Standards / Lifting Accessories
EN 13155
Lifting Accessories
Current
Non-Fixed Load Lifting Attachments
EN 13155 is the European standard covering non-fixed load lifting attachments: the devices placed between the crane hook and the load that are not permanently attached to either. It applies to lifting beams and spreaders, plate and drum clamps, lifting magnets, vacuum lifters, forks and similar equipment, and it is principally concerned with what happens when the power or the grip fails.
Scope
EN 13155 applies to non-fixed load lifting attachments used with cranes and other lifting appliances, where the attachment can be removed from the machine and from the load. It covers mechanical strength, stability, the required factors against loss of the load, and the marking and information the manufacturer must supply.
Exclusions & Related Standards
- Slings of wire rope, chain and textile fall under EN 13414, EN 818 and EN 1492 respectively.
- Attachments permanently built into the lifting machine are outside the scope.
- Equipment for lifting persons rather than loads is outside the scope.
- Helmets worn beneath a suspended load fall under EN 397.
Key Requirements & Marking
Attachments that hold a load by friction, magnetism or vacuum must retain it if the power supply fails, and must provide a defined margin between the holding force and the load. Every attachment must be marked with its working load limit, its own weight, the manufacturer and a traceable identification. Its own weight matters because it is subtracted from what the crane can lift, and it is frequently left out of the calculation on site.
The attachment weighs something itself, and that weight comes off the crane capacity before the load is added.
Testing Overview
Assessment covers static testing at a multiple of the working load limit, dynamic testing where the attachment is used in motion, verification of the retention margin for devices holding by friction, magnetism or vacuum, testing of behaviour on loss of power, and confirmation of stability and of the marking.
Selection Guide
Select an attachment rated for the load and matched to the shape, surface and material of what is being lifted; a magnet is useless on non-ferrous material and a vacuum lifter needs a clean, non-porous, undamaged surface to grip. Confirm the attachment weight has been included in the crane duty calculation, and check that the intended orientation of the load matches what the attachment was designed for.
Inspection, Care and Maintenance
- Inspect before each use for cracks, distortion and wear, particularly at the lifting points and at the gripping surfaces
- On clamps, check the gripping teeth or pads for wear and contamination, since a worn cam will slip under load
- On magnets and vacuum lifters, confirm the condition of the contact face and test the retention indicator or alarm before lifting
- Confirm the marking is legible, including the attachment weight, and withdraw the device if it is not
- Keep the manufacturer information with the equipment, as the safe use limits are specific to the device
A worn or contaminated gripping face slips under load, which is why the contact surface is the inspection point.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a non-fixed load lifting attachment?
Anything placed between the hook and the load that can be removed from both, including lifting beams and spreaders, plate and drum clamps, lifting magnets, vacuum lifters and lifting forks.
What happens to a magnet or vacuum lifter if the power fails?
The standard requires the attachment to retain the load on loss of power, and to provide a defined margin between the holding force and the load. Nobody should be relying on that margin as an operating condition, only as a protection against failure.
Why is the weight of the attachment marked on it?
Because it is subtracted from what the crane can lift. A heavy spreader beam consumes a significant part of the machine capacity, and leaving it out of the calculation is one of the more common ways a lift is quietly overloaded.
Can a plate clamp be used on any material?
No. Clamps are rated for a material thickness range and grip by cam action on a suitable surface. A worn cam, a contaminated face, or material outside the rated range will slip.
Does a lifting beam need thorough examination like a sling?
Yes. It is lifting equipment in its own right, with its own marking, records and periodic examination requirement, separate from the crane and from the slings used with it.