The demand for production and exploration of natural resources is increasing day by day. Therefore the need for lifting equipment and cranes is also growing. With that, one must choose a piece of lifting equipment or cranes that can withstand ultracold temperatures. When specifying or selecting these products, one must take proper care. Also, it would be best if you had adequate consideration about the site condition. It could, however, affect the use and safety of the cranes and the lifting equipment.
We got several requests from our overseas customers, especially in the cold zone asking about the ways of handling the hoists, winches and cranes in cold weather. So we thought it would be better to provide some tips in general for all such questions.
The material handling equipment can last long and perform best only with the right maintenance. One of the best ways to do that is by retaining the proper temperature level. However, as most of the regions in the USA and Canada have cold weather, it is essential to think of the safety measures of the crane systems and their operators. Surely, load-lifting equipment may cause risk anytime due to improper management. But, the safety factor becomes more important when the weather is too cold. As an overhead crane user, you have to know the way of weatherizing the system.
Heavy snowfall can cause an adverse effect on the lifting mechanism of a crane, rigging device, and hoist. The temperature level, dropping below 10 degrees, can cause a risk to your crane hydraulics.
The most important step is to know the safety standards of the crane and engage a mechanical engineer to weatherize the system.
Choosing the correct cranes and rigging products, hoists
It is incorrect to say that the costly equipment damage, lost productivity, and personal injury result from the failure of this heavy-duty lifting equipment. Some of the reputable manufacturers of this heavy-duty lifting equipment utilize sound energy and quality material to produce safe equipment. It is, however, imperative that most of these manufacturers' duty standard capacity ratings do not take into account any of the impacts that the extreme cold temperature offers. This fact is, however, borne out in various industry standards. Some of these standards include:
- ASME (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers): The trolley and the hoist covered by the American Society of Mechanical Engineering standard aims for any industrial usage in the ambient temperature from - 18 degrees Celsius to 54 degrees Celsius. Moreover, one can operate the hoisting equipment designed to maintain this standard in the ambient temperature of -18 degree celsius and 40 degrees Celsius. Additionally, according to ASME B30.20 measures, one must take care of the temperature of the working environment. This temperature should range between -4 degrees Celsius to 66 degrees Celsius. It is, however, intended that the engineers should use the preferred steel or rate the capacity of the steel that would be appropriate to work with on such low temperatures.
- DNV standards for certification: This standard, however, states that if the equipment does not mention any specific temperature, then one must use it at not less than -10 degrees Celsius. It is a reference temperature that one needs to use as a criterion for selecting the Steel grades.
The impacts of cold
Some of the standards reinforce that the standard lifting equipment for cranes may not suit cold weather use. The temperature limitations in some of this equipment may vary a little from the standard. But in any case, one can understand how temperature can harm the equipment you are working with.
The coldest temperature is known to affect the tensile toughness of most of the materials commonly used in any construction site. Tensile toughness is the material's ductility and brittleness. Some materials are known to absorb a large amount of impact energy before they undergo any fracture. It can result in bending or deformation. It, however, alerts the operator to look for any overload situation before failure takes place.
On the other hand, brittle materials can shatter while receiving any impact. Most of the materials experienced are shifted from flexibility to brittleness if the temperature suddenly drops below the limit. The temperature at which this shift takes place is known as the ductile to the brittle transition temperature. One should note that any brittle failure can be catastrophic and unpredictable. It can occur from any random impact or dynamic loading. In some cases, this impact propagates due to the stress riser like knick or cracks.
Steel components of cranes and the effect of low-temperature levels
The commonly used metal for the material handling system is steel that combines iron and some other components. Although steel is cheap, it has high strength with ductile properties. Without affecting the strength, it is stretchable. However, while the temperature is very low, the steel material bond can break very easily. That is why it is essential to treat metal properties to reduce the cold climatic effects.
Now, the question is- Which type of steel is best for your purpose?
High-strength low-alloy steel has the best mechanical properties with high resistance to natural corrosion. In fact, it is better than carbon steel. In most of the overhead cranes, we can find A607/A715 grade steel.
