CERTIFICATION AND MARKING OF WIRE- ROPES, CHAINS AND HOOKS REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 427.22

CERTIFICATION AND MARKING OF WIRE-

ROPES, CHAINS AND HOOKS REGULATIONS

1st July, 2002

LEGAL NOTICE 92 of 2002.

1. The title of these regulations is the Certification and

Marking of Wire-Ropes, Chains and Hooks Regulations.

Based on Annex I of the Directive

1. General provisions

1.1. Every length of wire-rope and chain and every hook must bear a mark or, if

marking is not possible, a small plate or ring securely attached, which must carry

information as to the manufacturer or his authorized agent and the number of the

relevant certificates (cf. points 2.1, 3.1, and 4.1 of this Schedule).

1.2. The manufacturer or his authorized representative shall ensure that every

length of wire-rope and chain and each hook complies with the characteristics listed

in the certificate (cf. points 2.1, 3.1, and 4.1 of this Schedule).

2. Provisions concerning wire-ropes

2.1. The manufacturer or his authorized representative must issue for each wire-

rope a certificate containing at least the following information

(a) compulsory information

the name and address of the manufacturer or his authorized

representative;

the nominal diameter of the wire-rope;

the length of the wire-rope delivered;

the average mass per metre;

the mode type and direction of lay of the cable (right or left hand

lay, preformed or not, crossed or Lang’s lay);

length of the lay of the cable;

the construction (composition of the wire-rope, nature and

composition of the core of the wire-rope, number of strands,

number of wires); enclose drawing of cross-section with principal

dimensions;

the characteristics of the steel (class or quality);

the nominal tensile breaking strength of the wires;

the lowest practical resistance of the wire-rope to breakage under

tension;

the minimum practical tensile breaking strength of the wire-rope;

information on the nature of the protection against internal and

external corrosion (in the case of galvanizing, the quality of the

zinc coating must be stated);

the certificate that the wire-rope is made in a single piece and that

its characteristics are constant throughout its length;

information on the nature and methods of the tension, tortion and

bending tests, and the results thereof;

the temperature limits for use of the wire-rope;

maintenance and inspection instructions;

(b) information where applicable

if the wire-rope is made according to a national or international

standard, identify this standard.

3. Provision concerning round steel chains

3.1. The manufacturer or his authorized representative must issue for each chain

a certificate bearing at least the following information

(a) compulsory information

the name and address of the manufacturer or his authorized

representative;

the characteristics of the chain (nominal length and width of the

link, diameter of the wire, whether chain calibrated or not);

enclose a drawing of at least two links, showing maximum

tolerances;

the length of the chain delivered;

average mass per metre;

the method of joining the links (forging or electric welding);

the value of the proof test load applied to the whole of the chain

after heat treatment;

the minimum practical tensile breaking strength of the chain at

normal temperature;

the minimum practical tensile breaking strength of the chain at

temperature of use;

the proportional elongation of the chain at breakage under

tension;

the characteristics of the material of the chain (for example class

or quality);

the type of heat treatment applied or where necessary to be

applied at a later date by the manufacturer or a specialized

undertaking;

information on the nature and methods of the tensile tests and the

results thereof;

the limits of temperature for using the chain;

the maintenance and inspection instructions;

(b) information where applicable

if the chain is made according to a national or international

standard of use, identify this standard;

if a chain has undergone a special heat treatment, the statement

"for any heat treatment consult the manufacturer or his authorized

agent".

3.2. One link in twenty at least or one link every metre, whichever is the lesser

distance, must bear a legible and permanent quality mark in accordance with a

national or international standard. The marks must have the following dimensions

Nominal dimensions of the chain

Dimensions of the figures

in millimetres

in millimetres

Up to 12.5 inclusive

Over 12.5 up to 26 inclusive

4.5

Over 26

4. Provision concerning hooks

4.1. The manufacturer or his authorized representative must issue for each batch

of hooks, or at the request of the user, for each hook, a certificate bearing at least the

following information

CERTIFICATION AND MARKING

OF WIRE-ROPES, CHAINS AND HOOKS

(a) compulsory information

the name and address of the manufacturer or his authorized

representative;

the type of hook;

the dimensional characteristics;

if it is a hook made to a national or international standard, identify

reference;

if the hook is not manufactured according to a national or

international standard

- the load causing a sufficient opening to release this load or

else the breaking load (the manufacturer must state if it was a

matter of opening or breakage),

- the maximum proof test load which can be applied without

causing any permanent deformation,

- the characteristics of the steel (class or quality),

- the type of heat treatment applied or where necessary to be

applied at a later date by the manufacturer or a specialized

undertaking;

- information on the nature and methods of the tensile tests

and results thereof;

the limits of temperature for using the hooks;

maintenance and inspection instructions;

(b) information where applicable

if the hooks have undergone a special heat treatment the statement

"For any heat treatment consult the manufacturer or his agent".

4.2. The hooks must bear, legibly and indelibly, a quality mark in accordance

with a national or international standard.

1. These regulations concern lifting equipment excluding

2.1.1.

lifting equipment which is not new,

2.1.2.

lifting equipment used on board ships and for

railways, funicular railways and cableways.

1. For the purposes of these regulations, the following

definitions shall apply

3.1.1.

"the Directive" means Council Directive 73/361/

EEC on the approximation of the laws of the

Member States relating to the certification and

marking of wire-ropes, chains and hooks;

3.1.2.

"lifting equipment" means wire-ropes, round steel

chains, and hooks intended for lifting and

mechanical handling equipment;

3.1.3.

"OJ" means the Official Journal of the European

Communities;

3.1.4.

"manufacturer" means the person who is primarily

responsible for the design and construction of the

lifting equipment so that it complies with the

requirements of these regulations;

3.1.5.

"local authorised representative" means any person

(or organization) established in Malta who has

been appointed by the manufacturer to act on his

behalf in carrying out certain tasks required by

these regulations;

3.1.6.

"importer" means any person who places lifting

equipment from a foreign country on to the

Maltese market so that he supplies such lifting

equipment on the first occasion that it is supplied

in Malta;

3.1.7.

"person who supplies lifting equipment" means

wholesalers, distributors, retailers, etc.;

3.1.8.

"supply" includes offering to supply, agreeing to

supply, exposing for supply and possessing for

supply, and cognate expressions shall be construed

accordingly;

3.1.9.

"responsible

person"

in

relation

to

lifting

equipment means

3.1.9.1.

the manufacturer thereof;

3.1.9.2.

the manufacturer’s local authorised

representative; or

3.1.9.3.

where the manufacturer is not

established in Malta and he has not

appointed

a

local

authorised

representative, the person who places

the lifting equipment on the local

market;

3.1.10. "placing on the market" means importation

wholesale, retail, sale and distribution free of

charge.

1. The provisions of these regulations are applicable to all

imported lifting equipment as well as to those manufactured for the

local market.

4.1.1.

No person may construct, import, place on the

market or put into service any lifting equipment

which do not comply with the provisions of these

regulations.

CERTIFICATION AND MARKING

OF WIRE-ROPES, CHAINS AND HOOKS