Frequently Asked Questions

Lifting equipment is specialised and safety critical equipment and as such is regulated under specific global standards, and the UK actually has some of the strictest requirements on lifting equipment in the world – this includes the design of, manufacture of, and inspection of lifting equipment!

Unless you are using a lifting equipment manufacturer then it is highly unlikely that the fabricator knows the regulations, and does the person that designed/specified the beam know about engineering, lifting legislation, and are they insured to offer such a service?

NO! Unfortunately, this is a common misconception. Since 2008 it has been regulation within the UK and EU that a Conformity certificate (conformity to the correct, and relevant legislation) is required for all lifting equipment and that the equipment itself must be CE marked and / or UKCA marked.

In declaring conformity (issuing a conformity certificate) the manufacturer is declaring that all relevant legislation has been met. If you haven’t met said legislation requirements, and there is an incident whilst using the item in question, the HSE will ask to see all the required certificates and information, and if it cannot be produced then there could be significant fines involved, or worse!

These lead times will differ dependant on complexity of design/manufacture, additional quality requirements, current stock levels, availability in engineering and manufacturing at time of order, and whether there is any third party machining or painting required. Common timeframes:

Lifting Beams and Lifting Frames = 3-4 weeks – 1-2 week Expedited Manufacture available, workload dependant and subject to relevant customer approval of general arrangement drawing(s).

Modular Spreader Beams up to 150 tonne = Immediate, Off-the-shelf

Modular Spreader Beams over 150 tonne = 4-6 weeks

Modular Spreader Frames 8-34 tonne = 1-2 weeks

IMPORTANT: Nothing should be assumed as being known at enquiry or included within a quote, without specifically covering it within your enquiry/documentation, or without us detailing it in our offer!

Britlift service all industries, from Oil and Gas/Offshore Wind, Nuclear, F1 and Defence, to Manufacturing, Construction and Utilities, Farming, Machinery Production, Rail and much more. Our clients and their industries are incredibly varied and expectations, requirements, priorities, information supply and drawings all vary. Please provide as much information as you can, especially around critical information, and do not assume what you need is offered as standard, or been considered.

All engineering drawings, specifications and/or tenders must very clearly state the most important and critical parts, or should be stated within the email content. What one company believes is critical or not, or standard or not, or obvious or not, is different for all companies/industries/environments.

It is critical that all important dimensions are included in all drawings/specification (e.g. tube/bar/core/slot/hole diameter, headroom, manufacturing/design expectations, centre of gravity, key locations, clashes, etc.). Anything not provided in the drawings, or not made clear as being a critical element, may not be covered by our quote/supply.

If you are providing us with a fabrication/machining drawing then we will use the information that is on the drawing exactly as it is detailed. Any missing or incorrect information will not be considered/covered. Misinterpretation of such drawings may be possible, so ensure everything is clear and concise, and draw our attention to anything which is critical, or could potentially be missed/misinterpreted.

Other important information includes (but not limited to) standards, installation/commissioning conditions/restrictions, specific documentation requests, testing specifications, environmental conditions, critical timings, etc.

As a reseller you are the acting “specialist” in the field of discussion and with regards to the items you are selling – to your client. In reality Britlift are the specialists but without direct communication between the user and Britlift it falls to the reseller to supply both the client and Britlift with all the relevant information, and ensure everything is correct and understood on all sides. This can be lead times, delayed comms/info impacts, relevant drawings and standards, quality/specification requirements, etc.

