ANSI MH29.1-2012: Safety Requirements For Industrial Scissors Lifts

History:
In 2014, the International Building Code (IBC) officially recognized ANSI code MH29.1:2012 as the authority over industrial scissors lifts.

The reference can be found in Chapter 30, section 3001.2. This was considered a big win at the time, since some states and municipalities go strictly by the IBC, and it clearly separates industrial scissors lifts from elevators. Rider mezzanine lift approvals are now much easier. This recognition helped those who had problems getting job approval by empowering them to let their inspectors know that industrial scissors lifts are in now included in the IBC.

Compliance Requirements:
Mobile and stationary industrial scissors lifts raise, lower and position materials and personnel in various applications but are different from other conveyances, such as aerial work platforms (AWP) and elevators. MH29.1 has been revised to better illustrate that personnel operate and may themselves be raised or lowered by industrial scissors lifts.

This standard now defines dock lifts, work access lifts and lift tables as the three categories of industrial scissors lifts and identifies their differences and similarities. The responsibilities of manufacturers, users, owners and operators have been reordered, consolidated and enhanced. Lastly, the requirements within the standard have been revised where needed to ensure they are stated using mandatory language.

The over-arching goal to the latest version of MH29.1: 2012 is to better conform to other equipment codes recognized by the ICC board and the International Building Code (IBC) by establishing mandatory and unified language. IBC now recognizes ANSI code MH29.1:2012 as the authority over industrial scissors lifts.

The second goal is to provide clarity to the definitions contained within the code and further delineate between industrial scissors lifts and the aerial-type scissors lifts. The modifications to the definitions describe and define which type of scissors lifts may have riders on-board and the ones upon which riders are not allowed.

The final goal for establishing these new safety standards is that users of industrial scissors lifts are insured that the manufacturers who design and build are releasing products that hold to the highest of regulated standards and safety requirements.

Compliance Assistance:
To order a complete copy of the ANSI MH29.1:2012 Standard of Safety Requirements visit MHI.Org–LMPS industry section: https://bit.ly/2PBxSBi

The Lift Manufacturers Product Group (LIFT) members are the resource for industry best practices, standards, information and equipment that lifts, rotates, tilts and otherwise positions materials. Industry scissors lifts and tilters can also improve the working interface between people and the materials they must move to reduce injury, increase productivity, and eliminate wasted motion, while providing a significant return on investment.

In 2017, LIFT made an excerpt from the MH29.1 standard (ANSI MH29.1:2012Industrial Scissor Lifts Safety Requirements) available for free download on the MHI website.
LIFT members wanted to ensure access to the key responsibilities in safety requirements for owners and users of scissor lifts. The sections referring to these responsibilities have been extracted and made available. Download the free excerpt at https://bit.ly/2C3YMOm.

SPONSORED BY: Advance Lifts Inc.
Over 20 years ago, Advance Lifts and a number of other leading manufacturers of industrial scissors lifts formed a group that worked on developing the first version of Safety Requirements for Industrial Scissors Lifts. This became known as the ANSI MH29.1 standard. Advance Lifts has continued to be active in the development of the subsequent revisions to the standard and in 2015 the International Code Council (ICC) incorporated ANSI MH29.1 as a reference standard in Section 3001.2 of chapter 30 of the International Building Code (IBC). All of the Advance Lifts scissors lift products are designed, tested and manufactured to comply with ANSI MH29.1. Consequently when we ship a product to a customer, we are confident that we are providing them with reliable, durable and safe products. ANSI MH29.1 is a very important part of our company’s business philosophy.
Advance Lifts, Inc., 800-843-3625, www.advancelifts.com