http://www.spanco.

com/blog/entry/understanding-overhead-crane-deflection-and-criteria

Hello Ms Kristina,
I have gone through various crane brouchers, while calculating the deflection limits
(L/400,L/700,L/600) Can you please let me know the significance of denominator
values (400,700,600) & on which parameters it depends on?

Thnaking you in advance,

Best Regards,
Niranjan Bhangale

I would like to ask for an exact reference for the deflection of bridge and granty cranes, so we
can actually get this documents for our company. If you also have any reference with
any DIN or EN standard we would appreciate the information.

Also, I'm needing some documents for testing our cranes after the mounting.

Thanks in advance and for this contribution.

Hello, Unfortunately, there is no exact reference for the deflection of a bridge crane. All of our
deflections come from an industry standard that's sort of considered an "unwritten
rule". Deflection guidelines have not been formally established by organizations like
ANSI and OSHA. We follow an approximate deflection guideline based on the types of
systems we sell. I apologize that I could not be more helpful.

Dear Madam,

Would you like to inform the deflection maximum limits for Jib Crane, Overhead & gantry
crane, please?

Sure! Thanks for the comment. Our approximate deflections are as follows: Workstation
Bridge Cranes = L/450; Gantry Cranes = L/600; Jib Cranes = L/150 for freestanding
(stand alone) jibs and wall-mounted jibs, L/200 for articulating jibs, and L/225 for
workstation jibs.

How do I determine if a crane is a Jib Crane vs. a workstation jib?

Hi Paul. Good question. A workstation jib is designed with a trussed track and a regular jib
crane is designed with steel beams. Trussed track is a specific type of enclosed track.
The workstation jibs are often used for small repetitive loads because they're faster
than a regular motorized jib. Regular jibs are designed to lift heavier loads as needed.

Here is a link to our workstation jib page, where you can see pictures of the trussed track:
http://www.spanco.com/produ...
And here is a link to our regular freestanding jib, where you can see pictures of a plain (steel
beam) track: http://www.spanco.com/produ...

Kristina, Jib Cranes = L/150 for freestanding (stand alone). Does this comply with OSHA and
ASME? I did a deflection test on a freestanding jib crane and I want to know if L/150 is
correct, thanks.

Hi Darren, I just asked our head engineer about deflection requirements, and he said that
there are no written rules about deflection. That's true for OSHA, ASME, and ANSI.
We, and many other crane manufacturers, go with an approximate deflection of
L/150. That's about as correct as it gets, as far as I know. But, it is approximate. Sorry I
couldn't be of more help.

UNDERSTANDING OVERHEAD CRANE DEFLECTION AND CRITERIA

DEC
23
2014
Overall, deflection is literally defined as “deviation from an allotted course”. It can mean that
something is deviated by turning aside or by coming off course. For overhead cranes,
this definition translates to the relative vertical or horizontal displacement of a
member or part of an overhead crane. So how does that impact the design of the
crane, and how is the vertical and horizontal deflection calculated? And, how do
organizational specifications differ from crane to crane and from association to
association? Let us explain.

VERTICAL DEFLECTION CRITERIA

Vertical Deflection Criteria is the maximum (vertical) deflection ratio allowed for a lifting
device. Vertical deflection differs from horizontal deflection, but both are taken into
account for enclosed track bridge cranes. Vertical deflection impacts any part of the
crane that stands vertically, including the mast, columns, wall, etc.
Most systems are manufactured to an approximate deflection, because manufacturers have
no control over installation, foundation rigidity, or the standard variation in thickness
tolerances for the piping, tubing, steel plate, and sheet metal. That means, some
variation above or below deflections defined by manufacturers should be considered
normal. That being said, when overhead cranes are installed according to the standard
installation manual and maintained according to the manufacturers installation
maintenance manual, you can be assured of the safety of lift products and their ability
to handle chosen rated capacities and performance standards.

When measuring deflection for safety standards, the deflection is measured at 100 percent
capacity, rather than 125 percent capacity. According to ANSI Standards (ANSI/ASME
 B30.2) for Overhead Travelling Cranes Operational and Running Tests: “Standard
deflection must be measured with a load of 100 percent of the rated capacity and
must not exceed the allowable deflection specified by the applicable design standard.”
For each type of crane the deflection value differs, depending on the crane’s overall
length, span, or reach.

For workstation (enclosed track) bridge cranes, the vertical deflection value is less than for
heavier bridge cranes. Enclosed track workstation bridge cranes have a deflection limit
of L/450. The letter “L” literally stands for the length of the crane, or span. In other
words, to determine the deflection of your workstation bridge crane, you must first
know its span or length. This equation is always measured in inches. That’s because if
your deflection is higher than a value measured in inches, you’re in big trouble.
Deflection should be very minor. To measure your deflection, use the deflection limit
defined for that type of crane and divide that number by the length (or span) of your
specific system. If your bridge length is 34 feet, you will divide the deflection limit
defined by your manufacturer (L/450 for workstation bridge cranes).
The deflection for a 34-foot bridge on a workstation bridge crane can be determined by first
changing the unit of measurement from feet to inches. A 34-foot bridge is 408 inches
long (feet x 12= inches). Divide 408 inches by the specified deflection limit for
enclosed bridge cranes (L/450). That will give you a deflection of less than one inch (.9
inches).

