Building a Gantry Crane / Lifting Frame

[robert-shetland]

Hi All
I am just setting up a new workshop, it will be Marine Engineering / Welding and Fabrication which i served my time doing and have been doing ever since.
I live in Shetland so as you can imagine delivery for large items can be costly.
Next to that the cost to purchase of what i am looking to build is extortionate from one of the big suppliers.
I have a large 4.5m square door in the end of my workshop for taking boats and any other large things in, so i was thinking to build a gantry crane of the same size, i got a design done by an engineer to keep things right and was all set to build it, then it came into my head about LOLER and certification.
Do any of you know the answers to these 2 questiosn.
1, Do i need to be coded to weld this thing together, (ran out ages ago as i now work offshore)
2, How can i get the frame certified once its built?
Thanks in advance.

 

[mr migwire]

@Parm may be able to advise on this one....

 

[Munkul]

Lloyds British certify all our stuff. Usually they inspect construction, checking weld quality etc and then carry out a test lift of 1.5x the rated weight.
A few things they will pull you up on, like making sure the end stops are bolted inwards from the end a minimum distance; using square washers on tensile loaded bolts, a few other things too but i don't get involved directly.

Not saying its right, but there are literally thousands of smaller workshops in the UK with uncertified beams and lifting equipment etc.

 

[mtt.tr]

As long you have an engineer design loler shouldn't be difficult

Look for a loler inspector first and get to know them, some design aswell so would be advantageous long run.

 

[Stueeee]

Are you going to be the only person using the workshop?

 

[Brad93]

Hi All
I am just setting up a new workshop, it will be Marine Engineering / Welding and Fabrication which i served my time doing and have been doing ever since.
I live in Shetland so as you can imagine delivery for large items can be costly.
Next to that the cost to purchase of what i am looking to build is extortionate from one of the big suppliers.
I have a large 4.5m square door in the end of my workshop for taking boats and any other large things in, so i was thinking to build a gantry crane of the same size, i got a design done by an engineer to keep things right and was all set to build it, then it came into my head about LOLER and certification.
Do any of you know the answers to these 2 questiosn.
1, Do i need to be coded to weld this thing together, (ran out ages ago as i now work offshore)
2, How can i get the frame certified once its built?
Thanks in advance.

Look up Apexish on YouTube he built a useful gantry.

Lifting regulations are a mind boggling field.
@Welderpaul might know whether you have to be coded.
You’ll need to get it tested. That usually involves lifting 125% of its designed load.

 

[Brad93]

https://www.hoistuk.com/services/testing/

As I thought. Lifting equipment should have a written scheme of examination.
Likely this would need a design specification with some sort of calculations.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

As long you have an engineer design loler shouldn't be difficult

Mhhh, I wonder. I could have an Engineer design something for me, but my welding in the execution of that design would probably be sadly lacking - that's why I don't do anything structural or seriously load bearing.

I'm not suggesting @robertlaurenson won't do a great job, obviously - just a comment on my ability and that of, perhaps, others.

 

[mtt.tr]

Mhhh, I wonder. I could have an Engineer design something for me, but my welding in the execution of that design would probably be sadly lacking - that's why I don't do anything structural or seriously load bearing.

I'm not suggesting @robertlaurenson won't do a great job, obviously - just a comment on my ability and that of, perhaps, others.

I state it will need a loler person which would deal with said problem.

 

[Welderpaul]

It needs to be designed by a competent person (A structural engineer usually) who will specify the Execution Class under BS1090 and prepare calcs
It needs to be manufactured in accordance with the design by a BS1090 accredited company in accordance with the Execution Class specified (Yes, BS9606 qualified welder)
Lifting equipment sometimes needs additional 'type testing'
Once manufactured it needs to undergo a thorough examination by a LEEA accredited company, including proof load
CE certificate and DoP should be prepared.
The kit should be then covered by a written scheme of examination and undergo 12 monthly (if not 6) thorough inspections

This goes one of three ways...make one and say nowt. Buy one off a reputable dealer, or, and as i would suggest, wait for a second hand decent one to come up (not a home made thing) and put it through a thorough test and have the paperwork to cover you and give you the proof you need that it is safe

 

[Mr Roo]

Mhhh, I wonder. I could have an Engineer design something for me, but my welding in the execution of that design would probably be sadly lacking - that's why I don't do anything structural or seriously load bearing.

