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Why Do I Need a Spreader
Bar?
 Written by Jason Thompson (http://www.spartaengineering.com/author/jason/)


 0 Comments (http://www.spartaengineering.com/need­spreader­bar/#disqus_thread)

Why Use a Spreader
Bar?
A spreader bar is a type of below­the­
hook lifting device used to aid crane
operators in picking up large and
sometimes heavy loads. The idea
behind a spreader bar is to simply
distribute the load of a lift across more
than one point, increasing stability
and decreasing the loads applied
during hoisting. Most commonly used
when the object being lifted is too
large to be lifted from a single point,
and not designed to take any adverse
loading caused from angled slings
during the lift.
Related Content: How to Design a

Spreader Bar (http://www.spartaengineering.com/spreader­bar­design­process/)
There are several styles and options of below­the­hook lifting devices that can be used to accomplish this. The
styles include: the spreader bar, the spreader beam, and using multiple spreader bars stacked together. These
options are discussed below.

Spreader Bar
A spreader bar (http://spreaderbarsonline.com/2016/02/13/anatomy­of­a­spreader­bar/) typically has two
lugs going up to transmit load to the crane and two lugs down in order to attach to the object being lifted. The
lines connecting the object being lifted to the spreader bar remain close to vertical in order to provide the
simplest loading scenario on the object being lifted. The lines coming off the top of the spreader to the crane
angle up at a known angle (usually 45 degrees or 60 degrees). When an engineer designs the spreader bar
he designs it specifically to be strong enough to handle the increased loads from sloped slings out the top.
These bars are commonly telescopic in length and can range in size from 1ft to 60ft or bigger. The nature of
these spreader bars is such that the loading through the bar has almost no bending. The lugs are orientated in
such a way so that the majority of the load is purely compressive through the bar making it behave like a
column. This is a fairly efficient structural loading scenario allowing for spreader bars to support a great deal of
load given their size.

Spreader Beam
Spreader beams differ slightly from spreader bars in that they usually have one attachment point on the top

and multiple attachment points on the bottom. Modern manufacturing techniques has lead to these beams
coming in a variety of shapes and sizes historically they got their name as lifting beams because they were
made from I­beams with the lugs welded on the top and bottom. Lifting beams have a couple unique features
that make them beneficial over spreader bars in some applications.
Advantages:
1) Spreader beams have multiple hook points on the bottom so you could spread the load of more than just two
lines This is especially useful if you are lifting something that doesn’t have the structure to support its own
weight such as a flat piece of light gauge steel.
2) Another main advantage is they are built with a single point connection out the top so they take up a lot less
crane height to lift since you don’t have any rigging above the beam. This aspect makes them particularly
popular for indoor cranes where hook height tends to be limited and nearly impossible to change.
3) The last main advantage of spreader beams is that they can be turned upside down to use two cranes to lift
one object. This is a popular configuration if you are lifting something that exceeds the capacity of one crane
and don’t have access to simply get a larger crane to make the lift.
Disadvantages:
Now, with all those advantages there is one disadvantage to this device. Because of the single point lift on the
top there is a bending moment in the beam which means they tend to be much larger and heavier than an
equivalent spreader bar. In other words a 10 ton spreader bar would be significantly lighter and potentially
cheaper than a 10 ton spreader beam. With multiple lugs on the bottom they also don’t lend themselves to
being adjustable or telescopic very easily.


Combining Spreader Bars
If you are performing a complex large lift, it can be common to use multiple spreader bars stacked on top of
each other in order to spread the load between more points. These lifts are common using between 3, 7 or
even more pieces of lifting equipment. With each new layer, you lose the height of the slings so these lifts often
require a really tall crane in order to have enough hook height for all the rigging. If you are attempting a multi­
beam lift, a lift engineer can help you plan and specify appropriate hardware/rigging to perform the lift safely.

(http://www.spartaengineering.com/blog/wp­content/uploads/2014/12/Sparta­Engineering­spreader­bar­FULL­
LIFT.jpg)
Regardless of whether you are planning to use a spreader bar or spreader beam, they both fall under the
ASME B30.20 below­the hook­lifting code (http://www.spartaengineering.com/rating­plates­and­below­the­
hook­lifting­devices/). The design of such bars is governed by BTH­1 and need to be carefully reviewed by an
engineer. In Canada, they are also part of an annual inspection procedure to make sure they are fit for
continued use. If you are curious why you should have you’re below­the­hook lifting code certified please read
the following article on inspection and certification (http://www.spartaengineering.com/why­use­certified­lift­
equipment/).
(http://www2.spartaengineering.com/spreader­bar­calculator)One of the first things you learn as a rigger is to
calculate (http://www2.spartaengineering.com/spreader­bar­calculator) sling loads. However, to make things
simpler I have made a quick calculator to help out. The calculator calculates loads on angled slings and

vertical slings on spreader bars or spreader beams. This can also be used to appropriately size your shackles.
Please note that these are raw numbers and require an appropriate safety factor be added to them in order to
be used. You can download this calculator here (http://www2.spartaengineering.com/spreader­bar­calculator).



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 Custom Equipment (http://www.spartaengineering.com/category/custom­equipment/), Hoist and Lifting Equipment (http://www.spartaengineering.com/category/hoist­and­lifting­
equipment/)
Spreader Bar Design (http://www.spartaengineering.com/tag/spreader­bar­design/), B30.20 (http://www.spartaengineering.com/tag/b30­20/), Cranes



(http://www.spartaengineering.com/tag/cranes/), Spreader Bar Inspection (http://www.spartaengineering.com/tag/spreader­bar­inspection/)

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