The intended usage and the amount of weight you expect to convey will determine whether you need a freight elevator or a service elevator. Here’s a rundown of the two types of elevators and where they’re most useful.
Freight Elevator
Freight elevators transport products and commodities across a structure. Freight cars run at a slower speed than passenger elevators can transport considerably greater loads, and are built to resist harsher operating conditions. Steel wall panels, a hefty steel floor, and a reinforced gate are examples of this. Vertically opening doors are used in freight elevators.
Freight elevators are most likely to be found in the following locations:
- Automobile dealerships
- Warehouses
- Retail spaces
- Residential areas
Classes of Freight Elevators
In Freight Elevators, there are many categories that determine the maximum capacity and permitted loading/unloading methods.
- Class A. General Freight Loading:
This freight class is suited for distributed loads when a single item’s weight does not exceed 1/4 of the elevator’s capacity. Hand trucks or manual handling are used to move the load onto and off the car platform. - Class B. Motor Vehicle Loading:
Cars, trucks, and other sorts of vehicles are transported using a Class B freight elevator. - Class C1. Industrial Truck Loading:
With a Class C1 Freight Elevator, it is possible to load or unload it using a four-wheeled vehicle. The total weight of the load and the vehicle, however, must not exceed the capacity. The vehicle can remain in the elevator during the operation of the elevator. - Class C2. Industrial Truck loading:
Class C2 freight elevators can carry up to 150 percent of their rated capacity on the platform. You can load a vehicle with freight weighing up to the rated capacity using a forklift with this sort of elevator. Before using the elevator, the lift truck or forklift must be removed. - Class C3. Other forms of Industrial Truck Loading
Service Elevator
A service elevator is a modified passenger elevator that is usually found in a building’s employee-only section. A freight elevator may have vertical doors, whereas a service elevator will have horizontal doors.
The purpose of service elevators is to allow employees to move around and deliver things without disturbing guests or visitors in the building. The uninterrupted transfer of critical goods and equipment is particularly vital in hospitals and hotels.
It’s critical to make sure you’re in compliance with your building laws and standards, regardless of the sort of elevator you require. We’d be delighted to assist you with determining your elevator choices and ensuring that you’re up to code.
