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ANSI UPDATE: Ready Or Not, The New Standards Are Here

ANSI UPDATE: Ready Or Not, The New Standards Are Here

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is on the cusp of implementing new standards (ANSI Updates) for boom and scissor-type lifts which have significant implications for the construction, equipment rental and equipment sales industries.

The new standards dictating design, calculations, safety requirements and test methods (A92.20- 201X) for aerial work platforms, now referred to as Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), are nearing implementation, according to the Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA), which has been developing safety guides for the aerial platform industry for more than 35 years and is an accredited standards developer for ANSI. The updated safety and training standards (A92.22- 201X and A92.24- 201X) have been approved by the standards committee and are on hold for implementation until the design standards reach approval, according to the SAIA. The design standards haven’t reached approval due to six appeals during the appeal period, three of which requested hearings. Two of the three hearings have been conducted and the third, and final, hearing is scheduled for January 12. The appeal panel has 30 days to render a decision. Based on the decision, the proposed standard could either be sent to ANSI for final approval/implementation, or sent back out to the committee for further review. At this time, it appears as though the standards may be officially for publication in the spring of 2018.

Manufacturers will be required to supply compliant machines within one year of publication of the new standards. That is, machinery manufactured in the year after publication can be built to comply with either the old or the new standards. Any machinery built after this time will be required to comply with the new standards. Existing machines will not be required to comply with the new standards and will remain approved for use.

The new regulations are replacing prior ANSI standards A92.3, A92.5, A92.6 and A92.8 which covered manually propelled aerial, booms, scissors and under-bridge inspection machines. The standards dictate stability, testing and safety requirements to manufacturers so that consumers are provided certified and safe machines for use. The updates are focused on moving North American equipment toward current global standards to reduce variances.

The updates to regulation will include:

  • Terminology changes
  • Platform load sensing technology requirements
  • New wind force requirements
  • New stability testing
  • New railing height requirements
  • New platform entry requirements

Read more in depth about what the new ANSI updates will entail and some of the causes and effects in our prior articles here and here.

 



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