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In brief There is no single "certification" for an overhead crane. Compliance is built from four elements accumulated in the logbook: the periodic inspection, the engineering plan, the electrical certification (CSA) and the load test. Premium carries out inspections and load tests, provides a sealed engineering plan and CSA certification on the equipment it manufactures, and can refer you to qualified partners for the steps that fall outside its scope. |
Overhead crane and hoist certification: the 4 key documents you may need to provide
The lifting industry is protected by strict standards to which all equipment owners must comply. But there’s a term that’s a little more ambiguous: overhead crane certification. This word can be confusing. We sometimes receive requests from customers who want to “certify” their equipment. Perhaps it’s because of an accident or a visit from a CNESST inspector. Or perhaps a document is missing from the logbook.
Many lifting equipment owners feel overwhelmed when confronted with terms like “certification”, especially after inspections or incidents. It’s often unclear what is really required. But don’t worry! Thanks to the experience we’ve accumulated over the years and our involvement in the continuous improvement of industry standards, Premium Industrial Group is well placed to clarify the subject for you.
After reading this article, you’ll be able to distinguish what the 4 main certifications are and understand which ones you need. You’ll then know exactly what to ask your lifting specialist to meet the certification requirements of the standard.
What does lifting equipment certification entail?
It’s important to understand that “certification” is a generic term which, in itself, doesn’t correspond to any clearly defined requirements. In fact, no standard specifies what global certification means for a lifting device such as an overhead crane. What you really need depends on your context and objectives.
On the other hand, there’s a clearer term that’s closely linked to current standards. It’s the compliance of lifting equipment. But here again, it’s not a one-off certificate issued to the owner to guarantee that his equipment is compliant. Rather, it’s a set of information accumulated throughout the equipment’s service life in a file we call the logbook. These documents will inform anyone authorized to consult them that your equipment complies with current standards. Let’s look at a few concrete examples.
A few examples of documents related to certification you might be looking for:
1. Periodic inspection: 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.
2. The engineering plan: 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 :
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Analyzing equipment load capacity
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Calculate the strength of welds and members
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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. Electrical certification (CSA): 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: before starting up a piece of equipment
This test is carried out after the equipment has been commissioned, or after major work has been carried out. Although it verifies that the equipment can withstand the anticipated load, it does not guarantee conformity or overall certification. To find out more, read our page on load tests.
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.
What is the link between load testing and compliance?A load test, also known as a load trial, is intended to "identify major mechanical defects in materials or manufacturing, design weaknesses or other unforeseen conditions" (CSA B167-26 Appendix I.). This type of test should be reserved for specific circumstances and carried out with care. In general, an inspection provides the necessary information on the condition of a piece of equipment. What's more, load testing is not part of, nor does it replace, a regular inspection, so it should not be carried out as a matter of course, unless there is a particular need.
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Certification: a step towards compliance
In short, there is no “one-size-fits-all certification” for an overhead crane or other lifting equipment. However, by accumulating inspections, engineering plans, electrical certifications and load tests, you document your logbook to ensure safety and compliance. These documents join the certifications provided by manufacturers and the equipment maintenance manual. The sum of all these documents is what will demonstrate the compliance of your lifting equipment when the time comes.
Need to clarify your approach? It’s true that certification may seem out of reach, but with professional support, it can be much simpler than it seems. Contact us by filling in the form at the bottom of the page! Whether you’re looking for an inspection, an engineering plan or a load test, we can help. And if it’s a certification outside our field of expertise, we can refer you to qualified partners to meet your needs.
If you’d like to find out more about compliance, we suggest you read our article Compliance of Handling and Lifting equipment which will answer all your questions on the subject.
