accuracy starts on the low end at about ±1/4in per 100ft (6mm per 30m) for inexpensive manually leveled products, and increases to as fine as ±7 arc sec (.040in per 100ft or 1mm per 30m) for self leveling lasers. Error increases with distance from the laser transmitter.  If a laser's accuracy is ±1/16" at 100ft, it is ± 1/8" at 200ft and ±1/4" at 400ft.  The best accuracy comes from working as close as possible to the laser level.

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• Do you need a laser level tool that can also project a slope?  

 

Construction lasers for precision slope (storm sewers or airport runways) have mechanical or digital counters that enable entry of slope in increments of .01% or better. For less precise applications such as drainage ditches, there are self-leveling lasers capable of manual "slope matching".

 

• Do you need a specialty laser for conical slopes, or high-accuracy plumb applications?     

 

The Alpha-C cone laser projects a beam that can be sloped either up, or down.  Because this slope is projected as a cone, it simplifies certain otherwise difficult setups.  Jobs such as baseball fields, where the pitcher’s mound is the high point and the surrounding area slopes away in a cone shape.  Or, the banked corners and “D zones” of a sports field with an oval running track surrounding it.

 

  The Alpha-V is a high precision plumb laser projecting vertical beams both up and down.  The Alpha-V is used in high-rise construction where control can be difficult using standard plumb bobs, or other methods.