Mihai Chelmus · Construction Testing, Investigation & Remediation Specialist Email: mihai.chelmus@swantest.co.uk |  Tel: +44 734 228 1981 Construction structural testing, load verification and on-site assessment for buildings, temporary works and safety-critical elements across London.

Runway lifting beams and associated structural steelwork used for lifting operations fall under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).

On London projects, load testing is most commonly undertaken for runway lifting beams, rather than standalone lifting accessories, where beams form part of a fixed or temporary lifting arrangement within a building or structure. Where documentation, as-built tolerances or support conditions are uncertain, physical testing provides direct confirmation of performance in real site conditions.

 

When Load Testing is Typically Required

Load testing is typically required:

• Before first use, following installation of the runway system
• After relocation, alteration or reconfiguration of the beam arrangement
• Following modification, strengthening or repair to the supporting steelwork
• As part of a thorough examination regime, where physical verification is specified by the competent person

London Site Constraints and Why Physical Verification Matters 

On constrained London sites, runway lifting beams frequently operate in temporary, non-standard or restricted-access arrangements, often within existing buildings. In these scenarios, the beam behaviour can be influenced by real-world factors such as support stiffness, connection tolerances, imposed eccentricities, adjacent structure interaction, and installation workmanship.

Physical load testing provides direct confirmation that the lifting beam, its supports and the intended load paths perform as required under controlled loading. This reduces reliance on assumptions where records are incomplete, as-built conditions differ from design, or where the competent person requires verification as part of the lifting system assurance process.

This verification is critical for protecting operatives, adjacent structures and the public during lifting operations in live urban environments, supporting safe planning, confident lifting execution and defensible compliance records.

 

If you want the broader view of what we test on London sites — including floor load testing, anchors & fixings testing, façade impact testing, barrier testing, sports grounds barrier testing, screed testing and construction bespoke structural testing — see our full structural testing hub here: Structural Testing Services Delivered in London and Across the UK