Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
ASME PALD 9c-1990 — Upright Type Mobile Lifts Safety Standard Addenda (c)
📄 ASME/ANSI PALD 9c-1990 is the third and final Addenda to the Safety Standard for Portable Automotive Lifting Devices — Upright Type Mobile Lifts (PALD-9-1987), approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on July 24, 1990 and issued August 31, 1990, following addenda (a) of 1988 and (b) of 1989. Following the series convention, it is distributed as replacement pages: changes introduced by this addenda are marked (c), while those from the previous addenda are marked (a) and (b). The Summary of Changes states plainly that this is the last addenda to be published for the 1987 edition, meaning any further revision would go through the drafting of a new edition — so 9c represents the final technical form of PALD-9 (1987).
💡 The importance of 9c goes beyond being “the last change”: its complete rewrite of the proof load clause 3.5 converges the requirements formerly scattered across the definitions, design, and testing chapters into one self-consistent controlling clause — the definitive text of the 1987 edition.
1. Summary of Addenda Changes 📚
The Summary of Changes in PALD 9c-1990 is focused, with four revisions:
| Page | Location | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3.5 Proof load | Revised in its entirety |
| 7 | 4.4 Warning | First paragraph revised |
| 8 | 7.1.3 (Product instructions and warnings) | Paragraphs (c) and (d) revised |
| 7.1.4 | Revised |
⚠️ Note that clause 4.4 in this volume is the Warning clause (the Volume’s marking system is 4.1 capacity information, 4.2 identification, 4.3 date stamp, 4.4 warning). After revision, a warning must carry the heading WARNING, a statement of the hazard, what to do to avoid or reduce it, and a reminder to study, understand, and follow all instructions, attached durably where visible to the operator.
2. The Complete Rewrite of Proof Load Clause 3.5 🔬
The wholesale revision of 3.5 condenses the proof load requirements into the controlling text — the technical core of this addenda:
| Lift Configuration | Proof Load Multiple | Test Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Lifts not equipped with internal load limiting devices | 150% of rated capacity | Proof load test per 5.1.1 |
| Lifts equipped with internal load limiting devices | 125% of rated capacity | Proof load test per 5.1.1 |
The logic of the two tiers is clear: an internal load limiting device already caps the maximum load the structure can ever see at a lower multiple of rated capacity, so the proof requirement is appropriately relaxed to 125%; a lift without such a device must keep its structure intact under the worst conceivable overload, hence 150%. Clause 5.1.1 requires the proof load to be applied to the saddles and the load to be lifted, sustained, and lowered through the entire range of travel with all saddles at full extension; for purposes of the test, any load limiting device may be deactivated.
✅ The “load limiting device may be deactivated” detail matters: it ensures the test verifies the structure itself, not the protective function of the limiting device. Manufacturers should run type tests accordingly and state the device handling in the test report.
3. Warning Clause 4.4 and Instructions Clause 7.1 Revisions 📢
The revision of the first paragraph of 4.4, together with 7.1.3(c), (d) and 7.1.4, completes the “marking – warning – manual” chain. The warning example given in the Standard is highly instructive: “This device is designed for lifting purposes only, not for supporting loads. Immediately after lifting, support the vehicle/load with appropriately rated vehicle stands. Do not load this lift beyond its rated capacity; overloading can cause damage to or failure of the lift. Lift only on areas of the vehicle which provide equal load on each saddle, as specified by the vehicle manufacturer. This lift is designed for use only on hard level surfaces capable of sustaining the load; use on other than hard level surfaces can result in lift instability and possible loss of load. Failure to heed these warnings may result in loss of load, damage to the lift, and/or failure resulting in personal injury or property damage. Study, understand, and follow all instructions.”
🚨 Engrave “lifting ≠ supporting” into every work sequence: a lift raises one end of the vehicle clear of the ground and must never serve as a long-term support. Before anyone works beneath the vehicle, transfer the load to calibrated vehicle stands — this is the red line the Standard’s warnings repeat and the one most often ignored in accident statistics.
4. Engineering Practice Essentials 🛠️
- 📑 Closing the version chain: insert the 9c replacement pages (along with 9a and 9b) into PALD-9-1987 and mark the addenda chain complete; cite the consolidated (a)(b)(c) text going forward.
- 🧪 Test execution: run proof load tests to the controlling 3.5 — 150%/125% tiers, load applied at the saddles, full travel both ways, load limiting devices deactivated as specified.
- 🏷️ Warning audit: check product warning plates against 4.4 and 7.1 — mandated elements and durable attachment — sentence by sentence against the Standard’s example.
- 📋 Records and traceability: retain the Summaries of Changes and replaced pages of all three addenda as version-evolution and compliance evidence.
5. Frequently Asked Questions ❓
❓ Q: Why is 9c the “last” addenda?
A: The Summary of Changes states: “This is the third and last Addenda to be published to ASME/ANSI PALD-9-1987.” Any further committee revisions would proceed through a new edition rather than another addenda, so 9c is the final technical form of the 1987 edition.
A: The Summary of Changes states: “This is the third and last Addenda to be published to ASME/ANSI PALD-9-1987.” Any further committee revisions would proceed through a new edition rather than another addenda, so 9c is the final technical form of the 1987 edition.
❓ Q: Is deactivating the load limiting device allowed during the proof test?
A: Yes — explicitly anticipated. Clause 5.1.1 says “For purposes of this test, any load limiting device may be deactivated.” The objective is to verify the integrity of the structure itself, not the protective function of the limiting device.
A: Yes — explicitly anticipated. Clause 5.1.1 says “For purposes of this test, any load limiting device may be deactivated.” The objective is to verify the integrity of the structure itself, not the protective function of the limiting device.
❓ Q: Did the 3.5 rewrite change the actual test requirements?
A: The 150%/125% framework was already established through the definition revisions in 9a/9b; 9c rewrites 3.5 wholesale so that the clause wording, definition references, and the 5.1 test program form one consistent whole. The substance is unchanged; the wording is more rigorous.
A: The 150%/125% framework was already established through the definition revisions in 9a/9b; 9c rewrites 3.5 wholesale so that the clause wording, definition references, and the 5.1 test program form one consistent whole. The substance is unchanged; the wording is more rigorous.
🔍 Q: Do existing lifts get affected by 9c?
A: Addenda apply prospectively to products manufactured after the effective date (about three months after the August 31, 1990 issuance). Compulsory compliance of existing equipment follows the applicable purchase/regulatory regime, but new designs and type tests must follow the consolidated version including 9c.
A: Addenda apply prospectively to products manufactured after the effective date (about three months after the August 31, 1990 issuance). Compulsory compliance of existing equipment follows the applicable purchase/regulatory regime, but new designs and type tests must follow the consolidated version including 9c.
