Section 2 Definitions

2.1.1 This is the maximum static load which the appliance is certified to lift whilst correctly rigged and operating simultaneously:

1. In the appropriate Service Category.

2. Within the designed Geometrical Limit.

2.1.2 The SWL of a lifting appliance is sometimes referred to as the working load limit.

2.2.1 This is the certified load for which the component has been designed and tested. This certified load is to be not less than the maximum load to which the component will be subjected when the appliance of which it forms part is operating at its SWL.

2.3.1  Standard service category. This is the least onerous operational category which can be adopted for the purpose of ascertaining the Safe Working Load (SWL) of any appliance. It is to embrace all of the following conditions:

1. The ship on which the appliance is installed adopting a heel of 5° in addition to a trim of 2°, each in such a direction as to affect adversely the lifting capacity of the appliance. In certain instances, angles of heel and trim less than 5° and 2° respectively will be accepted, provided the designers can show that in normal service it will not be possible for the vessel to exceed these values.

2. The appliance being operated whilst situated on a ship which is within the confines of a harbour.

3. The appliance being operated in wind speeds not exceeding 20 m/s, corresponding to a wind pressure not exceeding 250 N/m². The stowage wind speed is to be taken as at least 63 m/s. Proposals for the application of other wind speeds will be specially considered. All wind speeds are to be related to gust wind speeds averaged over a duration of 3 seconds.

4. The load being free of any external constraints to its motion whilst it is being acted upon by the lifting appliance.

5. The nature of the lifting operations, in terms of their frequency and dynamic character, being compatible with the Factored Loads permitted by the Code for the type of appliance concerned.

2.3.2  Specified service category. This is an operational category which is specified by the designer or Operator for the purpose of designing the appliance for the Safe Working Load (SWL). It is more onerous than the Standard Service Category by virtue of any of the following operational and environmental conditions being applicable:

1. The angles of heel and/or trim of the ship on which the appliance is situated being greater than those specified for the Standard Service Category.

2. The appliance being operated whilst situated on a ship which is not sheltered from the action of sea waves.

3. The appliance being operated in wind speeds exceeding 20 m/s, corresponding to a wind pressure exceeding 250 N/m². The stowage wind speed is to be taken as at least 63 m/s. Proposals for the application of other wind speeds will be specially considered. All wind speeds are to be related to gust wind speeds averaged over a duration of 3 seconds.

4. The load not being at rest at the time when the appliance commences the lift.

5. The load not being free of external constraints to its motion whilst being acted upon by the lifting appliance.

6. The nature of the lifting operations, in terms of their frequency and dynamic character, not being compatible with Factored Loads permitted by this Code for the type of appliance concerned.

2.4.1 This is any designed geometrical configuration of the lifting appliance in which a maximum stress which is not greater than the permissible stress occurs in one or more of the component parts of the appliance when the latter is lifting its Safe Working Load (SWL). It is possible for an appliance to be certified for a range of safe working loads in association with a corresponding range of Geometrical Limits.

2.5.1 This is the load (excluding any wind increment) which is considered to act on a lifting appliance for the purpose of designing its component parts. It comprises the Live Load multiplied by factors which allow for the frequency with which the appliance is used (as represented by the Duty Factor) and the effects of accelerations of the system which have not been specifically determined and separately allowed for (as represented by the Dynamic Factor).

2.6.1 This is a design factor which makes allowances for the frequency with which a lifting appliance is used. The Duty Factor is the factor by which the sum of all the static and dynamic loads acting on the system (excluding wind loading) must be multiplied to give the Factored Load.

2.7.1 This is a factor by which the Live Load is multiplied to represent the load on the system due to all dynamic effects which have not been explicitly determined and separately allowed for.

2.8.1 This is the sum of the Safe Working Load (SWL) of an Appliance and the static weight of any component of the appliance which is directly connected to, and undergoes the same motion as, the safe working load during the lifting operation.

2.9.1 This is the self-weight of any component of the lifting appliance which is not included in the Live Load.

2.10.1 This is the maximum stress permitted by the Code to which any component part of a lifting appliance may be subjected when the appliance is lifting its Safe Working Load (SWL), that is, when the appliance is subjected to the appropriate factors plus specified lateral and wind loads.