WH SCOTT
Proof Load Testing
Controlled overload testing on your site or on our own test beds — anywhere in the UK and Ireland, with calibrated loads, post-test examination and full test documentation.
What Proof Load Testing Involves
A proof load test applies a controlled load in excess of an item’s safe working load, under measured conditions, to prove that it carries its rated capacity without permanent deformation, cracking or loss of function. The load is applied, held for a set period and released. The item is then examined to establish that nothing about it has changed.
Testing matters because a calculation, a certificate and a visual inspection can all be satisfied by an item that is nonetheless unfit to lift. A proof load test is how a competent person moves from an expectation of strength to evidence of it — after fabrication, after a repair that touched a load path, after an item has been dropped or shock-loaded, or where the provenance of a piece of equipment simply cannot be established.
WH Scott has been testing and certifying lifting equipment since 1897. We carry out proof load testing at customer premises and on our own test beds, working from 14 depots across the UK and Ireland, and issue the test documentation on completion — alongside a LOLER thorough examination where one is required.
When Proof Load Testing is required.
Load testing requirements depend on the type of lifting equipment, its condition, use and the legislation that applies. In Great Britain and Ireland, competent persons should determine when testing is necessary based on the equipment and its circumstances.
- Where statutory requirements apply — in Great Britain, lifting equipment is subject to requirements including LOLER 1998 and PUWER 1998. In Ireland, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, S.I. No. 299 of 2007, set requirements for the examination and testing of lifting equipment.
- After manufacture or fabrication — first-article and pre-delivery testing of newly designed and fabricated lifting equipment, including equipment being placed on the market with UKCA or CE marking.
- After repair or modification — particularly where welding, component replacement or other alterations have affected a load-bearing component or load path.
- After an incident — following a dropped load, shock load, collision, suspected overload or other event that could have affected the integrity of the equipment.
- Where equipment history cannot be verified — including second-hand lifting equipment without traceable design documentation, inspection records, maintenance history or certification.
- Where supporting structures are in question — such as lifting beams, padeyes, lifting points, anchor points and other structures where the load capacity cannot be established.
- Following a change of use — where lifting equipment or supporting steelwork is being used for loads or applications beyond its original design specification.
If you are not sure whether your equipment needs a load test, a thorough examination or both, our engineers will tell you before any work is quoted. Get in touch here.
How a Proof Load Test Is Carried Out
- Initial assessment. We review the equipment, its design documentation and rated capacity, its service history and the operational context of the test. Where a manufacturer’s instructions specify a test regime, those instructions govern.
- Competent person’s determination. A competent person decides whether testing is appropriate and, if it is, the test load, the method of application, the hold period and the acceptance criteria.
- Method statement and risk assessment. Both are produced and agreed with you before mobilisation, covering exclusion zones, access control and the sequence of work.
- Test set-up. Selection and positioning of test weights, water bags, hydraulic equipment and load cells. Calibration certificates are verified and the test area is secured.
- Application of the proof load. The load is applied in a controlled manner, static or dynamic as required, and held for the specified period. The area is cleared of all but essential personnel throughout, in line with HSE guidance on loading beyond the safe working load.
- Post-test examination. The item is examined for permanent set, distortion, cracking and movement at connections. NDT is applied to welds and highly stressed areas where the competent person considers it necessary.
- Reporting and certification. Test documentation is issued on completion, together with a report of thorough examination where one has been carried out. What that documentation contains is set out below.
Test Documentation and Records
Test documentation records the item and its unique identification, its safe working load or working load limit, the proof load actually applied and how it was applied, the duration of the test, any deflection or permanent set measured, the results of post-test examination including any NDT, the standard worked to, the date, and the competent person’s name and signature.
Load cells, hydraulic equipment and test weights are calibrated and traceable, and calibration status is recorded against each test. That is what allows a certificate to state the load that was delivered rather than the load that was intended.
For customers managing equipment across several sites, test and examination records can be issued through our digital certification and reporting platform so certificates, due dates and defect actions sit in one place for audit.
Load Testing Compliance
Load testing can form an important part of establishing the safety and suitability of lifting equipment following manufacture, repair, modification or other significant work. Where equipment is subject to the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), testing may be required as part of a thorough examination, depending on the equipment and circumstances. Our LOLER thorough examination and lifting equipment inspection services can support this process.
