SWP What does this mean for me?

All hoists in Europe should by law be designed and manufactured under the EC Machinery Directive, which states, among other things, that there is an obligation to eliminate special hazards in the use of machinery. One of the safety aspects that should not be overlooked is the service life of a crane or hoist. Think of metal fatigue and hairline cracks in rotating parts such as (gear) wheels. In the design of hoists, a useful life of 10 years is taken into account. Hoists are divided into usage classes, this is done by means of a FEM indication.

The FEM 9,755 is a standard that describes the measures to be taken in the design to achieve the intended lifespan with a motor-powered hoist. In other words, if a hoist is used in the way the manufacturer had envisioned the design, the hoist should have a life span of 10 years. A hoist uses a part of its lifespan, also known as a Safe Working period (SWP), for every lifting movement. If the service life has elapsed, a complete overhaul according to manufacturers ' specifications is required to ensure further safe deployment.

In practice, a hoist will often be used differently than described by the FEM group. For example, a hoist may make more or less hoisting movements than estimated, or the average load may be higher or lower than expected. Think of indications in the shifts or changes in product or process. For this reason, it is important to regularly check the hoist's residual life in practice. Perhaps the hoist has been used "lightly" and an overhaul can be postponed. Or perhaps the hoist has been used "heavily" and its service life is used up after only seven years, for example.

The owner is legally responsible for the correct recording and documentation of this data. On the website Www.ekh.nl/wet-en-regelgeving/bedrijfsaansprakelijkheid You will find under the heading ' Employer must take measures ' the link of a handy tool to calculate the SWP of your hoists. We can also take care of these calculations for you.

In the coming year, our Keur Masters will inform you about the residual life and the necessary overhaul during the inspection. At cranes over the age of 9, our Keur Masters will indicate on the inspection report that a residual lifetime calculation should be performed. In 2017, these calculations should actually be carried out so that our judge can assess whether a General overhaul or replacement is actually needed.

Our employees are happy to help. You can contact us by phone number: 0513 – 481122 and ask for the possibilities.