Document Ref: LHS2013/01

Revision Date: 11/09/2013

Lifting & Handling Services Ltd.

Clane Business Park
Clane, Co. Kildare
Phone: 045-868342
Fax: 045-861447
www.liftingandhandling.ie
[email protected]

INSPECTION &
CALIBRATION OF
TORQUE WRENCHES

LIFTING AND HANDLING SERVICES

TEST HOUSE
SOLUTIONS FOR INDUSTRY

Portable Appliance Testing Solutions

 Lifting and Handling Services Ltd.
“Yours Partners in Safety”

Company Profile

Lifting and Handling Services is an independent Test House, carrying out statutory inspection and
certification of materials handling and safety equipment since 1990, see enclosed listing. Our company
takes inspection to the next level by combining the right people, processes and experience with personal
attention to provide our clients with an unrivalled quality of service.

We were the first company of our kind in Ireland to develop a state of the art bespoke online safety
management programme which our clients can access 24/7 to view a comprehensive suite of reports
surrounding statutory inspection history, plant failures, repairs and statistical analysis.

Services Provided by Lifting and Handling

Lifting and Handling Services provide the following services to our clients nationwide:

Statutory Inspection and Certification of
Calibration and Certification of

Materials Handling & Safety Equipment Torque Measuring Devices

Product Investigation & Reporting
P.A.T. (Portable Appliance Testing) Solutions

Non Destructive Testing Services
Static Testing

Safety Management Consultation & Training
Fuel Dispense / Pump Testing

Accident & Incident Investigation
Air Receivers & Pressure Vehicles

Expert Witness
Fire Extinguishers Inspection

Safety Audits & Risk Assessments
Access Equipment including ladders

Ergonomics – Work Risk Analysis & Solutions
CAD Design & Simulations for steel structures

Fire Safety Risk Assessment / Audits
Pallet Racking and Storage Systems

Load Testing – Safety Equipment
Load Testing – Structural

Tool Testing and Calibration Service

Lifting and Handling Services offers the following services on site or

in house. We also supply a wide range of tools and testing systems.

1. Calibration checks including dismantling for high frequent use

2. Repair, re-calibration and certification of all torque tool types
3. Exchange system of factory rebuilt torque tools
4. Torque testing calibration equipment and re-calibration
5. Consultancy on all aspects of torque tools and measurement
testing equipment
6. Supply & Re-Calibration of torque measurement and testing
equipment
Contact us for advice or a quotation at 045-868342
Calibration of Torque Wrenches
 Lifting and Handling Services Ltd.
“Yours Partners in Safety”

Calibration Periods for Torque Wrenches

The calibration integrity of torque wrenches depends largely on the use and
environment in which the tool is subjected.

In test conditions, the torque wrench should remain within the tolerances
laid down by BS EN ISO 6789:2003 for at least 5000 cycles. However, this
may be reduced by dust causing wear, or by using the tool to loosen fasteners
which can lead to damage, or by dropping the unit regularly. Providing your
operators are trained in the use of torque wrenches, and the manufacturer’s
instructions are followed, a period of six months is reasonable for torque
wrenches used in non-safety critical areas.
Torque Wrench Calibration

Calibration Guidance for Torque Wrenches

Non Safety Critical use of Torque Tools Safety Critical use of Torque Tools

Infrequent Use: 12 Months Infrequent Use: 6 Months

Frequent Use: 6 Months Frequent Use: 3 Months*
*High Frequent use should include the dismantling
of the torque wrench for full inspection

Calibration and Certification of Torque Tool Testing Equipment

Non Safety and Safety Critical use of Torque Tool Testers: 12 Months*
*Or depending on the internal or external examining body and their requirements.

General Guidance based on BS EN ISO 6789 : 2003 ( 5000 cycles )

1 Cycle: 1 Nut or Bolt tested with torque tool

1 Wheel: 8 to 10 nuts per wheel by 4 to 6 wheels per vehicle = 32 to 60 cycles per vehicle
Number of vehicles to be tested based on 4 wheels @ 32 cycles = 156 vehicles
Number of vehicles to be tested based on 6 wheels @ 60 cycles = 83 vehicles
The torque wrench should then be tested with a torque tool tester by a competent person.

Calibration of Torque Wrenches

 Lifting and Handling Services Ltd.
“Yours Partners in Safety”

Calibration Guidance for Torque Testers

Torque Test Instruments and Servicing

The accuracy of Torque Test Instruments is a complicated subject with a number of factors to take into
consideration, including gravitational effects and buoyancy effects. In simple terms the following shows
the route of the calibration equipment standard which starts at the highest level of accuracy for the
testing equipment and works down to the individual tool.

• Manufacturers of Torque Measurements Equipment and Torque Tools

• Manufacturers Agents & Test Houses (LHS Services)
• Client Torque Testing
• Torque Tools

Manufacturers of this category of equipment operate to BS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005. This document

sets out relevant standards for the technical competency of the laboratory.

