Spreader beams are used in wide or long loads to keep the load balanced and spread the pressure of the lift equally along the load.
To give an example, there are some air handling units, or ducting to go with them, that are too big to be slung conventionally. Because they’re made of flimsy material, choking them with slings could bend the material. And lifting from too far at the end could fold the units in the middle.
Shuttering often gets lifted with a spreader beam. If the shutter only has two lifting points, two chains can be used without a beam. But if there are more than two lifting points, a spreader beam like the one shown below must be used. They can accommodate a series of drop chains, of which can be positioned at various points on the beam, depending on where the lifting points are on the load.
Below are lighter weight beams that get used for lift things like glass panels.
All lifting equipment should have a tag or plate showing the Working Load Limit (WLL), serial number, manufacture date, etc.
