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ASME PALD 9b-1989 — Upright Type Mobile Lifts Safety Standard Addenda (b)
📄 ASME/ANSI PALD 9b-1989 is the second Addenda to the Safety Standard for Portable Automotive Lifting Devices — Upright Type Mobile Lifts (PALD-9-1987), the first addenda (a) having been published in 1988. Approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on July 19, 1989 and issued August 31, 1989, it follows the series convention of replacement pages: revisions, additions, and deletions are incorporated directly into the affected pages. Changes introduced by this addenda are marked (b); changes from the previous addenda are marked (a). Users should retain the title page, copyright page, and all replaced pages.
💡 The highlights of this addenda are the “editorial revision of the Foreword in its entirety” and the revision of operating controls clause 3.1 — the former streamlines how the Standard’s history is told, while the latter directly affects the design and safe use of product controllers.
1. Summary of Addenda Changes 📚
The Summary of Changes in PALD 9b-1989 lists the revisions page by page. The scope is more focused than the previous addenda:
| Page | Location | Change |
|---|---|---|
| iii | Foreword | Editorially revised in its entirety |
| 1 | Introduction (General) | Second paragraph revised |
| 2 | Section I (Scope) | Revised |
| 5 | Section 2 definitions | Definition of proof load revised |
| 6 | Fig. 1 | Revised |
| 3.1 Operating controls | Revised |
⚠️ The marking scheme matters: a page can show both (a) — changes from the first addenda — and (b) — changes from this one. To confirm that any clause reflects the latest requirement, compare the Summary of Changes of both addenda; do not mistake an old change for the current requirement.
2. Revision of Operating Controls Clause 3.1 🎛️
Clause 3.1 is a requirement that the third addenda (9c, discussed separately) touches again, confirming that control ergonomics and misoperation prevention have been a standing committee concern. This addenda reaffirms and refines the operating-controls requirements: controls must be designed readily visible and accessible to the operator, who must not be subject to pinch points, sharp edges, or snagging hazards; control operation must be evident from position, function, labeling, or a combination; and the release system must require intentional positive action by the operator, preventing accidental lowering. The accompanying revision of Fig. 1 updates the operating-controls callout, giving manufacturers and operators a consistent reference.
✅ “Intentional positive action” is the soul of 3.1: whether the lift is hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical, lowering must be deliberately triggered by the operator. Any design that lowers by “letting go” or by accidental touch violates this clause.
3. Proof Load Definition and Introduction Revisions 📖
The revised proof load definition on page 5 continues the direction set by addenda 9a and further refines the wording: proof load is “a load greater than the rated capacity, applied to the saddle(s) and transmitted to the structure, to verify the integrity of the structure,” remaining strictly consistent with the two-tier multipliers of clause 3.5 (150% without internal load limiting devices, 125% with) and the qualification tests of Section 5. The revisions to the second paragraph of the Introduction and to Section I (Scope) mainly update the PALD series volume list and applicability wording (for example, adjusting the status of volumes still in the developmental stage), keeping the Standard’s application boundary accurate.
🚨 Proof load testing is frequently misunderstood as a simple “press down”: the Standard requires the load to be applied at the saddles and the load lifted, sustained, and lowered through the full range of travel, with no functional damage (permanent deformation or loss of sealing). Any sample showing cracks or yielding must fail.
4. Engineering Practice Essentials 🛠️
- 📑 Version control: insert both the PALD-9b-1989 and 9a replacement pages into the base volume; verify each clause’s current state using the (a)/(b) markers.
- 🎛️ Controller review: assess product controllers against revised clause 3.1 — visibility, reachability, pinch protection, and positive-action release; update drawings and manuals where needed.
- 🧪 Test consistency: verify the cross-references among the proof load definition, the 3.5 multipliers, and the 5.1 test program, ensuring the type-test scheme matches the current version.
- 📋 Training update: embed “intentional positive action” and “accidental-lowering prevention” into operator training and refresh the safety briefing materials.
5. Frequently Asked Questions ❓
❓ Q: Why is this called the “second addenda”?
A: The Summary of Changes states this is the second addenda to PALD-9-1987; the first (9a) was published in 1988. Its change marker (b) denotes the second addenda, and the later 9c-1990 is the third and final one.
A: The Summary of Changes states this is the second addenda to PALD-9-1987; the first (9a) was published in 1988. Its change marker (b) denotes the second addenda, and the later 9c-1990 is the third and final one.
❓ Q: Is the Foreword revision a technical change?
A: It is marked “editorial” — it reorganizes the standard’s history and wording without altering technical requirements. Still, it affects how one understands the background and the volume system, so it should be archived as a replacement page.
A: It is marked “editorial” — it reorganizes the standard’s history and wording without altering technical requirements. Still, it affects how one understands the background and the volume system, so it should be archived as a replacement page.
❓ Q: Does the 3.1 revision affect my existing lifts?
A: Addenda apply prospectively — only to products manufactured after the effective date (about three months after the August 31, 1989 issuance). Existing equipment need not be retrofitted, but new designs and new purchases must meet the revised controls requirements, and training should follow the new wording.
A: Addenda apply prospectively — only to products manufactured after the effective date (about three months after the August 31, 1989 issuance). Existing equipment need not be retrofitted, but new designs and new purchases must meet the revised controls requirements, and training should follow the new wording.
🔍 Q: How do I tell the (a) and (b) markers apart?
A: (a) marks changes introduced by the 1988 first addenda; (b) marks changes introduced by this 1989 addenda. Each addenda’s Summary of Changes lists its own pages and clauses; comparing the two summaries locates every change.
A: (a) marks changes introduced by the 1988 first addenda; (b) marks changes introduced by this 1989 addenda. Each addenda’s Summary of Changes lists its own pages and clauses; comparing the two summaries locates every change.