Deflection is determined for other overhead crane systems using the same method. The
criterion is the same, but the terminology and deflection limits differ slightly from
system to system. For instance, when determining the deflection for a workstation
(enclosed track) bridge crane, we would use a deflection limit of L/450, as specified
above. However, when determining the deflection for a gantry crane, the deflection
limit is L/600 for steel gantries, and L/450 for aluminum gantries. Steel will almost
always have a slightly higher deflection limit due to its rigidity compared to that of
aluminum. To determine the deflection of an all-steel gantry with a span (beam
length) of 25 feet, you would follow the same equation we used to determine the
deflection for workstation bridge cranes, only using the deflection limit for steel
gantry cranes. In order to do so, we would first have to change the unit of
measurement to inches. A span of 25 feet (multiplied by 12) is 300 inches. Next, we
would determine the deflection by dividing the span of the gantry in inches by the
deflection limit specified by the manufacturer. For Spanco, this number is, as specified
above, L/600. A gantry crane spanning 300 inches has a deflection of a half an inch (.5
inches).

To determine the deflection for a jib crane, the equation remains the same, but the
terminology can also differ from system to system, and the deflection limits differ
once again. Some manufacturers will refer to the length or span of the jib as the
“reach”. That’s why you might see a deflection limit for jib cranes referred to using the
letter “R” rather than the letter “L”. It depends on your manufacturer. But, for the
purpose of determining your deflection, keep in mind that “R” simply stands for
 “Reach” and “L” stands for “Length”. Whether it’s referred to as the reach, the span,
or the length is irrelevant in this case. The deflection equation still remains the same.
When determining the deflection for jib cranes, the type of jib in question is also an
important factor.

At Spanco, we have five different jib crane series, and each series has several installation types
that impact the deflection limit. For instance, our 100 Series Freestanding Jib Crane
has a deflection limit of L/150 (also known as R/150). That number is the same for our
200 Series Mast-Style Jib Cranes and our 300 Series Wall-Mounted Jib Cranes.
However, our 400 Series Articulating Jib Cranes have a deflection limit of L/200 (or
R/200), and our 500 Series Workstation Jib Cranes have a deflection limit of L/150 OR
L/250, depending on the way the crane is mounted. For Freestanding Workstation Jib
Cranes, there’s a lower deflection limit. But for our 501 Series Wall-Cantilever
Workstation Jib Cranes, we use a higher deflection limit of L/225 due to its wall-
mount. For a 501 Series Wall-Cantilever Workstation Jib Crane, the deflection for a
crane with a 12-foot span can be calculated similarly to the abovementioned systems.
First, we would need to change our unit of measurement to inches. In this case, a 12-
foot span (or reach) is equivalent to 144 inches. If we divide 144 inches by the
deflection limit of 225, we get a deflection of a little more than a half an inch (.64
inches).

HORIZONTAL DEFLECTION CRITERIA

Horizontal Deflection Criteria is the maximum deflection ratio allowed for a bridge crane or
runway. Horizontal deflection, unlike vertical deflection, impacts parts of the crane
that run horizontally. This is taken into account for enclosed track systems, including
workstation bridge cranes and workstation jib booms.
Most manufacturers design for a maximum lateral deflection for runways and cranes of L/400.
The “L” in this case refers to the span of the bridge crane from the runway support
center. That number is divided by the deflection limit of 400. For example, to
determine the deflection for a ceiling-mounted workstation bridge crane with bridge
length of 40 feet, we must first translate the unit of measurement to inches. A 40-foot
span is equivalent to 480 inches. If you divide 480 inches by the specified deflection
limit of 400, the horizontal deflection for that particular crane is 1.2 inches.

RIGIDITY REQUIREMENTS

It’s crucial for manufacturers to conform to theoretical considerations and to subject their
systems to a variety of checks like stress analyses and horizontal and vertical
deflection analyses of bridges, beams, masts, columns, and other parts. These systems
should prove to conform to theory and their static structural response must preserve
the response of the original crane structure in order to pass these tests.
According to rigidity requirements laid out by OSHA and ANSI the following maximum values
for the deflection of the crane girder must normally not be exceeded in order to avoid
undesirable dynamic effects and to secure the function of the crane:
Vertical deflection is defined as the maximum permissible deflection ratio allowed for a lifting
device. For bridge cranes this value is usually L/700. For a Workstation Bridge Crane,
the value is less (L/450) because the enclosed track is lighter.
Horizontal deflection is a maximum deflection ratio allowed for a bridge crane or runway. For
regular bridge cranes, this value is usually L/600. For a Workstation Bridge Crane, the
value is less (L/400).
In the absence of more detailed calculations, it is acceptable to assume that the top flange
resists the whole horizontal force. The rigidity requirement for horizontal deflection is
essential to prevent oblique traveling of the crane. The vertical deflection is normally
limited to a value not greater than 25 mm to prevent excessive vibrations caused by
the crane operation and crane travel.

TESTING REQUIREMENTS

According to OSHA and ASME, crane load tests are typically specified at 125 percent of the
crane’s rated capacity. Neither standard, however, specifies an acceptable tolerance
over or under the 125 percent figure. ASME B30.2 does in fact reference a figure in its
interpretation of load testing, which suggests a tolerance of 0%/-4% on the weight of
the test load. In effect, this suggested a test load weighing between 120 percent and
125 percent of the rated crane capacity (i.e.: 125% -125% x 0.04 = 120%).

Furthermore, any overhead crane that has been significantly modified, or that was installed
after January 1999, must be load tested before being put into service. The deflection
test defined by OSHA and ASME suggests that structural deflections must be
measured with loads of 100 percent of the rated capacity and must not exceed the
allowable deflections specified by the applicable design standard (deflection limits, as
listed above). OSHA and ASME also specify that the load must travel over the full
length of the bridge and trolley runways during these load tests, and only runway
parts that have been successfully load tested may be placed into service.

If you have any questions about deflection or the deflection limit values outlined in this blog,
please feel free to comment below. To ensure your deflection values are correctly
calculated, it’s important to reach out to your local overhead crane distributor or a
qualified engineer for more information.