Jib cranes are classified as statutory special equipment in China; their design, manufacturing, installation, acceptance, operation, and annual inspections must strictly adhere to specific national and industry standards. Equipment failing to meet these standards is strictly prohibited from use. A comprehensive understanding of the applicable standards, acceptance specifications, and technical requirements for annual inspections is essential for ensuring regulatory compliance, mitigating risks, and guaranteeing safe equipment operation. This article systematically outlines the core specifications and key inspection points.
The design and manufacturing of jib cranes strictly follow two core standards: *Safety Rules for Lifting Appliances – Part 1: General* (GB 6067.1-2010) and *General Technical Specifications for Light and Small Lifting Equipment* (JB/T 10689-2021). These standards mandate that the rated lifting capacity, structural strength, rigidity, and stability of the jib crane must meet specified requirements. Critical load-bearing structures—such as the main beam and column—must be free from cracks, permanent deformation, and severe corrosion. Welding processes, anti-corrosion treatments, electrical safety, and safety protection devices must all meet compliance standards. Upon leaving the factory, the equipment must be accompanied by a certificate of conformity, an inspection report, and an operation manual; parameter markings must be clear, accurate, and durable to prevent the release of non-standard or substandard equipment.
Equipment installation and acceptance follow standardized protocols comprising four main modules: visual inspection, structural inspection, performance testing, and safety inspection. Visual inspection covers surface anti-corrosion, weld quality, component completeness, and marking clarity. Structural inspection verifies column verticality, main beam horizontality, bolt tightness, and foundation load-bearing capacity, ensuring critical dimensional deviations remain within industry-permitted limits. Performance testing involves no-load, rated-load, and 1.25-times overload tests to evaluate operational smoothness, transmission performance, and structural stability, ensuring the absence of deformation, abnormal noise, or mechanical binding. Safety inspection focuses on verifying the sensitivity and reliability of limit devices, overload protection, emergency stops, and braking systems, as well as ensuring electrical system insulation and grounding meet safety standards. Only after all acceptance items pass is a comprehensive acceptance report issued, enabling the processing of equipment usage registration.
Annual inspections of jib cranes must strictly adhere to the regulations governing special equipment, with comprehensive inspections conducted once a year. The annual inspection comprises four key areas: structural integrity, mechanical performance, safety devices, and electrical systems. Structural inspections identify hazards such as cracks, deformation, corrosion, and loose bolts in load-bearing components. Mechanical performance checks assess the wear of drive components, lubrication status, operational stability, and braking performance, alongside a test run at rated load. Safety device inspections verify the effectiveness of all protective mechanisms, requiring the immediate replacement of any faulty parts. Electrical system checks evaluate wiring insulation, grounding resistance, and switch performance to eliminate electrical safety hazards. Equipment failing the inspection must be immediately taken out of service for rectification and may only resume operation after passing a re-inspection; failure to undergo the annual inspection on time or the unauthorized operation of non-compliant equipment will result in regulatory penalties. Enterprises are required to maintain equipment ledgers and inspection records to ensure standardized, compliant management of cantilever cranes throughout their entire lifecycle.
