Girder Clamps

Girder Clamps

Girder clamps — also called beam clamps or I-beam clamps — attach a chain block, hoist, or rigging assembly to a structural steel beam or girder without permanent attachment. They are the standard method for creating a temporary lifting point on existing steelwork in workshops, warehouses, and on construction sites. A girder clamp clamps onto the bottom flange of an I-beam or universal column section and provides a hook or shackle attachment point from which a load can be suspended. AIMS Industrial supplies WLL-rated girder clamps compliant with Australian lifting standards for industrial, construction, and maintenance applications.

How Girder Clamps Work

A girder clamp grips the bottom flange of the beam through a mechanical clamping mechanism — typically a screw-tightened jaw or a cam-action self-tightening device. Screw-type clamps are adjusted to the flange width and tightened with a wrench before the load is applied; cam-type and wedge-type designs tighten automatically as the load is applied. The clamp transfers the vertical suspension load into the beam flange and web as a combination of clamping force and friction. Correct flange width range is critical — a clamp that is too wide or too narrow for the beam flange will not grip correctly and may release under load.

Working Load Limits and Compliance

All girder clamps used in Australian workplaces must be rated with a Working Load Limit (WLL) and used within that limit. The WLL is marked on the clamp body and must not be exceeded — dynamic loads, shock loads, and angled pulls all increase the effective load on the clamp beyond the static suspended weight. Girder clamps must be inspected before each use for cracks, deformation, and wear at the jaw faces. In accordance with AS 4991 and the relevant Code of Practice for Rigging, lifting equipment must be inspected at regular intervals and kept in a register. Before installing a girder clamp, confirm the structural capacity of the beam to carry the imposed load.

Selection and Load Capacity

Girder clamps are rated in Working Load Limit and matched to beam flange widths — always confirm the flange width range of the clamp against the actual beam flange before ordering. AIMS supplies girder clamps in a range of WLL ratings for light to heavy lifting applications. For girder clamp selection and WLL requirements, contact our team.

For applications involving non-standard beam profiles or unusual load angles, AIMS can assist with product selection and load rating verification. Contact our team with your beam dimensions and load requirements.