Searches or requests similar to: "CE marking of crane baskets", "crane baskets with CE marking", "I need the CE marking of the crane basket" or "they ask me for the CE marking of the crane basket" are very common.
It is natural, as most products are affected by one or more European Directives (2006/42/EC), electromagnetic compatibility, EPIS, ATEX...). When a product affected by one of these Directives (which must be complied with) meets the requirements of the Directive, a Declaration of Conformity and a CE marking are issued for the product. Therefore, all actors have it well internalized that a product must have a CE marking and we demand it when making a purchase.
So, why not do it when acquiring a product as "strange" in terms of use as a crane suspended basket? But is this true for crane suspended baskets? In this article, we will clarify that a crane suspended basket is NOT subject to CE marking. We will start by defining what a crane basket or crane suspended basket is.
- According to the EN-14502-1:2010 standard, a crane suspended basket is a "Device designed for the lifting of people with the help of a crane".
- According to the guide to the interpretation of the European Directive 2006/42/EC, it is a "work platform suspended from a crane" or "suspended work platform from a crane". Crane baskets are suspended by slings from the crane hook.
Crane Suspended Basket and CE Marking
In the case of crane suspended baskets, the CE marking that could be applicable is that of the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC). Which affects similar products such as PEMP, hanging scaffolding, cranes for lifting loads, etc. For the crane basket to apply the CE marking, we have two options:
A-That the crane basket is an interchangeable equipment, which according to the definition in article 2 b) of the Directive itself:
«Interchangeable equipment»: a device that, after the commissioning of a machine or tractor, is coupled to that machine or tractor by the operator himself to modify its function or provide a new function, provided that this equipment is not a tool;
- But we find that the crane basket is not coupled to the crane, simply suspended from its hook.
- And, in addition, the crane basket does not modify the function of the crane.
Therefore, crane suspended baskets are not interchangeable equipment.
B-That the crane suspended basket is a lifting accessory, which according to the definition in article 2 d) of the Directive
«Lifting accessory»: a component or equipment that is not an integral part of the lifting machine, which allows the gripping of the load, located between the machine and the load, or on the load itself, or which is intended to be an integral part of the load and is marketed separately. Slings and their components shall also be considered lifting accessories.
But we know that crane baskets do not allow the gripping of the load. The crane basket is the load itself (although among the components of crane baskets there are lifting accessories such as hooks or slings that are lifting accessories).
On the other hand, in consideration 7 of the Directive, we have the following paragraph:
(7) This Directive shall not apply to the lifting of people by machines not designed for that purpose. However, this does not affect the right of Member States to adopt national measures, in accordance with the Treaty, with regard to such machines, with a view to applying Directive 89/655/EEC of the Council of 30 November 1989 on the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work (second specific Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (7).
Then, if they are neither interchangeable equipment nor lifting accessories, and it is a lifting of people by machines not designed for that purpose, crane suspended baskets are not within the scope of the European Directive 2006/42/EC and should not have a CE marking related to that Directive. In fact, CE marking a crane suspended basket is a fraud and has no value.
Accesus has a very complete range of crane baskets, certified, with immediate delivery and valid for multiple uses, configurations and load capacities. We can also design custom baskets according to your requirements.
