Does my Lifting Beam comply to AS4991?

A question we get asked a lot at LiftQuip Australia is ‘does our Lifting or Spreader Beam comply to AS4991 – Lifting Devices?’

Lifting Beam Compliance – Where do I start?

There is a bit to unpack in answering that question, so first lets go through some of the first steps to satisfying the requirements of the standard.

1. The Lifting Device must be designed in accordance with the duty classifications of AS1418.1
2. Where it is designed for general application, it shall be capable of handling
   1. a minimum design load of 1.5 times the capacity
   2. a proof load in accordance with Section 12 of AS4991
      1. WLL up to 10 tonne – 2 x working load limit or rated capacity
      2. 10-160 tonne – (1.04 x working load limit or rated capacity) + 9.6 tonne
      3. Above 160 tonne – 1.1 x working load limit or rated capacity
   3. be able to endure a minimum of 20,000 lifting cycles at the working load limit/rated capacity

This is only the first couple of steps in the standard.  More to it than just welding some profiles and steel sections together and doing a load test!

AS4991 Compliance Pack

All devices should have what we like to call a ‘compliance pack’ to ensure full compliance to the standard.  That includes:

• Certificate of Compliance from the company designing the Lifting Device.  This holds the Drawing, Design as well as stating the standards, assumptions and calculation methods used in the design
• Proof Load Testing Certificate
• Weld Testing Certificate

There are other things which must go into the process. Although a valuable part of the process and a good step forward, simply getting a lifting gear company to load test the beam is not enough to prove compliance

The first step is to have the item reverse engineered so that it can be proven that it designed using materials and principles that are in line with the relevant Australian Standards.

But I have used this for years without incident!!

Even if you have used it for years without any issue, unfortunately it is ‘all good until it goes bad’.  If this is the case, the scrutiny on the documentation process will be high.

Lifting and Spreader Beam Compliance – Next Step

To ensure that you are not in that situation, contact the team at LiftQuip Australia and they can work with you and talk through the process.