What is BS EN 1495 – Lifting platforms about?
BS EN 1495 is a European standard that discusses the mast climbing work platforms for lifting platforms. Lifting devices provide vertical transportation between building floors, levels or decks, and are commonly found in offices, public buildings and other types of multi-storey accommodation.
BS EN 1495 specifies the special safety requirements for Mast Climbing Work Platforms (MCWP) which are temporarily installed and are manually or power-operated and which are designed to be used by one or more persons from which to carry out work. The vertical moving components (work platform) are also used to move those same persons and their equipment and materials to and from a single boarding point. These restrictions differentiate MCWPs from Builder's hoists.
BS EN 1495 is applicable to work platforms elevated by rack and pinion and guided by and moving along their supporting masts, where the masts may or may not require lateral restraint from separate supporting structures. BS EN 1495 applies to any combination of the following alternatives:
- One or more masts
- Mast tied or untied
- Mast of fixed or variable length
- Masts vertical or inclined between 0° and 30° to the vertical
- Masts which are standing or hanging
- Movable or static base (chassis, or base frame)
- Manually or power-operated elevation
- Towed or self-powered ground travel on-site, excluding road traffic regulation requirements
- Driven using electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motors.
BS EN 1495 identifies the hazards arising during the various phases in the life of such equipment and describes methods for the elimination or reduction of these hazards and the use of safe working practices.
Note: BS EN 1495 does not specify the requirements for dealing with the hazards involved in the manoeuvring, erection or dismantling, fixing or removing of any materials or equipment which are not part of the Mast Climbing Work Platform (MCWP). Neither does it deal with the handling of specific hazardous materials.
Note: BS EN 1495 does not specify the requirements for delivering persons and materials to fixed landing levels. Such equipment is referred to as lifts or hoists and is dealt with by other standards.
Note: BS EN 1495 does not include Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs)
Who is BS EN 1495 – Lifting platforms for?
BS EN 1495 on lifting platforms applies to:
- Manufacturer of lifting platforms
- Quality testing of lifting platforms
- Mechanical engineer
Why should you use BS EN 1495 – Lifting platforms?
Work platforms are the vertical travelling part of the installation upon which the persons, equipment and materials are carried and from which work is carried out. This is as opposed to the MCWP, which refers to the whole of the installation, inter alia work platform, mast, mast ties, base and chassis. The work platform includes the main platform and any platform extension.
BS EN 1495 provides you with the safety requirements for the light platforms. All loads and forces that occur during erection, operation, out-of-service, dismantling and transfer are considered. It also includes inclined or hanging masts. BS EN 1495 provides stability calculation which identifies the various configurations of the MCWP and the combinations of loads and deflections, which together create conditions of instability and structural calculation which evaluates the individual forces and makes allowance for deflections. All combinations of forces are considered including those which produce the most unfavourable stresses in the components.
Overall, BS EN 1495 is useful as it provides guidance on the mast climbing work platforms for lifting platforms.
