Help lifting beams through loft hatch

[liamruairi]

hi all, so am doing a loft conversion and we have to lift 3x 2m steel beams into the loft. I’ve had the 6m beam needed split into 3 sections and fabricated to be bolted together to avoid cranes etc. Each beam is only 50kg but we tried to lift them through the small hatch yesterday and it’s too dangerous. 2 people at the bottom found it too tricky in case it slipped or anything and didn’t have any purchase. Does anyone have an idea how best to lift them through? They have to be lifted ‘upright’ rather than lengthways.

My plan was to rent a chain hoist from HSS and attach it to a purlin directly above the hatch opening. There are small bolt holes in each beam for the bolts but they’re too small for chains or hoist slings. I was thinking of fixing them using rock climbing ropes as they are thin. Does this sound like a feasible plan? Or can I wrap a sling around the upright beam and will friction do the job of not letting it slip out?
Thanks!

 

[Ian H]

I was going to say 'Get a Northerer to do it' but then saw you were from Yorkshire

The guys that did mine took the 3mtr ones up a ladder and strapped the 6mtr one and lifted it with a block and tackle.

 

[liamruairi]

Haha yeh it’s just me and my dad the edges are super sharp where they’ve been welded so trying to be extra careful. It’s a super tricky tight space to manoeuvre it up. The block and tackle / chain hoist I think should work. Just worried the purlin would take the weight or not

 

[^woody^]

Once it's lifted vertically into the hatch, a person on the loft can lower the one end levering it on the side of the hatch opening. It won't slip.

Wear gloves or grind the sharp edges.

 

[Tigercubrider]

It may be easier if you can use a ladder at an angle, with a strip of hardboard, shiny side up, as a slide.
Rig a harness type arrangement around the beam and both of you pull it up

I would be wary of using a purlin

 

[pilsbury]

50kg? 2 of you? For real?

 

[John D v2.0]

good idea to think about health and safety, you only get one pair of legs etc. so don't damage them by dropping things on them!
Consider drilling a hole or two in the web to put something through, then you can add a "handle" to avoid grip problems.
50kg is not a massive load for a purlin but it could cause some deflection, if you're concerned you can sister another bit of wood with hangers/brackets to spread the load. Also depending on the pulley /hoist there would also be downwards force on the side youre pulling on up to double.
Take your time and look after yourself.

 

[liamruairi]

I know it’s not a lot of weight but it’s very awkward. We have to lift it 3m before it hits the loft hatch then another 2m to clear it with very limited ‘wiggle room’. So it has to go straight up like a giant ‘I’ which is why we struggled yesterday. I’ll look into the ladder/slide method as well as a more solid place to lash a hoist. It may be that a ladder and more men are what’s needed but there’s only so much room

 

[Mike10]

I think I would be looking to build a little platform under the hatch, lift the beam up onto the platform, and then on into the loft from there. Better than trying to do all the lift in one go.

 

[liamruairi]

That’s a good idea like that. That would help a lot

 

[^woody^]

Why don't you put the stairs in first, instead of taking all the stuff up through a hatch?

It will be fun with the plasterboard.

 

[endecotp]

50kg? 2 of you? For real?

It's posts like this that make me wish this site had a "thumbs down" button.
I can understand the rationale for only having "thanks" and "like", but there are exceptions.

 

[liamruairi]

Why don't you put the stairs in first, instead of taking all the stuff up through a hatch?

It will be fun with the plasterboard.

Because of the nature of the conversion we need the beams then floor joists in first then the stairs. Stairs will be hung off the new joists

 

[Tigercubrider]

You could lash a cross handle to the beam so it looks like a crucifix upside down, and make the table as suggested above. Then lift in stages adding blocks under for support

 

[endecotp]

I'd get a couple of tripple pulley blocks and a lot of polypropelene rope. (Think nautical.). But a chain hoist would work, as long as it is long enough.
Test the purlin for suitability by hanging from it by your arms and seeing what happens.
Climbing rope through the bolt holes will be OK provided that the edges are not at all sharp. Use the right knots. Throw it away after use.
No, I don't think that a sling plus friction will work reliably.
Hoist from below. If you're using pulley blocks, have some good way to tie off the rope when it's up, which will allow you to let out a bit gently.
When it's above the hatch, put some timber across the opening to lower it onto.