Across industries from shipping to automotives, ASME B30.20 represents the core safety standard that ensures the safety of anything that hangs beneath a hook. In simple terms, it’s the rulebook for all below‑the‑hook lifting devices that connect a load to a hoist. Think spreader beams, lifting beams, magnets, clamps, and vacuum lifters. The overarching objective of the standard is to ensure that all in scope devices are properly designed, marked, inspected and used.

Technical background: scope and evolution

B30.20 is the dedicated volume of ASME B30 that covers below‑the‑hook lifting devices specifically. Set out by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, B30 standards date back as far as 1916, kicking off with a set of safety propositions for industrial cranes. Since then, the standards have become the leading safety standard for all cableways, cranes, hoists, hooks, jacks, and slings. In 1999, ASME decided to release B30.20, constructing a brand-new standard specifically for equipment used to attach a load to a hoist.

In terms of scope, B30.20 applies to a wide range of structural and mechanical lifting devices, as well as vacuum lifters and lifting magnets. It also covers certain types of grapples and clamps used for positioning and anchoring loads. The standard is intended to work alongside ASME BTH‑1, which focuses on design criteria, while B30.20 focuses on how that equipment is marked, tested, maintained, and operated once in service.

Who it applies to (and why it matters)

B30.20 is relevant to anyone who designs, manufactures, owns, operates, or maintains below‑the‑hook lifting devices. That includes the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) building the devices, fabricators producing custom lifters, plant and maintenance teams responsible for periodic inspection, and end users who operate the equipment as part of day-to-day activities. Although potentially viewed by some as yet another source paperwork, B30.20 greatly reduces the risk of dropped loads, unplanned downtime, and costly non‑compliance findings during safety audits or third‑party inspections.

The role of industrial labelling in B30.20 compliance

A key pillar of B30.20 is clear, durable, and accurate marking on every below‑the‑hook device. In practice, this will typically include the disclosure of rated loads, manufacturer identifications, serial numbers, and any special operating limitations or orientation specifications. If these markings are missing, illegible, or incorrect, the device may be deemed to be in violation of B30.20.

For industrial environments, this is where high‑performance labels become critical. Labels must be able to endure exposure to common environmental conditions and sources of damage relevant to industrial settings. This includes abrasion, oil, UV, chemicals, and temperature swings while remaining readable over years of use and repeated inspections. Additionally, most traditional labels may struggle to adhere to porous surfaces such as non-metallic coverings, rough welds, heat-impacted zones and bracket interfaces, potentially leading to detachment or deterioration of bonding.

At CILS, we regularly serve customer concerns surrounding these issues through our high-performance, labelling solutions. Our range of permanent label materials have been designed with regulations such as B30.20 in mind, ensuring that our clients need not worry about non-compliance once our products are applied properly. Here, we do everything to make sure that our labels adhere as long as you need them to.

Get in touch to learn how our durable, regulation-ready labels can remove the stress of compliance from your operations.