BS EN 12999:2020

What is  BS EN 12999 about?   

BS EN 12999 discusses hydraulic loader cranes. BS EN 12999 specifies minimum requirements for design, calculation, examinations, and tests of hydraulic-powered loader cranes and their mountings on vehicles or static foundations. 

Note 1: BS EN 12999 also applies to loader cranes equipped with special tools or interchangeable equipment.  

Note 2: BS EN 12999 does not cover hazards related to the lifting of persons. 

Note 3: BS EN 12999 does not apply to loader cranes used onboard sea-going vessels or to articulated boom system cranes which are designed as total integral parts of special equipment such as forwarders. (e.g., grapple, clamshell bucket, pallet clamp, etc.), as specified in the operator’s manual. The machinery concerned and the extent to which hazards, hazardous situations, or hazardous events are covered are indicated in the scope of BS EN 12999.  

Note 4: BS EN 12999 applies to loader cranes designed to be installed on: 

• Road vehicles, including trailers, with the load-carrying capability 
• Tractors (road or agricultural), where only a towed trailer has the capability to carry goods 
• Demountable bodies to be carried by any of the above 
• other types of carriers (e.g. separate loaders, crawlers, rail vehicles, non-seagoing vessels) 
• Static foundations  

Note 5:  The use of cranes for the lifting of persons can be subject to specific national regulations. 

Who is  BS EN 12999 for?  

BS EN 12999 is of relevance for the following stakeholder groups representing the market 

players about machinery safety:  

• Hydraulic loader crane manufacturers 
• Health and safety bodies 
• Hydraulic loader cranes operators 
• Service providers 

Why should you use  BS EN 12999?   

Hydraulic loader cranes help to load, transport, and unload heavy objects, vehicles, and other goods. It’s important that the loader trucks must be designed in a way that makes it easier for the operators to perform their duties. Also due to the large size and power of hydraulic loader cranes, they must undergo various safety tests to reduce the risk of accidents. The tests specified in BS EN 12999 can help the manufacturers can demonstrate the safety of their industrial trucks and ultimately reduce the risks of hazardous situations. 

BS EN 12999 specifies minimum requirements for design, calculation, examinations, and tests of hydraulic-powered loader cranes and their mountings on vehicles or static foundations. 

BS EN 12999 is a harmonized standard to provide one means for loader cranes to conform to the essential health and safety requirements of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. 

 What’s changed since the last update?  

BS EN 12999:2020 supersedes BS EN 12999:2011+A2:2018, which is withdrawn. 

The two major changes are the following: 

• Replacing the reference to EN 954-1:1996 with a reference to EN ISO 13849-1:2015 
• Improving the subclause on the stability test