El American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is a professional association and leading international developer of codes and standards associated with the art, science, and practice of mechanical engineering. ASME membership is comprised of engineers, scientists, government officials, and others who voluntarily contribute their technical expertise.
Every couple of years, the B30 Committee reviews, revises, and amends their existing standards and releases a new edition, based on:
In this article, we’ll discuss the revisions, updates, and additions to the newly released ASME B30.2 Overhead and Gantry Cranes standard, compared to the previously released 2016 edition.
What is ASME B30.2-2022 Overhead and Gantry Cranes?
The first ASME B30.2 Overhead and Gantry Cranes standard was issued in 1996, Since then, this standard has been revised and published by the B30 Committee in 2001, 2005, 2011, and 2016.
The new ASME B30.2 Overhead and Gantry Cranes standard revises and supersedes the procedures outlined in the 2016 edition of the same standard.
According to the standard itself, ASME B30.2-2022 Overhead and Gantry Cranes includes provisions that apply to the construction, installation, operation, inspection, and maintenance of hand-operated and power-driven overhead and gantry cranes that have a top-running single girder or multiple girder bridge, with one or more top-running trolley hoists used for vertical lifting and lowering of freely suspended, unguided loads consisting of equipment and materials.
The requirements included in this Volume also apply to cranes having the same fundamental characteristics such as cantilever gantry cranes, semi-gantry cranes, and wall cranes.
One of the more notable changes early in the ASME B30.2 Overhead and Gantry Cranes standard is the revision of definitions for lifting device and load block.
The new edition of ASME B30.2 Overhead and Gantry Cranes standard defines a lifting device as: “a device, other than a load block, used for attaching a load to a hoist. The device may contain components such as slings, hooks, and rigging hardware addressed by other ASME B30 volumes or standards. The weight of these devices is to be considered part of the rated load if it is not reeved onto the hoist ropes.”
Previously, the definition was: “devices that are not reeved onto the hoist ropes, such as hook-on buckets, magnets, grabs, and other supplemental devices used for ease of handling certain types of loads. The weight of these devices is to be considered part of the rated load.”
ASME B30.2-2022 Overhead and Gantry Cranes defines a load block as: “the assembly of hook or shackle, swivel, bearing, sheaves, pins, and frame suspended by the hoisting rope or load chain.”
Previously, the definition was: “the assembly of hook or shackle, swivel, bearing, sheaves, pins, and frame suspended by the hoisting rope or load chain. This shall include any appurtenances reeved in the hoisting ropes.”
For this section, Subparagraph (g) was revised to read: “A wind speed indicating device shall be provided for cranes used outdoors. The device shall be mounted on the crane or the crane runway structure and shall give a visible and audible alarm to the crane operator at a predetermined wind speed. A single wind speed indicating device may serve as an alarm for more than one crane.”
In this section, multiple paragraphs were revised to say the steel crane runways and supporting structures should conform to the design parameters as specified in ANSI / AISC 360-16. Previously, the reference was listed as “in the applicable AISC Manual of Steel Construction.
Additionally, the Runway Stops subsection was revised to read:
“Gantry structure” was added to the first two subparagraphs and “by the bumpers” replaced “to the bumpers.”
The words “bumper pads” were removed, and now, the standard reads, “Stops shall engage the bumpers mounted on the trolley.”
The former title of the subsection was “Bridge Bumpers.”
Subparagraph (3) now reads: “be designed and installed with a means of retaining the bumper in case of broken or loosened mounting connections. The retention requirement for elastomeric bumpers may be omitted if determined unnecessary by a qualified person.”
Previously, it read: “be designed and installed with a means of retaining the bumper in case of broken or loosened mounting connections.”
Other subparagraphs were revised, deleted, and / or redesignated in Sections 2-1.9.1, 2-1.9.2, 2-1.13.3 and 2-1.13.5.
This subsection was not in the 2016 edition.
Now, it states:
Subparagraphs (b) and (c) were revised. Subparagraph (d) was added, and states: “When operation of the push button or switch controlling the main line contactor in (c) will result in uncontrolled movement of the load (such as when a hoist that is equipped with a brake failure detection circuit detects a brake failure), the control circuit may temporarily maintain power to the crane to prevent uncontrolled movement of the load.”
Previously, this section was titled: “Cranes With Lifting Magnets,” and it was revised in its entirety.
Now, the standard reads:
The second sentence of this subsection was revised to read: “The requirements of Section 2-3.3 apply to both dedicated operators, whose primary job is the operation of a crane (cab or pulpit), and nondedicated operators who use a crane (floor or remote) as another tool in performing their job.”
Subparagraph (g) was revised to read: “The load, sling, or lifting device (when not reeved into the hoist ropes) shall be seated in the bowl of the hook.”
Subparagraph (f) was added, and states: “establish medical and vision criteria, if required, for
persons who will operate crane(s).”
Subparagraph (l) was added, and includes the following: “verifying that the load, sling, or lifting device (when not reeved into the hoist ropes) is seated in the bowl of the hook.”
This entire subsection was not included in the 2016 edition, but it outlines the what “a signalperson assigned to a load-handling activity shall, at a minimum, be responsible for:
This section was retitled to “Planning for Load Handling Activities.” Previously, the section was titled “Planned Engineered Lifts.”
This section was added, and all subsequent paragraphs were redesignated.
It reads: “Lifting operations are recognized to present risks to personnel or property. Lift planning and oversight shall be tailored to each hoisting operation and shall be sufficient to manage varying conditions and their associated hazards. The information presented in ASME P30.1 provides one method of documenting the planning and oversight necessary to reduce that risk.
“Certain lifting operations are recognized to have increased levels of risk to personnel or property. The criteria to categorize a lift as “critical” on this basis are established by site supervision, project management, a qualified person, or company policies. Lift planning and oversight shall be tailored to each operation and shall be sufficient to manage varying conditions and their associated hazards. ASME P30.1 or an equivalent lift planning tool should be used when the lifting operation is deemed to be “critical”.”
The second sentence in subparagraph (a) was added, and reads: “If a below-the-hook lifting device is present and will remain on the crane for the duration of the shift, it need not be removed for this test.”
While several parts of the standard were added, others were either updated or revised.
Updates were made to the following section:
Revisions were made to the following sections:
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