I'm not suggesting @robertlaurenson won't do a great job, obviously - just a comment on my ability and that of, perhaps, others.

well, feel free to give me a shout if you ever need a hand. Only been at it for years now!

 

[Stueeee]

If he's not got anyone else using his workshop why would he need LOLER etc. paperwork? In my "one man" garages and workshops there are three gantry cranes and a four post lift. I built or modified and installed all of them and am not expecting a raid on my premises by the health and safety police serious welding squad. Here's two of the cranes and my narrowed down Four post lift:

 

[Munkul]

It needs to be designed by a competent person (A structural engineer usually) who will specify the Execution Class under BS1090 and prepare calcs
It needs to be manufactured in accordance with the design by a BS1090 accredited company in accordance with the Execution Class specified (Yes, BS9606 qualified welder)
Lifting equipment sometimes needs additional 'type testing'

This only applies if he wants to sell it. You don't need to CE mark equipment built for own use... but the rest of what you said applies re the testing and inspection.

Lloyds will test whatever you want, they don't need to see weld certs or design etc, although our understanding has always been that it "should" be a qualified fabricator.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Not saying its right, but there are literally thousands of smaller workshops in the UK with uncertified beams and lifting equipment etc

I state it will need a loler person which would deal with said problem.

Aye, but others seemed to think you'd be OK without?

 

[Munkul]

A LOLER inspector will not certify a lifting beam. They will just do the 6 monthlies. Testing and certifying is a seperate matter.

Personally... I would design to good eng practice. Enlist a proper design engineer on it, so you know it will be good.

Make it, if you have the skill and ability to make it properly.

After that... do whatever you want, as long as you don't post the ins and outs of it on a public forum... SOME level of common sense needs to prevail

 

[scottmk1]

If he's not got anyone else using his workshop why would he need LOLER etc. paperwork? In my "one man" garages and workshops there are three gantry cranes and a four post lift. I built or modified and installed all of them and am not expecting a raid on my premises by the health and safety police serious welding squad. Here's two of the cranes and my narrowed down Four post lift:

View attachment 229627 View attachment 229628 View attachment 229629 View attachment 229630

View attachment 229631

I need a gantry in my life!

 

[mtt.tr]

A LOLER inspector will not certify a lifting beam. They will just do the 6 monthlies. Testing and certifying is a seperate matter.

Cant see him ticketing a bucket of turds, if its as hot as the abseiling loler nothing slips through.

 

[Wedg1e]

Surely a walk round a few extant gantries will give an idea of I-beam size for a given SWL, bracing, bolt sizes etc.?
I've seen a few cranes/lifting devices that didn't look like they would hoist a bag of farts without bending but rated for 2.5T and other things with an SWL so low you'd wonder why they bothered building it.
Some of those travelling cranes in old MOD sheds and the like, where a 5T SWL seems utterly pathetic for something that looks like you'd use it to lift Cyril Smith to scrape off the barnacles, are the dog's parts One sometimes wonders whether the building's frame is the weak point!

 

[Brad93]

I’d certainly pay a few quid to get a copy of some proper designs that could then be tested. Our forklift is playing up and could be lost without it. At least with a gantry you can still lift things up.

forum whip round?

 

[robert-shetland]

Thankyou for all the replies
I have a fully engineered design for what i am planning to build, and am an experienced and dare i say very skilled welder. Just dont have any codings to back it up anymore as not doing it full time.
What i was concerned about was getting it tested and a cert to say its ok to use if "hopefully" my new venture pays off and i end up employing people and have to then get it loler certified