5 Fre

eight Elevattor Types

Every elevator is classsified accordiing to its maxximum capaccity and the permitted lo oading and
unloadingg proceduress. In order to o ensure safety and secur ity, the loadiing classificattion must align
with the elevator’s
e prredetermined d operation. If you are a pproperty owner trying too decide whatt
type of frreight elevato
or is right forr your buildin
ng, check outt the followin
ng overview of general frreight
classificattions, motor vehicle loading, concentrated loadingg, and industtrial truck loaading elevato ors,
to assist you
y with the decision.

Class A
A 
Most passsenger elevaators and gen neral freight elevators aree within Classs A, “general freight load
ding.”
This classsification cannot meet the e needs of a one‐portion load weighin ng more than 25 percentt of
the elevator’s holdingg capacity. Frreight is able to be packedd and unpacked manually or with thee use
of a handd truck. When n using a hannd truck to unload or unppack, it’s weigght has to bee added as a part
of the 25 percent load ding limit. Staandard elevaators can suppport Class A loading, while other more
vigorous forms of load ding can straain and damaage the elevaator.

If you don
n’t know the loading class of a freightt elevator, alw
ways treat itt as a Class A elevator in o
order
to prevennt unsafe con
nditions resulting due to the
t use of haazardous load ding method ds.
Class B 
Class B concerns freight elevators designed to transport motor vehicles. With the ability to transfer
an automobile with a weight up to the loading capacity of the elevator itself, freight elevators
belonging in this category are great for businesses that need to transport cars.

Class C1 
Freight elevators in Class C1 enable one to use an industrial truck to pack or unpack the elevator.
The truck can stay in the elevator while it is functioning but the total mass of the load and the truck
cannot exceed the maximum capacity of the elevator itself.

Class C2 
Class C2 permits loading amounts at the designated platform to reach up to 150 percent of the
elevators confirmed capacity. A lift truck or a forklift may be used to load the elevator but unlike
class C1 elevators, the loading device used during this process must be removed from the elevator
prior to using it.

Class C3 
Class C3 freight elevators are optimal for heavy concentration loading where weight throughout the
process of unpacking and packing is not more than the load, meaning the total weight of the load as
well as all equipment used to move the load cannot exceed the elevators confirmed holding
capacity. Class C3 elevators are typically used to transfer loads with weights identical to the
maximum capacity of the elevator itself.