Some key points (not exhaustive):

1. We can only be expected to quote against the information given to us and made visible. Any information that isn’t provided, but pertinent to the needs, specification, supply, lift case, suitability, safety, environment, lead times, delivery conditions, etc., will mean that it will not be covered by our quote and the item(s) may not be fit for purpose.
2. Where we are not dealing with the reseller’s client directly, it is the reseller that adopts the responsibility (and liability) to ensure the equipment that is quoted by Britlift is suitable for the needs of the client, and fit for purpose.
3. The reseller must ensure the client receives all relevant and important information provided by Britlift. This is including, but not limited to, drawings, datasheets, user / maintenance / safe use / inspection instructions, concerns, questions, specifications, and anything listed in point 1.
4. Where a reseller provides a specification or drawing, we will assume the reseller has the appropriate knowledge, information, and expertise to specify the item(s) on behalf of the client.
5. In the event of an order, and issuing of a GA drawing for approval, the reseller should ensure the client receives, reviews and feeds back/approves. By the reseller issuing approval of the design (GA) they are taking responsibility and liability of the item’s suitability and specification.

We will not be liable nor under any further obligation where any of the above is relevant. Our T&C’s will be provided with any quote.

All Britlift engineers are degree qualified mechanical/structural engineers! Britlift’s Technical Director is a registered IEng, and member of MIET and IStructE.

He has been specifically, and solely designing lifting equipment for 10 years, was formerly a member of the LEEA technical committee, and was part of the team advising government on lifting legislation changes. Britlift hold £5m Professional Indemnity Insurance (as well as products, public and employee insurances) specifically as “Design Engineers”.

To start with you can be assured that the product itself will have been through a rigorous and thorough design cycle which will confirm what size and grade materials need to be used in its manufacture.  If the item is of a bespoke nature, we will present the customer with a General Arrangement drawing which will be checked and approved by the customer and adds another level of assurance that you will be getting exactly what you need.

When it comes to the actual manufacture of the item you can be assured that we only use certified materials (sourced in the UK or Europe) which are sourced from approved suppliers.

Where welding is involved, we ensure that all welding is carried out in accordance with third party approved welding procedures (typically BS EN ISO 15614) and the welders themselves are qualified in accordance with a recognised standard (typically BS EN ISO 9606-1).

We can also offer additional enhanced quality characteristics if your project requires it including third party NDT, third party manufacturing survey, proof load testing (with third party witness if required), material certification, welding book, etc.

Ideally you’ll request this of Britlift, so we can ensure the quality and continuity, retain the information for the technical file, and ultimately retain the liability under the full supply. However, YES, you can perform your own test after delivery, if you so wish.

If you do decide to perform your own test, all we would ask is to liaise with Britlift prior to carrying out the test so we can review the test procedure, as well as any other documentation, and provide the necessary OEM approval. If this documentation is not available then we will provide guidance on the documentation and evidence based records you’ll need to produce and retain.

If you plan on performing NDT alongside a load test, you’ll need to perform a pre and post load test NDT in order to legitimise the post-test findings. We’d also recommend using a third party PCN Level 2 NDT inspectors, for the same reason.

YES! UKAS Accredited.

Centre for Assessment Ltd (UKAS 0129) confirms that this organisation has been audited and the requirements for registration have been met for the following scope:
The design, manufacture and supply of lifting solutions including associated consultancy, rig planning and training.

BS EN ISO 9001:2015 – Cert No. 22/0554

BS ISO 14001:2015 – Cert No. 22/0552

BS ISO 45001:2018 – Cert No. 22/0553

Yes, not a problem.

Yes. We have designed and manufactured many bespoke lifting attachments over the years, from lifting electric car batteries to modular buildings, and even castor lifting wheels!

Yes, no matter how high, long, heavy, inside/outside, cantilevered, adjustable, mechanical/electrical.

Yes, any environment, any global lifting standard, any welding standards, any paint spec, any quality requirements.

Not a problem, give us a call to discuss your lift, load, environment, challenge. Always best to talk things through, but to give us a head start, please share (or have ready) max/min dimensions, max load weight, and any environmental or height restrictions.

Perfect! Send us your design file (2D/3D, sketch, pictures, image) and let us do the rest. You have done the right thing in coming to a company such as Britlift, and not using a general fabricator – See question one above.

Yes we can supply rigging, but we can also design and specify a full (complete) rigging system and issue you with rigging drawings, that can form part of your lift plan/method statement.

We can certainly help!