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AS 1418 seriesSeries — parts have different editions

Cranes, hoists and winches

A practical navigation guide to the AS 1418 series: start by identifying the crane or hoist type, then use the general requirements together with the correct equipment-specific part and the separate safe-use series.

Choose the right partSee lifting devices
01

“We changed the hoist motor and controls on an old gantry crane. Do we now have to recertify the whole crane to the latest AS 1418?”

There is no useful answer until the crane type, original basis, modification scope, changed loads and current condition are understood. AS 1418 is a series, not a single checklist.

02

The practical answer

AS 1418.1 provides general design and construction requirements for cranes, hoists and winches. Equipment-specific parts add or replace requirements for particular crane types and take precedence where they differ.

The 2021 Part 1 acts as a framework and now relies heavily on referenced Australian adoptions of international crane Standards for loads, structures, mechanisms, controls and other systems.

The correct equipment-specific part is essential. A serial hoist, bridge crane and mobile crane do not share the same detailed design problem.

Selection, operation and maintenance are dealt with in the AS 2550 safe-use series, so a design review should not be confused with the operational inspection and maintenance regime.

AS Applied rule of thumbChoose the scope, design basis and evidence pathway first. Do not start by hunting for a single clause, percentage or formula that makes the preferred answer work.
03

Where this Standard fits

Common starting points
  • New crane and hoist design
  • Bridge, gantry, portal and jib cranes
  • Serial chain and wire-rope hoists
  • Tower and mobile cranes
  • Major crane modifications and upgrades
  • Assessment of supporting structures and interfaces
Do not assume
  • One document that covers every crane type
  • The safe-use and inspection series
  • A below-the-hook lifting-device Standard
  • A reason to upgrade every old crane wholesale whenever one component changes
  • Permission to change capacity because a stronger motor is fitted
  • A substitute for analysing the supporting runway, building or foundation
04

Navigate the series by crane type and change scope

Start with the equipment identity. Then separate general crane requirements, specific-part requirements, safe use and supporting structure.

Series navigator

AS 1418 series navigator

Identify the equipment family first, then add the safe-use, inspection and supporting-structure standards that belong with the job.

AS 1418 series — which part covers the equipment Identify the equipment type, then select the equipment-specific part: 1418.2 serial hoists and winches, 1418.3 bridge, gantry, portal and jib cranes, 1418.4 tower cranes, 1418.5 mobile cranes. AS 1418.1 is the general framework beneath every part. Also in the picture: AS 2550 safe use and inspection, AS 4991 below-the-hook devices, AS 4100 or AS 3990 supporting structure. Identify the equipment type AS 1418.2 serial hoists and winches AS 1418.3 bridge, gantry, portal, jib AS 1418.4 tower cranes AS 1418.5 mobile cranes AS 1418.1 — the general framework beneath every part AS 2550 series safe use and inspection AS 4991 below-the-hook devices AS 4100 / AS 3990 supporting structure
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How to use this summary

  • Start by naming the actual lifting equipment family.
  • Below-the-hook devices route to AS 4991 rather than the crane design series.
  • Crane, hoist and winch questions need the correct AS 1418 part.
  • Safe use, inspection, repair and life-cycle management usually bring in the AS 2550 series.

This is a routing summary, not a substitute for selecting the exact part and duty classification.

1Identify the crane or hoist typeSerial hoist, bridge crane, mobile crane, tower crane or another equipment-specific category.
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2Establish the applicable AS 1418 partUse Part 1 as the general framework and the specific part where available; the specific part takes precedence where requirements differ.
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3Define duty and service conditionsCapacity, load spectrum, cycles, speeds, environment, wind, seismic and operating modes affect the design.
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4Assess all changed systemsStructure, mechanisms, ropes, brakes, controls, electrical, hydraulic and safety devices may be affected by a modification.
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5Check supporting structuresRunways, rails, building frames and foundations receive crane actions and may need a separate structural assessment.
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6Commission, document and manage safe useTesting, records and instructions connect the design work to the AS 2550 operational lifecycle.
The most common failure is a broken chain of assumptions.

A good result needs the equipment definition, loads, design method, fabrication, inspection and operating limits to describe the same real system.

05

Key engineering concepts to understand

01

The specific part matters

Part 1 is not intended to replace the detailed requirements for a particular crane type.

02

Crane duty is more than rated capacity

Load spectrum, cycles, operating time and motion history influence mechanisms, fatigue and remaining design life.

03

A drive upgrade can change the load case

Higher acceleration, braking torque or speed may increase structural and mechanical actions even if nominal lifting capacity stays unchanged.

04

Supporting structure is a separate system

Crane loads must be transferred through rails, runway beams, columns, anchors and foundations; the crane certificate does not prove the building is adequate.

05

Controls are safety functions

Limiters, brakes, motion limits, emergency functions and remote controls need a system-level review when logic or hardware changes.

06

Old cranes need change-based assessment

A modification should be assessed for its effect on the existing design basis and current condition rather than assuming either no review or total replacement is always required.

06

Detailed engineering case studies

The examples below show how the Standard changes a real engineering decision. They are not clause summaries or universal answers; each case starts with the equipment, task and evidence available.

Case study 1 · Modification of an existing crane

Upgrading a bridge-crane hoist motor and VSD

01
Project context

A workshop replaces an obsolete hoist motor and drive on a 20-year-old bridge crane. Rated capacity remains unchanged, but the new drive can accelerate and brake faster.

