Water Bag Equipment for Load Testing
Hydro-Wates® owns and maintains an extensive inventory of water bag equipment for proof load testing of vessel and offshore cranes, winches, hoists, drilling derricks, pad-eyes, bridge cranes, platforms, walkways, and other mechanical structures. All of our water bag equipment is available for sale or rental.
Our load test water bags have undergone extensive design verification and inspection prior to being released for field use. The minimum design safety factor for our water bags is 6:1 and each water bag is proof load tested to a minimum of two times its rated working load capacity. All of our water bags are manufactured in accordance with EN ISO 9001:2008.
With our extensive inventory of rental water bags and rigging hardware, you can rent all the equipment necessary to perform your load test from one supplier. Our equipment has been used to test vessels, bulk carriers, cruise ships, offshore service vessels, break-bulk, project cargo, and various others.
Requirements From OSHA
Load testing is required on all overhead cranes. An initial inspection on new equipment is mandatory followed by periodic maintenance inspections according to OSHA. A "drop test" is required as part of the certification because it can reveal functional errors and lower the risk of a serious accident involving overhead cranes and hoists.
In addition, use of our equipment allows customers to meet the regulatory load testing requirements of OSHA, IMO and SOLAS.
For Rent and Sale
Water Bags for Proof Load Testing

Ancillary Equipment for Sale and Rental
- Water Pumps (gasoline and air operated)
- Master Links & Pear Shaped Links
- Water Meters (Digital & Analog)
- Shackles, all sizes
- Water hoses for fill and drain
- Lifting Beams, various capacities
- Manifolds, for simultaneous filling of multiple water bags
- Shipping Containers (fully enclosed) for offshore, domestic & international shipping
- Load Cells, including tension link, shackle pin, and threaded ends.
Water Bags Advantages
Using water bags for your proof load testing
Using water bags for your proof load testing requirements has many advantages
Can be rolled up and packaged into containers
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Since water bags are constructed from a light weight and pliable PVC fabric, they can be rolled up and packaged into containers that allow for economical shipping to your worksite – across the U.S. and worldwide. The packaged weight of water bags is approximately 1% of its weight when filled with water.
Test loads occurs gradually
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Application of test loads occurs gradually as the water bag is filled with load water. This prevents shock loading and allows for the early identification of technical problems with the equipment being tested. It is also possible for the operator to stage up to the final proof-load using intermediate hold points and test hoisting/braking capability of equipment prior to reaching full test load.
Infinite number of test loads
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Accurate selection of test loads can be achieved using force dynamometers or water meters. This allows for an infinite number of test loads to be achieved to meet equipment specific requirements.
No need to lower the test load
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Release of test fluid is performed by draining water from the water bags, avoiding the need to lower the test load in critical or hazardous areas.
Easy to transport
5
Because of their compact size, water bags and load measurement equipment can, in many cases, be transported by pick-up truck and small commercial trailers.
Accepted by most organizations
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Water bags are accepted for proof load testing by US Occupational Health & Safety Administration, UK Health & Safety Executive, American Bureau of Shipping, Det Norske Veritas, Lloyds Register, and other classification and certification organizations.
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