prEN 14492-1

Cranes - Power driven winches and hoists - Part 1: Power driven winches prEN 14492-1

Publication date:   May 28, 2026

Scope

This document is applicable to the design, information for use, maintenance and testing of power-driven winches for which the prime mover is an electric motor, hydraulic motor, or pneumatic motor. Winches are designed for the movement or manipulation of loads supported on level or inclined planes in situations where risks resulting from a failure of the winding mechanism or pulling medium are mitigated by external measures.
This document is not applicable to devices which handle suspended loads.
Generally, a winch is used without any additional transport movement, except in cases where a winch is used on a stranded vehicle for self-recovery of the vehicle.
Applications of winches covered are for example, but not limited to:
a) rope winches;
b) belt winches, except steel belts used as pulling media;
c) traction winches, including double capstan and traction sheave winches.
These types of winches a) to c) also include the following specific applications:
— vehicle recovery winches;
— winches for boat trailers;
— winches for stationary offshore applications.
NOTE Examples are shown in Annex H.
This document does not apply to:
— power-driven hoists in accordance with EN 14492-2;
— forestry winches in accordance with EN ISO 19472-1;
— winches for seagoing vessels and mobile offshore units;
— winches for the lifting of persons;
— NGL building hoists in accordance with EN 14492-2;
— winches for the handling of hot molten masses.
This document deals with the significant hazards, hazardous situations or hazardous events relevant to power driven winches when used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable, identified in Annex A.
This document does not specify additional requirements for hazards related to the use of power driven winches in explosive atmospheres in underground mines.

Related legislation

Legislation related to this standard