Why this Standard matters

A crane modification is not defined only by rated capacity. Changed drive behaviour can affect load actions, brakes, mechanisms, controls and the supporting structure.

What made the job difficult

  • Original crane classification and design edition are not easy to locate.
  • New control parameters can change acceleration and stopping behaviour.
  • Safety functions and motion limits are being migrated to a modern control system.
  • The runway and building support have their own fatigue history.

How the engineering review should proceed

  1. Identify the applicable AS 1418 part and reconstruct the original crane duty and load basis.
  2. Assess changed dynamic effects through the hoist, trolley, bridge and supporting runway.
  3. Review brakes, limits, control safety functions and failure behaviour together with the mechanical change.
  4. Define testing, commissioning and updated documentation before return to service.
Practical outcome

The engineering review may confirm the same WLL while still requiring control limits, structural checks or commissioning tests. 'Capacity unchanged' is not a sufficient modification assessment.

Also investigate
AS 4100 runway/supporting structureAS 2550 safe use and inspectionElectrical and functional-safety requirements
Case study 2 · Capacity increase request

Uprating an existing gantry crane from 10 t to 12.5 t

02
Project context

Production wants a modest capacity increase because a new product is slightly heavier than the current crane rating. The crane appears robust and rarely lifts at maximum load.

Why this Standard matters

A capacity increase can affect the entire crane system: structure, mechanisms, brakes, ropes, wheels, rails, stability, controls and supporting foundations.

What made the job difficult

  • The original duty classification may already be more limiting than static strength.
  • Existing fatigue damage may not be visible without targeted inspection.
  • End stops, buffers and braking forces also scale with changed duty.
  • The building runway may have less reserve than the crane bridge.

How the engineering review should proceed

  1. Recover the original classification, design loads and modification history.
  2. Inspect and assess the crane and supporting structure for the proposed new load spectrum.
  3. Review mechanisms and safety devices, not only bridge-girder stress.
  4. Define proof/test and commissioning requirements for the modified rating.
Practical outcome

The result may be a justified uprating, a restricted operating envelope or a decision that replacement is more appropriate. A single FEA utilisation plot cannot represent the whole crane system.

Also investigate
Relevant equipment-specific AS 1418 partAS 2550 inspection historyRunway and foundation assessment
Case study 3 · Relocation of existing equipment

Moving a jib crane to a new concrete foundation

03
Project context

A workshop wants to relocate a pedestal jib crane to a different bay. The crane itself is unchanged, so the project assumes only a new bolt pattern is required.

Why this Standard matters

The crane, foundation and anchorage form one load path. Relocation can change wind exposure, operating radius restrictions, collision hazards and support stiffness.

What made the job difficult

  • Original foundation loads and anchor details are incomplete.
  • The new location is close to another crane operating envelope.
  • The slab thickness is known but subgrade and reinforcement details are uncertain.
  • Access and maintenance clearances differ from the original site.

How the engineering review should proceed

  1. Recover crane reactions for relevant operating and out-of-service cases.
  2. Design the new foundation and anchors from the actual overturning and shear load path.
  3. Review collision, clearance and operational restrictions in the new location.
  4. Commission and update crane documentation after relocation.
Practical outcome

The relocation becomes a controlled crane modification and civil/structural design exercise. Reusing the crane does not mean the support system can be copied without assessment.

Also investigate
Foundation and anchor designAS 2550 operational clearances and useSite traffic and machinery risk assessment
07

Common mistakes

Searching only AS 1418.1

The specific crane part is missed even though it contains the equipment-specific requirements.

Equating capacity with duty

Two cranes with the same WLL can have very different load spectra and fatigue demands.

Upgrading power without load review

New motors, drives or brakes change dynamic actions and control behaviour.

Ignoring the runway

The crane is assessed but rails, runway beams and building support are assumed adequate.

Mixing design and safe-use requirements

Operational inspection rules are expected to answer a design-modification question, or vice versa.

No configuration baseline

Drawings, settings and control logic are not updated, making the next modification or incident investigation difficult.

08

Information to gather before making the decision

□

Crane type and AS 1418 part

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Original design Standard and edition

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Rated capacity and load spectrum

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Mechanism classification and operating history

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Speeds, accelerations and braking characteristics

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Structure and supporting runway details

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Ropes, drums, sheaves, hooks and brakes

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Electrical and control schematics

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Safety devices, limiters and motion limits

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Inspection and maintenance history

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Previous modifications and incidents

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Proposed change and commissioning plan

09

What should happen next?

1

New crane

Identify the correct AS 1418 part and build the general, specific and safe-use requirements into the procurement specification.

2

Minor replacement in kind

Confirm genuine equivalence and document the replacement basis rather than assuming every new component is identical in system behaviour.

3

Performance or control upgrade

Assess changed loads, mechanisms, controls and supporting structure before commissioning.

4

Unknown old crane

Reconstruct the design and duty baseline and inspect current condition before major changes.

5

Capacity increase

Treat as a major engineering change requiring a complete load-path and lifecycle assessment.

Related AS Applied content

AS 4991

Below-the-hook lifting devices are a separate design and verification problem.

Open →AS 4100

Supporting structural steelwork may require AS 4100 assessment.

Open →AS 3990

Mechanical equipment steelwork can be relevant to some crane-associated structures.

Open →
10

Source basis & limitations

  • Because AS 1418 is a large series, this page focuses on selecting the correct part and framing modification decisions rather than summarising each technical requirement.
  • Other AS 1418 and AS 2550 parts may be required depending on the specific equipment and scope.
Project-specific engineering

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