Inspections And Maintenance - Pfeifer GK 8 Manual Del Usuario

12. Inspections and Maintenance

During use chain slings are exposed to conditions
which can influence their safety. therefore it is
necessary to maintain their safe state of use through
maintenance, testing and repair.
Maintenance: Chain slings should always be cleaned,
dried and protected from corrosion, e.g. lightly oiled. In
particular in the case of accessories with moving parts,
bolts or bearings should be oiled in order to protect
them from corrosion, increased wear and tear and
seizing.
Check prior to first use: Prior to first use of the chain
sling make certain that:
• The chain sling corresponds precisely to the order
• The identification and carrying capacity data on the
chain sling matches the information on the test
certificate or the certificate of conformity
• If necessary, all details about the chain sling should
be transferred to a chain file
• Check whether prescribed identification, for example
WLL identification tag, is present;
• whether these instructions for the correct use of
chain slings are available and have been read and
understood by personnel;
Check before every use
The user should check the safe state of use of the
chain sling prior to each use. Look for obvious
damage or signs of wear and tear. In all cases of
doubt or in the case of one or more discard criteria
the chain sling must be taken out of service and
inspected by a qualified person.
General tests
Testing the chain sling is carried out in a cleaned state
– it must be free from oil, dirt and rust. Paint is only
permissible as far as an assessment of the state of the
chain sling is possible. Methods that cause material
embrittlement, overheating, material abrasion, etc. are
excluded from the cleaning. During cleaning, no cracks
or other defects may be covered up. Ensure appropriate
lighting when checking. Examine the chain sling over its
entire length. In case of doubt, send it to the manufactu-
rer for inspection.
Tests after exceptional occurrences
Exceptional occurrences – e.g. accidents, impact load,
overheating, overloading, collision, exposure to acids
and chemicals – impair the operational safety of the
Chain slings 11/2019 / Subject to change!
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chain sling. After such cases take the chain sling out of
service immediately and have it checked by a qualified
person.
Testing by a qualified person
Testing by a qualified person in compliance with
national legal regulations is to be performed at regular
intervals. Unless otherwise specified, testing must be
carried out at intervals no longer than 12 months. In the
event of frequent use with maximum carrying capacity
or under conditions with limits of use, in the case of
increased wear and tear or corrosion this time frame is
to be shortened so that the operational integrity is
ensured. Testing includes a visual inspection and
functional check. Testing is to be documented and
stored by the operating company. After long storage the
chain sling should be checked by a qualified person
prior to the first commissioning, when the regular term
has been exceeded or when the chain was not properly
stored.
Load test
At least every three years the chain sling is to be
subjected to a crack test procedure by a qualified
person – such as a magnetic crack test or dye
penetration test (in Austria this testing must be
performed after two years already!). After this test there
must be a visual and functional test. In the event of
frequent use with maximum carrying capacity or under
conditions with the limits of use reached this time frame
is to be shortened so that the operational safety is ensu-
red. In exceptional cases a load test with double the
carrying capacity can be performed – recommendation
consult with PFEIFER company.
Discarding criteria
In the occurrence of the following defects the
attachment device must be immediately taken out of
service for repair:
• Marking regarding carrying capacity or proof of
identity of the attachment device are illegible or
missing
• Deformations on suspension, chain or other
attachment elements (Fig. 12.1)
• Impermissible wear and tear or elongation is on a
chain link e.g. when the rated dimension of the inner
length is exceeded by 5 %. This corresponds to an
outer elongation of 3 % (Fig. 12.2)
• Average decrease in the thickness of the chain link
anywhere in the device by >10 % (Fig. 12.3)