Crane Boom Repair

This is a re-post of an article we wrote back in 2012.

You would be surprised how many times we hear, “You guys repair crane booms? I didn’t even know you could do that.” We also hear, “There’s no way that can be repaired” or “I talked to the manufacturer and they said that boom is not able to be repaired”. Just in case you think something cannot be repaired, and repaired for a reasonable cost and time frame see below and let me know what you think.

Repairing a wrecked crane boom certainly is not a new concept. When a crane goes down and the booms are damaged you can bet that guy is going to figure out a way to get it repaired and back in service. This has been going on for ages. However, nowadays if you are going to get your boom repaired you need to make sure the place you take it has the proper certifications, liability insurance and probably most importantly, they give you a “rest assured” feeling.

Generally there are two types of crane booms, lattice and hydraulic. They both experience different types of failures which both require different types of repair procedures designed by a qualified person. By the definition OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1400 states a qualified person is defined as “a person, who by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training and experience, successfully demonstrated the ability to solve/resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project”. There aren’t many “qualified” firms in the country that can perform crane boom repair. Below is a list of documentation that a qualified firm will be able to provide:

1. In-house seal and certification
2. 3^rd party licensed inspection and accompanying certification.
3. Lab testing results showing chemical and physical properties of the boom’s original steel.
4. Mill-run specs on the replacement steel.
5. AWS D14.3 documented welding procedures.
6. Technicians AWS certifications.
7. Documented non-destructive testing showing compliance with proper AWS (or applicable) code.
8. Proof of liability insurance.

Providing the above documentation has been more than acceptable for numerous government entities, construction firms, OEM’s and much more.

In closing, crane boom repair is not a new field. As mentioned above, people have been doing it for years because they didn’t have a choice. Now, boom repair has gained acceptance in the industry so more and more crane owners are becoming aware and more educated. You can also visit www.certifiedboomrepair.com for more information or submit an inquiry here.