Overhead crane certification: which document should you ask for?

By Marc-André Martineau
Manager and partner at Premium Industrial Group

"Can you certify my overhead crane?"

We get the question every month. Sometimes after a visit from a CNESST inspector, sometimes because a document is missing from the logbook.

Certification is not a defined requirement. No standard describes what an overall certification for an overhead crane would be. But there are specific documents, with a clear scope, that you can ask your lifting specialist for.

This article covers the four main ones, what each of them covers, and who to approach to obtain it. Other documents may be added to the file depending on your situation.

What does certifying a piece of lifting equipment mean? 

Certification is a generic term. No standard defines what an overall certification for an overhead crane would be. What you actually need depends on your situation.

The term tied to the standards is compliance. And it isn't demonstrated by a single certificate handed to the owner either, but by a set of documents accumulated throughout the life of the equipment, in a file we call the logbook. That file is what allows you to demonstrate to an inspector or a customer that your equipment meets the standards in force.

Let's look at the documents that make it up.

The 4 main documents, and who to ask for them 

1. The periodic inspection report: complying with standards and assessing equipment condition

A periodic inspection is a minimum standard requirement, to be carried out at least once a year. A qualified inspector will check the condition of your equipment and make sure it complies with current standards. To learn more about the three types of inspections required for your lifting equipment, visit our detailed page on inspections.

How Premium can help: we carry out overhead crane inspections. Our qualified inspectors assess the condition of your equipment and record the results, which feed directly into your logbook.

Be aware: a report may list non-conformities. Having it does not demonstrate that they have been corrected. What you need is a report free of non-conformities, or the evidence that the corrective work has been done.

2. The sealed engineering drawing: a certification of structural mechanics

This step is crucial when it comes to equipment design or overhaul. A qualified engineer can assess whether your equipment meets the capabilities for which it was designed. This includes things such as :

1. Analyzing equipment load capacity

2. Calculate the strength of welds and members

3. Checking the strength of the supporting structure

Most engineering plans focus on the main girder, as components such as hoists or motorizations are usually already certified by their manufacturers. Engineers can also provide certification based on internationally recognized standards, such as ISO or CMAA.

How Premium can help: every overhead crane we manufacture comes with a plan sealed by an engineer. For a piece of equipment we did not manufacture, we refer you to a specialized partner able to produce this certification.

3. The electrical approval of the assembly (CSA SPE-1000) : complying with the electrical standard

Once your overhead crane has been assembled, an in-shop evaluation according to the CSA SPE-1000 standard must be carried out by a third party, as required by the RBQ (see the page Approval of electrical equipment: bodies, seals, and labels on the RBQ website). This process verifies that assembly, connections and electrical compatibility comply with current standards, such as the CSA C22.2 no. 33. This certification is required in Canada, even if each individual component is CSA-certified.

How Premium can help: all the equipment we manufacture is CSA-certified. For a piece of equipment we did not manufacture, we can direct you to a specialized firm that carries out this certification. Note that up-to-date electrical plans will be required before this verification can be performed. 

4. The load test report: before starting up a piece of equipment

How Premium can help: we offer the load test on all the equipment we install. For an equipment we did not manufacture, several pieces of information must be gathered beforehand. Start with two simple items: the original drawings and the most recent inspection reports available. These documents will let us quickly determine whether your file can be salvaged, or whether the missing information makes the assessment too uncertain to go any further.

Here's a summary of the 4 documents at the core of the equipment logbook, and when each one is obtained.

Certification: a step towards compliance

In short, there is no single certification for an overhead crane or any other piece of lifting equipment. What demonstrates your equipment's compliance when the time comes is the accumulation of inspections, engineering drawings, electrical certifications and load tests in your logbook.

Other documents add to it: the hoist manufacturer's certificate, the maintenance manual, a wire rope certificate, your operators' training records. Each one earns its name because its scope is defined. You know what was verified, on what, and by whom. That is very different from a certificate declaring a crane compliant in a broad and open-ended way.

To go further, read our article Compliance of lifting and material handling equipment.

Need help clarifying your next steps? Contact one of our specialists. Whether you need an inspection, an engineering drawing or a load test, we can support you, and refer you to qualified partners if the work falls outside our area of expertise.

Frequently asked questions about lifting equipment certification

A CNESST inspector is asking me to have my overhead crane "certified." What should I do?

Start by asking which specific document is missing, since no single certification exists for an overhead crane. In most cases, it's the equipment logbook that's incomplete: periodic inspection report, engineer-sealed drawing, electrical certification, or load test attestation. Gather what you already have, then identify the gaps. To understand what this file should contain, see our article on compliance of lifting and handling equipment.

Who can certify an overhead crane in Quebec?

It depends on which document you're after, because no single body certifies an overhead crane as a whole. The periodic inspection is performed by a qualified inspector. The engineering drawing must be sealed by an engineer. The electrical certification must be carried out by a recognized third-party body, an RBQ requirement. The load test is performed by a specialized lifting company.

My overhead crane is CSA certified. Is that enough?

Not necessarily. The fact that each component individually carries a CSA certification does not make the assembly compliant. Once the equipment is assembled, an evaluation under CSA SPE-1000 must be carried out by a third party, which the RBQ requires. And even when complete, electrical certification represents only one of the four documents in the equipment logbook.

Does the CNESST issue certificates for overhead cranes?

No. The CNESST acts as an oversight body and verifies that you comply with the RSST, but it does not issue compliance certificates or equipment certifications. The documents come from inspectors, engineers, recognized certification bodies, and manufacturers. It is up to the equipment owner to keep them and to be able to demonstrate compliance on request.