07.05.2009

FEM warns on EN13000

The Fédération Européenne de la manutention (FEM) Cranes and Lifting product group has warned crane manufacturers that the amended EN13000 standard is likely to come into force by mid 2010 and that they ought to get on and modify Rated Capacity Limiters to comply with the new rules.

The exact wording says: “If a mobile crane manufacturer is still neglecting the ongoing development of EN13000 (safety standard for mobile cranes in Europe) despite the information already given by FEM, it is now high time to wake up and to adapt the Rated Capacity Limiter to the foreseeable changes.”

"The amendment of EN 13000:2004 is planned to be distributed for enquiry from June to November 2009, with the publication of the modified document expected between 18th of February 2010 to 18th of May 2010 and that there will be no transition period.”

As a result the amended rules are highly likely to come into force next June with the design changes required to be in place at that time. The standard will apply to all mobile cranes going into operation in the European market.

It also adds that most European manufacturers within FEM plan to implement the changes by the 1st of January 2010.

The key changes to the existing standard include:

- The Capacity Limiter override key must be located outside of the operator's cab.
- Deadlocks can be overcome by a push button in the operator's cab releasing some
further load capacity at reduced operational speeds.
- When the override key is activated, the speed of movements is reduced.
- All activation of the override key is recorded by a data logger.