Certification of Lifting Beam 1

[KENAT]

My boss and another colleague have been working on a project for a while where they'll need to lift a 'box' that weighs several hundred pounds onto a support structure.

Some time back I mentioned that they should consider how they're going to lift it as there are access issues and given that we don't do much lifting apart from pallets/crates with forklifts I'd be concerned about any attempt by them or staff downstairs to jury rig some sling or something.

I suggested a lifting beam/spreader & threw together a rough concept and suggest they look into it and whether it needs to be certified by a PE or some other certification, proof tested, what OSHA or CA regs say etc.

Well, turns out they've done nothing except move my concept files somewhere so that I can't find it, and the part to be lifted will be in at the end of the month.

From browsing this site I've seen reference to ASME B30-20 & "Design and Construction of Lifting Beams",
by David T. Ricker, published in the
AISC Engineering Journal, Fourth Quarter/1991 but have no faith in being able to persuade anyone that we should get copies in time.

I've done a quick Google search and a search of this site without finding a direct answer so if anyone here can help I'll appreciate it.

Question: Is it legal to design a lifting beam for internal company use in California (Santa Barbara if it makes a difference) without a PE signing off? Are there any other specific OSHA regs or similar that apply? If it makes any difference the load is I believe somewhere around 500-600 lb.

Thanks,

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[SteelPE]

I can’t answer all of your questions but I might be able to answer one.

A few months ago I was asked to design some spreader beams for an erector. The method for my analysis was based upon an article in an AISC Journal (probably the one that you mention). The beam was already in use and they needed someone with a PE to certify how much the spreader beam could lift.

When it came time to place the lifting capacity on the side of the beam we referred to an OSHA regulation that required you to lift 125%. In the end, the erector was unable to get a crane large enough to test the beam to its capacity so it ended up being certified for much less that it could handle.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=24769

I guess another key part of the story is that the beam was already in use. So I would assume there are many beams without a “PE certification” in use today. However, if it was my responsibility, I would make sure it was done properly.

 

[KENAT]

Thanks Steel PE.

The thing that's throwing me off is most of the otherwise relevant stuff on the OSHA web site appears to apply to 'construction industry' - which as a manufacturer I'm not sure we fall under.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/cranehoistsafety/standards.html

I think we'd fall under 29 CFR 1910 General Industry. I've looked in Suppart N which seems the relevant section but haven't found lifting beams. It has slings, and several types of cranes but I don't see 'below the hook' or similar devices mentioned.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owa...toc_level=1&p_part_number=1910#1910_Subpart_N

Thanks

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[STH003]

500-600 lbs shouldn't be excessive for a normal forklift. We lift pallets of 4-8 drums of resin daily, and those barrels weigh close to 400lbs apiece. How big is this box? You can't tilt each end to put some dunnage underneath then slide your forks under to get a good grab?

Our lift operators need to be OSHA certified before we allow them to use the forklift. They are trained and "qualified" to determine what can and can't be lifted via forklift.

 

[KENAT]

The 'box' getting put onto the support structure can't be lifted from below. Basically a glove box is getting put onto an air table. Almost the entire bottom surface will end up sitting on the air table, combined with a couple other issues such as C of G well off set to one side, it makes simply slinging it tricky.

The glove box manufacturers apparently use a fastener hole in each top corner of the vertical faces either end to lift it by.

We're actually considering lifting it with the forklift rather than overhead crane but would need an adapter from the forks to the holes which is where the lifting beam/spreader comes in.

Thanks.

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[sundale]

Read ASME BTH-1. It is VERY good design manual for engineers and is based on AISC and Ricker's methodology.

For 600 lbs, It may be simpler to just purchase a pre-engineered adjustable spreader bar that has already been proof loaded by its manufacturer.

Depending on the rigidity and size of the box, you can perhaps just sling the 4 corners (with a proper lift lug and shackle) to a central bridle and omit a spreader bar, if the sling angles don't yield a tall hook height.

 

[STH003]

Maybe you could lift it like the manufacturer? Put those fasteners in, and run a shackle through them. You can then connect your slings via the shackles and lift with a forklift.

 

[KENAT]

Darn, I just typed a reply and accidentally closed the wrong window.

In short, I don't like the risks associated with slinging for this application, given it's not something we do a lot.

Sundales post made me think again though and I may have found something.

http://www.wiscolift.com/pages/H%2dStyle-Spreader-Beams.html

(Warning, do not Google spreader bar from work, it's a term not just applied to lifting equipment!)

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[Compositepro]

It seems like you are over-thinking this for lifting "several hundred pounds". A lifting beam suspended from one point will tilt and swing, and requires more headroom. Straps from two forks of a fork lift will keep the unit level and steady.
Six guys could also do the job without a forklift.

 

[KENAT]

The box requires relatively precise location to the table, and there's a risk of damaging several tens of thousands $ worth of kit if you screw up.

The length of the box, & total height and a few other things is enough that simple wire slings/straps over the forklift tines might have issues.

If this was a former employer of mine where we were lifting all kinds of shapes and sizes all the time I wouldn't think twice.

However, it's not exactly our core competency and given the folks involved I'm concerned over the potential for someone getting hurt.

The other idea is to get riggers in. If they want to manhandle it that's their liability insurance not ours!

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[SWmechE]

Kenat,

If this is a one off lift then talking to a rigging company and getting them to come in and do the work is likely the best solution, they should have adjustable spreader bars that can fit your project.

If this is something you guys are going to be doing often then I would recommend buying a pre-fabbed one, adjustable if possible to allow for flexability. A rigging engineering company should be able to provide you a set of certified end caps to be used with standard pipe sizes for a decent cost, esecially if you consider the reduced risk on your part if you're not comfortable with designing it.

If you choose to try your hand at it the main specs that would apply is ASME B30.20 and BTH-1, where BTH-1 is actually a pretty good design guide as mentioned earlier. I would recommend using the category B since it will make it a bit beefier and rigging is one of those things where high risk outways "value engineering" to get a plate from 1" to 3/4" and save $20.

Also as mentioned earlier the OSHA 125% proof loading would apply as well. Buying a speader show have this included.

Maximum Reach has a good website that shows some spreader bar designs and provides valuable information, read the help files that are part of the calculations.

 

[KENAT]

I've been involved with lifting equipment back in the UK in defense so I'm not too concerned on the technical design aspects, though I may be a bit rusty. It's the different certification and stuff I'm in new territory on.

Anyway, I've sent an email to my manager with a potential source for the H spreader beam. Buying one more or less off the shelf sure sounds like a good plan to me.

Of course, if long term we can get either the glove box or air table vendor to do the integration, then we might be better off getting in riggers for the prototype.

Anyway, thanks all.

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[KENAT]

Thanks to everyone who replied.

They took no action on my suggested source for a suitable lifting beam or my original concept.

The parts came in last week. They apparently tried doing it with a forklift and some half a$$ed rigging and managed to damage a bunch of the mounting studs. I was out the day they did it but one of my colleagues saw what they were up to, using unrated lifting hardware, working under suspended loads... and at least forced them to take some safety precautions.

They went out and bought a regular spreader beam Monday which more or less worked except they're lacking in head room so it was a tight fit (My suggested H beam would have solved this) and where they'd damaged the studs they couldn't pick up on them.

You can lead a horse to water...

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[MikeHalloran]

... but you can't change the work product of a horse's ass.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA