🔧 Hoists & Lifting Tools
Lifting Beam Inspection & Certification in Saudi Arabia
A lifting beam carries the load in bending, with one lifting point on top and one or more attachment points underneath, so equipment such as pump skids, compressors, transformers and steel sections can be lifted level with limited headroom. Adjustable and telescopic versions let crews move the pick points to match a load's centre of gravity, and the allowable capacity changes with the pick position. Inspection in Saudi industrial plants therefore checks both the structure and the capacity chart that goes with it.
What we inspect on a lifting beam
- ✓Flanges and web at mid-span and near the lug welds for cracks, permanent bending and local deformation
- ✓Top lifting eye or shackle point for wear, hole elongation and deformation
- ✓Underside attachment points, hooks or sliding trolleys for correct position and secure locking
- ✓Telescopic or adjustable sections: locking pins and holes for wear, and use of original pins only
- ✓Capacity chart or table versus pick-point spacing, legible and attached to the beam
- ✓Welds at stiffeners, padeyes and end plates, with MPI or dye penetrant where specified
- ✓Balance when lifted with a representative load, with no excessive tilt or twisting
- ✓Corrosion, section loss and condition of the coating, including inside hollow sections
Common defects we find
- ✓Flange cracks beginning near load points or at welded attachments
- ✓Locking pins on adjustable beams worn or replaced with non-original pins
- ✓Capacity chart missing, so the safe pick positions are not known
- ✓Beam bent after side loading or contact with structures
- ✓Underside sliding trolleys or hooks seized, or not locking at the pick position set on the chart
Risks of operating uncertified
- ✓Structural failure of the beam in bending, dropping the load
- ✓Load slipping or the beam shifting because the pick points were set incorrectly
- ✓Unbalanced load swinging or tipping when picked, striking people or equipment
Testing, standards & frequency
Load / performance test
A proof load test is typically carried out at 100%-125% of rated capacity depending on the standard and client, with adjustable beams tested at the most severe pick position in the capacity table.
Inspection interval
Typically a thorough examination at least annually, plus inspection before first use and after any repair or modification, with a check before each lift.
Standards referenced
- ASME B30.20 (Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices)
- ASME BTH-1 (Design of Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices)
- Manufacturer specifications and load charts
- Saudi Aramco General Instructions (GI), where applicable
Part of our Lifting Equipment Inspection & Load Testing service. You receive an inspection report, Certificate of Conformity and inspection tag for passing equipment.
Industries using this equipment
FAQs
How is the capacity of an adjustable lifting beam shown?＋
It should carry a rating plate and a chart that shows the permitted load for each pick-point position. If the chart is missing or unreadable, the beam should not be used until the manufacturer or a competent engineer provides the data.
Does a lifting beam need re-certification after a weld repair?＋
Yes. Any weld repair or modification should be done to a procedure, followed by NDT of the repair and a fresh proof load test before the beam returns to service.