As part of our ongoing commitment to our clients, and in light of the developments made in the electric chain hoist market we are regularly finding that these items are a cost effective solution to suspension problems. We are pleased to be able to offer through our comprehensive supply network Chain Master & Columbus McKinnon (proper spelling to follow) products suitable for a range of applications, from touring hire stock units to permanently installed items that conform to the British standard BS 7906 Part 1 or the industry recognised German BGV-C1 & D8+ standards.
With the ability to easily adapt products from both suppliers to variable speed units and with the conversions performed by our in house staff the versatility of the range we can offer is second to none!
BS 7906 Part 1: 2005-Category A - Use of Lifting Equipment for Performance, Broadcast and Similar Applications.
This is a British Standard which details an adapted Electric Chain Hoist for ‘Entertainments’ use Category A Hoists are declared by the manufacturer as intended for use by the entertainment industry for lifting and suspending loads over people and meeting the requirements of BS 7905-1 or DIN 56925. Category A hoists are suitable for lifting or suspending loads above people without additional safety measure.
This standard is in part adapted from the German D8+ & C1 standards. Introduced In April 1998 by the Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance & Prevention (Berufsgenossenschaft VBG) and are codes of practice for entertainment and theatrical venues to use for designing their operations. Lifting and rigging equipment is just part of this code. It also covers structures, foundations and other technical matters.
A D8+ chain hoist can be used to lift loads during set up, with the area underneath cleared of people. A D8 Plus chain hoist can hold loads over people, but not move them, with no secondary safety component to hold the load in case of hoist failure.
The BGV-C1 (which started life as VBG 70). A C1 chain hoist is defined as one that can be used to move and hold loads above people. There are certain important differences between the hoist demands of BGV-C1 and general industrial standards familiar to the rest of the lifting industry. This is because in theatres hoists are often used to move loads over performers on stage and then hold them in place. A C1 chain hoist is defined as one that can be used to move and hold loads above people.
Neither of the German standards are enshrined in law - adopting them is entirely voluntary - but its adoption is generally required by insurance companies in Germany, and therefore it has effectively become an industry standard. It has increasingly become the standard to which entertainment industries in other countries work including the UK. The rule of thumb is that if your hoists comply with ether regulation compatible with its application then it is well within the UK regulations.
