On the worksite, safety is non-negotiable. Keeping your load secure is essential for compliance and ensures you’re on track to finish the job on time. In Alberta, cranes are necessary for completing jobs across many industries, from oil and gas to construction.
Discover with us here at Accurate Scale, as we explore all about the essential certifications that business owners should consider when investing in a crane scale. Read on to empower yourself, and ‘uplift’ your operations with the right weighing solution for you.
Why Safety Features Matter In Industrial Lifting
Lifting heavy loads requires careful preparation, from staying on schedule to ensuring compliance standards. That’s why finding the right crane scale for your operations is essential, and ultimately depends on your needs. Cranes used in refineries will have different requirements from those on demolition sites.
But regardless of what industry you’re in, there are a few essential certifications to keep in mind before investing in a crane scale.
What Is NTEP Certification?
NTEP (National Type Evaluation Program) is a US-based industry certification that sets standards for legal-for-trade weighing equipment. Having NTEP-certified equipment is a significant advantage for businesses, as it ensures compliance with commercial regulations. Even if the crane scale is strictly for internal use and won’t be needed for Legal for Trade applications, NTEP certification still ensures the highest level of reliability and accuracy.
What is an IP Rating?
Another certification to keep an eye on when looking for a crane scale is the IP (Ingress Protection) Rating. This rating signifies exactly how resistant a device is against external contaminants—the higher the rating, the better suited it is against interference. An IP certification is always made of two digits, with the first being resistance against solids and the second being resistance against liquids.
Here’s a quick-view chart for easy reference:
| First Digit | Solid Protection | Second Digit | Liquid Protection |
| 1 | Protection from solids larger than 50mm. | 1 | Protection from vertical drops of water. |
| 2 | Protection from solids larger than 12.5mm. | 2 | Protection from vertical drops of water when tipped at 15 degrees. |
| 3 | Protection from solids larger than 2.5mm. | 3 | Protection from sprays of water when tipped at 60 degrees. |
| 4 | Protection from objects larger than 1.0mm. | 4 | Protection from splashing water of all directions. |
| 5 | Dust Protected | 5 | Protection from jets of water. |
| 6 | Dust-Tight | 6 | Protection from powerful jets of water. |
| 7 | Protection from water immersion for up to 1 minute and 30 seconds. |
Why is it important to look at the IP rating when you’re buying a crane scale? Well, among most industries, cranes see high levels of contaminants. When these contaminants get into scale components, issues like incorrect readings and early failure can occur. Whether it’s dust particles in warehouses or rain in outdoor construction zones, crane scales graded with a sufficient IP rating can mitigate this and ensure continued accuracy.
Durability in the Field: Materials, Seals, and Shock Resistance
While certifications are important, when it comes to finding the right crane scale for your jobsite, there’s more to the story. Features such as extensive battery life, weight capacity, and ease of operation are day-to-day factors which should be considered as well. The best thing you can do when looking for a crane scale is to seek out professional support, such as Accurate Scale. Scale technicians know the ins and outs of industrial scales and can offer expert guidance.
Trust What You Lift with Accurate Scale
We’ve supported businesses throughout Northern Alberta for almost 50 years. At Accurate Scale, we pride ourselves on our commitment to comprehensive scale solutions. Whether you’re in the market for an upgrade or are seeking sophisticated, custom software, we’re here to tip the scales in your favour.
Visit us at our Edmonton location, or contact us today to receive expert guidance on all your weighing needs.