Terex, Wolffkran, Comansa, Jaso, Liebherr and Manitowoc’s Potain brand have decided to apply EN 14439 on all cranes manufactured from the New Year. EN 14439 applies to all kinds of top-slewing and self-erecting tower cranes, and has been developed in response to the need for a harmonised standard to meet the health and safety requirements of the Machinery Directive.

The objectives of EN 14439 include increased safety for tower cranes, covering access and egress, erection and operation; minimum requirements for noise emissions; and better ergonomics and comfort for crane users, riggers and crane drivers.

EN 14439 covers two main areas: accessories and components, and out-of-service wind conditions. Accessories and components addresses the physical changes needed to improve operator comfort, make access safer, mitigate collisions and more. Out-of-service wind conditions are now required to match local conditions, and not use a present wind speed as with older standards, like FEM 1.001 and DIN 15018. EN 14439 requires FEM 1.005 to be used. In-service wind conditions have not changed.

CECE said one of the major steps taken with EN 14439 is a uniform level of safety for tower cranes no matter where they are in operation in Europe. Tower crane users must act on data of local conditions to adjust the configuration of their crane accordingly.

The availability of geographical wind history statistics, and the increased severity of storms in recent years, has prompted this move. Under EN 14439, countries and regions are divided into wind zones A through F, with region C and a repeating interval of 25 years – C25 – set as the minimum standard for structural analysis, proof of stability and other information in the operator’s manual.

CECE added it is necessary to consider the safety loading condition with a ‘storm from the front’ or a ‘storm from all sides’, which covers the weather vaning capability of the crane into the main wind direction. Depending on the crane configuration and the wind zone, this can possibly lead to a larger foundation load, more central ballast or the use of strengthened crane components, CECE said.

“All of these measures have an increase in the safety of Europe’s construction sites as their goal,” CECE said in a statement. “Once the…requirements are met, users can proceed under the assumption that they are adhering to current legal requirements.”



Related Files
EN 14439 leaflet