You can weatherize steel beams, tracks, and similar other components to make them resistant to low temperatures (-70 degrees). On cold days, you may use them for regular operations.
Weatherizing the crane with coatings
The best way of weatherizing steel components is by using special coatings. For instance, you may use galvanized and epoxy coating to ensure the ultimate protection of your steel components from the effect of lower temperatures. While epoxy coatings are friction resistant, they also protect the surface from heat and corrosive elements. Moreover, hot-dip galvanizing is another reliable choice used in cold and harsh environments found in warehouses and production facilities.
Two-part epoxy coatings are the right choice for steel used for industrial purposes. What is more, they can protect your steel system from turbulence, corrosive fluids, and impact forces.
On the contrary, hot-dip galvanizing is the right choice when you are using your material handling equipment in salty regions. To protect your crane components, like steel beams, you can rely on this weatherizing method. Furthermore, galvanized steel is highly effective and reliable as your steel gets zinc coatings during this process. The galvanizing technique also creates a thick and protective layer, and you can apply it rapidly.
High-performance steel used for the best-enclosed track
Ice and debris are major threats to the overhead crane system. Thus, to avoid any damage, you can choose the enclosed track system with a special V-shaped design. It helps in directing the trolley through a path while protecting the system from dirt and ice.
Furthermore, most manufacturers offer steel wheels for trolleys and end trucks, which can easily withstand cold weather exposure. Thus, these trolleys do not have any effect on frozen weather and never cause injury risk to your workers. In other words, you will have higher productivity with these enclosed tracks.
Electrifying the motorized crane systems
During the winter season, we mostly use motorized load lifting systems to make our tasks easier. However, it is also essential to focus on the electrification process for your motorized systems.
There are festoon cables to deal with hoses and other cables providing power and energy to machinery. Moreover, they have the best applications in both indoor and outdoor sites. But, when the temperature is very low, you have to use conductor bar systems that ensure protection to your components.
Now, what are these conductor bars? Treated with electrolytic copper/galvanized steel, these conductor bars are the best solution to avoid the effects of cold weather on your equipment. Besides, their favourable sizes help you to carry them easily. The electric current flows through them properly without the risk of overheating.
Check out NEMA ratings of enclosures.
While buying cranes and their components, you can check out NEMA ratings that ensure the capability of the product to endure weather elements. You can use these NEMA rated items for outdoor activities without any risk. NEMA 3, NEMA 3S, and NEMA 3R are three NEMA ratings indicating the capability of the equipment to withstand adverse weather.
However, the best one of these ratings is NEMA 3S, especially for protection against cold weather, sleet, snow, and rain.
Ensuring the maximum safety while selecting the heavy-duty lifting equipment for cold Arctic environment
Understanding and reading the applicable safety standard while consulting these with reputable and experienced equipment managers are the two essential steps. It can ensure facility and operator's safety while selecting rigging equipment and cranes for Arctic applications.
- LOADMATE offers different equipment and machinery like trolleys, hoists, rigging hardware, and cranes that the company manufactures and designs for cold Arctic environment usage. Most of these products can be modified and used as a substitution.
- The EURO hoist offers to work well in the Arctic environment as it uses low-temperature lubricants and comes with special material certification.
- All our equipment works well in lower temperatures. But one should adhere to proper operation and maintenance procedures for the uninterrupted and safe operation of the cranes and hoists. Consider the specific stress that every colder climate offers today's heavy-duty lifting products. It will help you and your workers to prevent any dangerous accidents and work safely on your work site.
To conclude, we need that it is essential to choose the right cranes and hoists to avoid risks during the overhead lifting activities. The choice of the wrong cranes not only affects longevity but also causes you injury. Nowadays, the best crane manufacturers focus on the potential impact of cold weather to manufacture every system.
If you would like any more information on crane safety, or you would be interested in learning more about the products and services offered by LOADMATE, please get in touch with one of our friendly team members by calling us on 96871 14356, or dropping a mail on sales@loadmate.in
