3.6 INFORMATION WHICH SHOULD BE EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE USER AND THE DESIGNER OR SUPPLIER
As hoists are frequently used for miscellaneous lifting purposes, precise details of the load to be lifted are not always available. In these circumstances, only a general specification can be given and this should include the following information:
The maximum load to be lifted or SWL.
Details of the application that may have a bearing on the load to be lifted, e.g. wind, hoisting out of water, etc.
The maximum extended dimension.
The maximum acceptable drawn up dimension (if headroom is important)
The range of lift.
The distance from the suspension level to the operating level. (This caters for the situation where the hand chain required is shorter than the load chain.)
Whether the hoist is to be used at an angle to the vertical.
The conditions of service and in particular any conditions which the user suspects might be hazardous, e.g. extremes of temperature, high probability of shock loading, uncertainty of weight of load.
The type of suspension i.e. hook suspended or trolley mounted. In the case of trolley mounted hoists, the information required for the trolley is given in SECTION 8 - TRAVELLING GIRDER TROLLEYS.
With larger capacity hoists, the manufacturer may design the gear ratios such that more than one person is required to provide the operating effort. Where the availability of the manpower is likely to be a restriction, the purchaser should also specify the maximum acceptable effort.