Section 4 Machinery engaged in handling of personnel
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Rules and Regulations - Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment, July 2022 - Chapter 9 Machinery - Section 4 Machinery engaged in handling of personnel

Section 4 Machinery engaged in handling of personnel

4.1 Scope

4.1.1 In addition to Ch 9, 3 Mechanical design requirements, this Section specifies the requirements for the mechanical hoisting equipment for cranes and other equipment whose primary task is to perform unmanned operations but which may also be used for handling of personnel (often called man-riding).

4.1.2 This Section does not cover the requirements for lifting appliances intended for shiplift and transfer systems, ro-ro access equipment and lifts.

4.1.3 It is the responsibility of the manufacturer that the lifting appliance is designed to meet relevant national or statutory requirements which may be applied in addition to the requirements of this Section.

4.2 Cranes and winches used for handling of personnel

4.2.1 All hoisting equipment is to be equipped with a suitable primary braking device, mechanically operable under all operational load conditions. Proposals to make use of hydraulic locking of the drive motor as brake will be specially considered; however either the primary or the secondary brake is to be of the mechanical type.

4.2.2 Primary automatic type mechanical brakes are to be fitted to both the hoisting and (where fitted) luffing winches.

4.2.3 The hoisting and (where fitted) luffing winches are to be equipped with mechanically and operationally independent secondary braking systems. The secondary brake system is to operate directly on the winch drum or drum shaft. Other proposals (e.g. a fully independent load path) will be specially considered.

4.2.4 The secondary brake system is to arrest all motions when the lifting appliance operator places the controls into the neutral position or in the event of an emergency (i.e. power or control system failure, emergency stop activated) during handling of personnel operations. The control system for these secondary brakes is to be independent of the primary brake. Both primary and secondary brakes are to be automatically activated in case of the emergency stop being activated or in the event of a power or control system failure. For winches driven by two motors both fitted with integral brakes, a separate secondary braking system is not required, provided that either motor/brake unit can provide the full personnel braking torque required by this Code and provided that the load path of both motors are independent of each other. Proposals which engage more than two motors will be specially considered.

4.2.5 The winch brakes are to be fitted with a manual override and means are to be provided to enable the recovery (hoisting or lowering) of the lifted personnel to a safe location from any position in the event of a power failure.

4.2.6 The primary and secondary braking devices are to be tested independently. Each brake is to be statically tested to at least 1,5 times the un-factored load for personnel handling and dynamically tested to at least 1,1 times the un-factored load for personnel handling. The speeds at which the brakes are to be tested are as follows:
  1. For the static test, the brakes shall be applied with the winch at standstill; and
  2. for the dynamic test, the brakes shall be applied with the winch running at nominal speed until the winch reaches standstill.

4.2.7 The secondary brake is to have a brake torque which will result in a vertical acceleration which will not be in excess of the requirements of Ch 9, 4.2 Cranes and winches used for handling of personnel 4.2.11 and not impair the requirements of Ch 9, 4.2 Cranes and winches used for handling of personnel 4.2.4.

4.2.8 An emergency stop is to be provided at each control station. See Ch 10, 4.1 General 4.1.4.

4.2.9 Any speed-change gearbox fitted is to be of the constant mesh type such that it is not possible to change the gear ratio while there is any load on the lifting system.

4.2.10 Clutches or other means of disengaging the drive train are not to be fitted for this type of operation.

4.2.11 Vertical accelerations, i.e. due to hoisting, lowering and emergency stop, which will harm personnel being handled by the lifting appliance, shall be avoided. The vertical acceleration shall not be in excess of the below given limits:

  1. Normal operation (hoisting or lowering): ±1,5 m/s2;
  2. Emergency stop: 1,0g.

The lifting appliance system needs to be designed to withstand these maximum accelerations. The maximum hoisting or lowering speed shall be limited to 1,0 m/s. The basket or carrier being used for the handling of personnel is to be designed to a recognised National or International Standard and is to be certified for this purpose, see Ch 4, 6.2 General requirements 6.2.3.


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