Evaluation of Existing Hoist Beams and Crane Runways

[charliealphabravo]

I am evaluating, from a condition assessment point of view, numerous hoist beams and crane runways in an old industrial facility.
They are all under 5 tons I believe, but I am wondering what is the consensus of the group regarding labeling or identification of the beam capacity.

My concern is that if the beams are not labeled with the allowable safe load or the allowable maximum hoist size, that they may be inadvertently overloaded by workers.
In one case I saw a hoist beam and nearby were several hoists of different sizes (1/2 ton, 1 ton, 2 ton) hanging on the wall. Clearly they were in the habit of using whatever hoist suited their purpose and perhaps with little regard for the actual capacity of the beam.

Anyway the recommendation I am considering is that the hoist beams be evaluated and that the safe load capacity be indicated on the beam or recorded somewhere. If the client can produce engineering for the beam I think that is acceptable but in some cases the beams look to be rather improvised and I rather doubt there was any engineering involved.

Thanks all.

 

[JAE]

Usually I've educated the client on their total bridge runway capacity based upon the types and numbers of bridge cranes they have running on the beams.

I usually don't recommend pasting a load on the side of the beams as this can many times be mis-interpreted by the users.

The client will typically have set bridges/hoist capacities already in place or desired to have in place and with that I check the beams based on current codes and the appropriate loadings.

The difficulty with multiple bridges on one craneway is how to control the spacing limits of the bridges as they are used. Some newer bridge models come with motion eyes that measure proximity of one bridge to another and can shut off the trolley motor if two bridges get too close. The client can be told, for example, that his three 5 ton cranes can all use the craneway but cannot be closer than one full span...or something like that. Other means are horizontal arms that keep a set distance between bridges but the impact of these, if mis-used, can possibly damage the bridge trolleys and motors.

In some cases, particular beam spans have less capacity that others and you could suggest/recommend to the client replacing or strengthening the beams to create a uniform level of capacity along the craneway length.