Lifting Beam Bond?

[roys]

Bit of advice please folks.

Domestic Garage/Workshop, has a lifting beam running between two walls in it, for taking engines out of cars, sits supported on the brickwork of the garage. There is 75 mm x 75 mm metal trunking passing close to it at one end (within 25mm). On the lifting beam there is a normal chainblock.

Should I put an earth bond onto this lifting beam. If the answer is no would that still be the case if the manual chainblock was swopped for an electric one?

Cheers Steve

 

[Tooold]

I personally do bond such items, imo its part of the exposed metallic strucure of the building. I know in this case it may not be but workshops can be dangerous and if you think they will put an electric hoist there its done.

 

[Apache]

A completely off the wall thought, but if we bond the beam and therefore the hoist could this become the lowest resistance path to earth and give bother with the welder. Also if the earth current went via the bonding back to the DB then would we get the RCD tripping?

Or am I talking ballcocks?

 

[PC Electrics]

As it is now, I'd say no need to bond the beam. If you do ever fit a leccy hoist then I would supplementary bond the beam with 4mm back to a reliable earth point. Really just in case the supply lead to the hoist should ever become trapped or break - very low risk though (but then again, accidents do happen)

 

[Andy™]

no need to bond it. its not extraneous. even if they do change it for an electric hoist, it still wont need bonded

 

[mickey g]

agree with andy

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

[quote name='Andy

 

[roys]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Cheers Steve

 

[Blue Fox]

One quick point on this if the beam is a certified lifting beam (which it should be) then you shouldn't drill any holes in it or it will invalidate the lifting certificate for it.

 

[a1]

[quote name='Andy

 

[roys]

Hi Blue Fox

Valid point re certified lifting beam, however it is in a domestic garage for hobby use, and so it is not certified, neither is the lifting slings or chainblock. In fact the farmer who lent a hand with his JCB to lift the beam in brought out a sling that had broke and he had tied a reef knot in it to join in back together:|. Needless to say we didn't use that sling but a couple of our own that were in good condition.

Sounds like a good idea for a new thread, shadey practices you have seen farmers do, I can list two or three.

Thanks again lads Steve

 

[Lurch]

Sounds like a good idea for a new thread, shadey practices you have seen farmers do, I can list two or three.

I've worked on loads of farms in some form or other. Basically if there's a right way of doing something, a farmer will do it differently. There, thread done.

A farmer told me there's right, wrong and good enough for a farm.

 

[Apache]

I've worked on loads of farms in some form or other. Basically if there's a right way of doing something, a farmer will do it differently. There, thread done.A farmer told me there's right, wrong and good enough for a farm.

I should take some pictures on my rounds