Late last year, the BSI published a new revision to the European Standard for Loader Cranes, titled ‘BS EN12999:2020 Cranes – Loader Cranes’.
Penny Hydraulics Sales Director, Richard Short, sits on the Board of Directors at ALLMI who played an integral role in the revision. The Association of Lorry Loader Manufacturers and Importers (ALLMI) was founded in 1978 at the request of the Health and Safety Executive, and it remains today as the UK’s only Trade Association devoted exclusively to the lorry loader industry. It serves, represents and promotes the interests of its members and the industry at large, and it is the natural focus and authority on all issues involving the design, manufacture, application and use of lorry loaders.
Continuously striving to improve the standards surrounding the use of lifting equipment, and understanding the issues our customers face, Richard and ALLMI’s involvement has helped to shape several updates to EN12999.
In this blog, we’ve outlined one of the key changes to keep you updated and on the right side of the legislation.
EN12999 is the European harmonised Standard for loader cranes in accordance with health and safety requirements from the Machinery Directive. EN12999 offers guidance, specifies the minimum requirements for design, calculation, examination and testing of hydraulically powered cranes and their mounting on vehicles or static foundations.
As this is the first full revision of the Standard since EN12999:2011, there has been a wide range of changes to improve the content.
The new standard is more of an ‘evolution’, and unlike in 2011 (or from the end of 2009 when the Machinery Directive changed), there are no significant additional safety system requirements in this new update.
However, manufacturers and installers should adopt the new Standard as soon as practicable.
One of the key changes is that of so-called “D” “De-rated Cranes” by label only.
The Clause did state: “For loader cranes with a rated capacity of less than 1000 kg and a maximum net lifting moment of less than 40,000 Nm the relief valves in accordance with 5.6.2.2 and 5.6.2.3 shall provide overload protection when a rated capacity limiter is not provided. The provision of a clearly marked pressure gauge showing the approach to the rated capacity, visible from the operator’s station, will fulfil the function of a rated capacity indicator for these cranes.”
The issue was, some loader cranes with a stated maximum working load of under 1000kg on the rated capacity plate are capable of lifting in excess of 1000 kg. I.e., they have only been ‘de-rated’ on the rated capacity plate itself, thus qualifying for the additional exceptions permitted in the Standard. This means that they may not provide an accurate display of ‘approach to overload’ to the Operator in compliance with this Clause, who may therefore intentionally or unintentionally lift loads in excess of the maximum working load specified by the manufacturer.
This has now been revised to state:-
The updates to EN12999 will help ensure all manufacturers are working on a level playing field and not rating cranes by label only.
It should also simplify your way of working, as many of the changes have been made based on the issues faced by those in the industry. The updates also offer more guidance and clarity when it comes to the requirements for the design, calculation, examination and testing of hydraulically powered cranes and their mounting foundations.
If you require any more information about the updates to EN12999 or would like to chat more about our involvement in the revision, please get in touch. We’d be more than happy to help you.
For the full update, please refer to your BSI document or get in touch with Penny Hydraulics.