Services offered by Lifting and Handling Services

Electronic Torque Measurement Devices

In accordance with the current standards for calibration of torque measurement devices, it is desirable
to calibrate transducers. The calibration service that LHS offer is valid for the transducer for 12 months.
Calibration certificates are issued in accordance with the current standard for measuring devices
BS7882:2008, and show the nominal torque applied, and the measured torque readings. Details of the
standard are available on request.

Torque Wrenches

Calibration of all Torque Wrenches can be carried out by Lifting and Handling Services. If the results do
not fall within specification the wrench will either be adjusted or a service exchange offered (Norbar
only). Calibration Certificates are in accordance with the current standard for hand torque tools BS EN
ISO 6789:2003. The nominal torque applied and the measured torque readings are recorded for each
torque wrench tested by Lifting and Handling Services.

Notes of Torque Wrench Testing

In general torque finishing wrenches have an

accuracy of +/- 3% while industrial torque wrenches
have an accuracy of +/- 4%, even in arduous working
conditions.

When testing a torque wrench on a torque testing

device it is important to note that the wrench must be
exercised in accordance with the manufacturers
requirements, generally the first three torque
readings should be disregarded prior to the actual
readings recorded. The torque wrench tester should
be mounted correctly ensuring it can take the full
load to be applied and fitted at the correct height for
operator ease of use.

Training on the use of all Electronic and Manual

Torque Measurement Devices and the safe use of
torque tools can be provided by LHS.
Calibration of Torque Wrenches
 Lifting and Handling Services Ltd.
“Yours Partners in Safety”

Measurement of Torque

What is Torque?

Torque is any force or system of forces that tends to cause rotation about an axis.

Imagine someone tightening a bolt using a socket attached to a metre long bar. If they apply 10 kg of force
(kgf) perpendicular to the bar they will produce a torque of 10 kgf.m at the axis (the centre of the bolt).
However, under the S.I. system of measurement, force is expressed in Newton’s (N) rather than kgf. The
conversion between kgf and N is x 9.807 so the person is applying 98.07 N.m of torque.

The Importance of Torque

Although many methods exist to join two or more parts together, the ease of assembly and disassembly
provided by threaded fasteners make them the ideal choice for many applications.

The object of a threaded fastener is to clamp parts together with a tension greater than the external forces
tending to separate them. The bolt then remains under constant stress and is immune from fatigue.
However, if the initial tension is too low, varying loads act on the bolt and it will quickly fail. If the initial
tension is too high, the tightening process may cause bolt failure. Reliability therefore depends upon correct
initial tension. The most practical way of ensuring this is by specifying and controlling the tightening torque.

Torque

Force

Tension in bolt
Clamping Force

Torque = Force x Distance

Example 1: Distance = 1 m, Force = 100 N,Torque = 100 N.m.

Example 2: Distance = 2 m, Force = 100 N,Torque = 200 N.m.
Example 3: Distance = 1 ft, Force = 100 lbf,Torque = 100 lbf.ft (or 100 ft.lb)

Calibration of Torque Wrenches

 Lifting and Handling Services Ltd.
“Yours Partners in Safety”

Inspection, Repair and Certification

Repair test and calibration of all torque tools followed by certification and online results.

LIFTING AND HANDLING

SERVICES

CALIBRATION SERVICES

CLASS Data Collection

Torque Tool Software
Testing System

Data Collection and

Certification

CLASS Online Reports

Accessible 24/7

Contact us for free advice or a quotation at 045-868342 or [email protected]

Calibration of Torque Wrenches
 Lifting and Handling Services Ltd.
“Yours Partners in Safety”

Health & Safety Issues

A risk assessment will highlight the following issues when working with large torque wrenches.

1. Rubber handles slipping or coming off the wrench

2. Ratchet or sprocket failing or coming adrift of the wrench
3. Cam Rivet failure of the wrench
4. Incorrect connection with the bolt/nut or bolt shear

Misuse or failure of a torque wrench during use could lead to wrist, elbow, shoulder or back injuries

Note: Working at heights i.e. working at any height where there is a risk of a fall: In a scenario
such as working on an engine while using the torque wrench, when the wrench mechanically breaks or
if it fails the person could easily lose his/her balance and fall.

Best Practice: Always ask for your wrench to be dismantled while carrying out the calibration of same.

Norbar Calibration Equipment Available

Torque Wrenches
and Screwdrivers

Hand and Powered

Torque Multipliers Ultrasonic Bolt
Measurement

Norbar Torque Calculator

Norbar has launched a handy multi-lingual torque

conversion calculator as a free download Torque and Bolt
on Android, iPhone & Blackberry systems. The Measurement
new app offers instant conversion across a full Equipment
range of SI, Metric and Imperial Units.
Calibration of Torque Wrenches