In Ireland, lifting equipment requirements are covered by S.I. No. 299 of 2007 – Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, with inspection and examination requirements applying according to the equipment and its use. WH Scott provides lifting equipment inspection and examination services across the UK and Ireland, helping businesses maintain appropriate certification and compliance records. PUWER may also apply to work equipment and its safe use, suitability and maintenance.
Related Services
LOLER Thorough Examination & Certification (Lifting Equipment & Accessories)
LOLER thorough examination and certification services ensure lifting equipment and accessories remain safe, compliant and legally operable under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
PUWER Inspection & Compliance Services
PUWER inspection services ensure work equipment complies with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. Regular examinations verify that machinery and equipment are safe for continued use, supporting legal compliance and workforce safety across industrial environments.
Lifting Equipment Examination, Certification & Digital Reporting
Lifting equipment examination, certification and digital reporting services designed to ensure compliance, traceability, and operational safety across complex asset fleets. Real-time certification and cloud-based reporting enable instant access to inspection data, reducing administrative burden and improving audit readiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is proof load testing?
Proof load testing applies a controlled load above an item’s safe working load to prove that it carries its rated capacity without permanent deformation or defect. The load is applied, held for a specified period and released, and the item is then examined to confirm nothing has changed. It is used to verify strength after manufacture, repair, modification or an incident, and to establish fitness for purpose where an item’s history cannot be confirmed.
Is proof load testing a legal requirement?
In Great Britain, load testing is not a routine periodic duty. LOLER 1998 requires lifting equipment to undergo thorough examination, with testing included where the competent person considers it appropriate for the purpose, while HSE’s Approved Code of Practice L113 states that the competent person should determine whether a load test is necessary and what form it should take. In Ireland, different statutory requirements apply under S.I. No. 299 of 2007, which sets requirements for the examination and testing of lifting equipment, including specific circumstances where testing is required.
What load is applied during a proof load test?
It depends on the item and the standard it was made to. Under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 the static test coefficient is, as a general rule, 1.5 for manually operated machinery and lifting accessories and 1.25 for other machinery, with a dynamic test coefficient of 1.1. Grade 8 short link chain is proof loaded at 2.5 times its working load limit under BS EN 818-2. For cranes, BS 7121 leaves the overload test load to the crane manufacturer’s specification. A competent person will confirm the correct figure for your equipment before testing.
What is the difference between a proof load test and a thorough examination?
A thorough examination is a systematic and detailed examination by a competent person to detect defects that are, or might become, dangerous, and is a statutory requirement for lifting equipment under LOLER 1998 in Great Britain. A proof load test is a specific testing technique that may be used in support of a thorough examination where the competent person considers it appropriate. In Ireland, S.I. No. 299 of 2007 sets out statutory requirements for the examination and testing of lifting equipment, with testing required in specific circumstances. You can therefore have a thorough examination without a load test where the competent person does not consider testing necessary, but a load test should not be carried out on lifting equipment without the appropriate examination and assessment of the equipment before and after testing.
How often should lifting equipment be load tested?
In Great Britain there is no fixed load testing interval. The requirement is for thorough examination at least every six months for equipment used to lift people and for lifting accessories, at least every twelve months for other lifting equipment, or in accordance with an examination scheme. In Ireland, S.I. No. 299 of 2007 does set testing intervals, including every four years for mobile cranes, tower cranes and winches. For UK ships, marine LOLER 2006 requires testing within the preceding five years.
Do you supply the test weights?
Yes. We bring calibrated test weights, steel blocks, water bags or hydraulic equipment to site, and confirm access, floor loading and lifting arrangements as part of the method statement.
Does second-hand lifting equipment need a load test?
It is one of the clearest cases for testing. Where an item’s design documentation, service history or repair record cannot be established, a competent person will often conclude that a proof load test is the only way to verify fitness for purpose before it is put into service. The same reasoning applies to equipment acquired with a business, recovered from a decommissioned site, or imported without traceable certification.
Can you carry out non-destructive testing after a load test?
Yes. Post-test NDT is applied to welds and highly stressed areas where the competent person considers it necessary, using magnetic particle inspection, dye penetrant inspection, ultrasonic testing or radiography. Our Metlab division is an INAB-accredited testing laboratory and inspection body, so NDT and materials testing can be delivered within the same engagement.
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Whether you need a single piece of equipment or a fully engineered lifting system, our specialists can help. Tell us your load, environment and compliance requirements — we’ll do the rest.