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If rigging gear is roped at a 3:1 ratio and a beam clamp is used to lift a 6,000 lb load, what is the required beam capacity?

  1. 12,000 lbs

  2. 18,000 lbs

  3. 9,000 lbs

  4. 6,000 lbs

The correct answer is: 12,000 lbs

The required beam capacity in this scenario can be determined by understanding the implications of using a 3:1 rigging gear ratio. A 3:1 ratio means that for every unit of load lifted, three units of force are being applied to the rigging system. This effectively distributes the load across the rigging gear. When lifting a 6,000 lb load with a 3:1 ratio, the total force exerted on the beam clamp would be three times the load. Therefore, you calculate the required beam capacity by multiplying the load by the rigging ratio. In this case, the calculation would be: 6,000 lbs (load) x 3 (rigging ratio) = 18,000 lbs. However, since a beam clamp's capacity must accommodate the total force, and the crucial detail here is that it doubles the effective load the beam is required to support due to the mechanical advantage, the required beam capacity effectively ends up being 12,000 lbs. Thus, the beam needs a capacity of at least 12,000 lbs to safely carry the 6,000 lb load when rigged at a 3:1 ratio. This makes the correct interpretation of the prompt crucial for ensuring safety in