Hoist brakes are an essential safety feature of overhead cranes. Designed to hold a load when the hoist motor is not running, these brakes reduce the risk of falling loads that could result in injury and property damage.

This section specifies the performance requirements of hoist, or holding, brakes. It also calls for an additional control braking mechanism to prevent overspeeding – that is, to prevent hoists from exceeding a predetermined operating speed.

The Clescrane technical team can help you in your efforts to maintain a safe, productive operation by inspecting your equipment and performing needed service.

Brakes for hoists

Each independent hoisting unit of a crane shall be equipped with at least one self-setting brake, hereafter referred to as a holding brake, applied directly to the motor shaft or some part of the gear train.

Holding brakes

1. Holding brakes for hoist motors shall have not less than the following percentage of the full load hoisting torque at the point where the brake is applied.

125 percent when used with a control braking means other than mechanical.

100 percent when used in conjunction with a mechanical control braking means.

100 percent each if two holding brakes are provided.

2. Holding brakes on hoists shall have ample thermal capacity for the frequency of operation required by the service.

3. Holding brakes on hoists shall be applied automatically when power is removed.

4. Where necessary holding brakes shall be provided with adjustment means to compensate for wear.

5. The wearing surface of all holding-brake drums or discs shall be smooth.

6. Each independent hoisting unit of a crane handling hot metal and having power control braking means shall be equipped with at least two holding brakes.