Standards and Safety Requirements For Vacuum Lifters
Per the ASME B30.20 Below-the-hook Lifting Device Standard

Vacuum Lifting Devices are typically categorized as Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices by the ASME. Manufacturers, purchasers, and users of vacuum lifting devices should be familiar with the safety standards developed for this type of equipment which have been formulated under the general auspices of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). You will find many other countries’ standards are close to these.

 

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B30 Committee on Safety Standards for Cableways, Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Hooks, Jacks, and Slings has issued standard B30.20 for Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices. This standard addresses the proper marking, construction, installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and operation of vacuum below-the-hook lifting devices for non-porous loads. All ANVER powered and mechanically operated vacuum lifting and manipulating devices for non-porous load handling are designed, constructed and tested in compliance with this standard.

 

Owners, employers and users should be familiar with and follow applicable requirements and have copies of these standards in their facility. We are unable to post even excerpts of this standard here due to copyright laws. However, copies of this standard are available for purchase online thru the ASME website or by phoning the ASME at (800)THE-ASME and asking for the B30.20 Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices ASME publication.

 

ANVER vacuum lifters comply with ASME B30.20 and ASME BTH-1 standards for non-porous loads.
  • Designed and manufactured in accordance with applicable requirements of ASME B30.20 standards for Below the Hook Lifting Devices and Vacuum Lifters
  • In fact three of the five sketch drawing examples in the ASME standard itself are ANVER Mechanical Vacuum Lifters
  • Product Safety Labels and Marking according to the ANSI Z535.4-2023 Standard
  • Load-bearing Structural Components and Welding according to ANSI/AWS D14.1 with a minimum structural Safety Factor of 3 to 1
  • Electrical Equipment and Wiring according to ANSI/NFPA 70
  • ANVER cannot provide you with a copy of ANSI/ASME specifications as they are copyrighted and sold through their e-commerce site.
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Some of the requirements of the ASME  standard

 

  • Marking: A metal tag must be permanently attached with key information as the standard details. We use an aluminum tag which is engraved and mounted on to our vacuum lifters. It includes the ASME BTH-1 Design Category and Service Life which is now mandatory.

     
  • Horizontal lift safety factor of 2 to 1 at 24″ Hg. sea level (using a pads effective area not overall diameter)

  • Vertical lift safety factor of 4 to 1 at 24″ Hg. sea level (using a pads effective area not overall diameter)

  
  • Proper detailed warning and labeling as outlined in ASME B30.20 standards. Many labels are also ISO compliant when applicable.
  • Vacuum lifters must have a reserve system and vacuum indicating gauge
  • Vacuum reservoir adds safety in case of a power failure by increasing the vacuum in a system allowing more time to safely lower the load.
  • An instruction manual with operating procedures, maintenance and parts information.
  • ANVER’s vacuum lifter inspection check list and maintenance report forms are included in the Operation, Maintenance and Parts Manual. A test certificate can be issued upon request.
              

We design and build to a higher standard:

  • ANVER designs and builds it’s Lifters to a 2″ maximum load droop or sag unless otherwise noted for sheet and plate. This increases the number of pads and beam lengths of our Lifters but it makes for safer lifting with equally loaded pads and a level load.

  • How many cups do I need?

    Load Overhang Tables
    Steel Aluminum Glass

     

  • Note: Some vacuum lifter companies design their lifters for 5″ or more of load sag (deflection) between each cup and the edge to make their equipment less expensive. This makes for a smaller vacuum lifter with fewer pads but it results in lifters where centering the lifter on the load is critical or overloading of pads can cause sudden release. Having 5″ of load sag is excessive on a long heavy plate.  The 2″ max. sag ANVER uses is not mentioned in the ASME standard currently but it is likely that it will be mandated in the future.