A brake that does not hold, allows load creep or produces inconsistent stopping is a safety-critical symptom. The equipment should be brought to a safe condition, the suspended load secured or lowered where safely possible, and repeated testing under load avoided until competent assessment is completed.
Possible causes include worn or contaminated friction surfaces, incorrect air gap, weak or damaged springs, coil or rectifier faults, supply-voltage problems, delayed brake application, incorrect drive parameters, mechanical binding or an unsuitable brake selection for the duty. The hoist and load path must be considered as a system.
Assessment should record when the symptom occurs, load condition, direction, temperature, stopping behaviour, fault history and previous adjustments. Functional testing after repair must follow an approved and controlled procedure.
This content supports preliminary review. Equipment selection, structural calculations, compliance and commissioning decisions must be verified using site data and competent engineering.
