JAFITA / FREIGHT ELEVATORS
Freight Elevator Loading Classes A, B, C1, C2 and C3: How to Choose
Quick answer: The loading class tells the elevator designer how freight enters the car, not just how much it weighs. Under ASME A17.1, Class A is general freight moved by hand or hand truck, Class B is motor vehicles, and Class C1, C2 and C3 cover forklifts and heavy concentrated loads.
Choose the class from your heaviest real loading case. A forklift that rides in the car (C1) needs a very different platform, sill and rated load from one that only drops pallets at the door (C2).
| Class | Typical use | How the load enters | Key load rule | Minimum rated load basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A — General freight | Warehouses, factories, retail stock, hotels | By hand, hand trucks or pallet jacks | No single piece heavier than 1/4 of the rated load | 50 lb/ft² (about 244 kg/m²) of net platform area |
| B — Motor vehicles | Car parks, showrooms, vehicle workshops | Cars or trucks driven on and off | Car used only for vehicles up to the rated load | 30 lb/ft² (about 146 kg/m²) |
| C1 — Industrial truck carried | Logistics centres, factories | Forklift drives in and travels with the load | Forklift + load + operator must not exceed the rated load | 50 lb/ft² (about 244 kg/m²) |
| C2 — Industrial truck not carried | Docks, heavy pallet flows | Forklift loads and unloads but does not travel | Static load during loading may exceed the rated load (limit on the capacity plate) | 50 lb/ft² (about 244 kg/m²) |
| C3 — Heavy concentrated loads | Machinery, moulds, rolls, stone | Other methods with heavy point loads | Static load during loading must not exceed the rated load | 50 lb/ft² (about 244 kg/m²) |
1. Why the Loading Class Matters
Two freight elevators with the same rated load can be built very differently. The loading class decides how the platform, sill, car frame, guide rails and safety gear are designed for the way weight arrives.
- Hand-truck loading (Class A) spreads the weight over the floor in small pieces.
- Forklift loading (Class C) puts most of the weight on two or three wheels, often right at the sill, while the car is held at the landing.
- Vehicle loading (Class B) brings large, wide loads with wheel tracks across the platform.
An elevator bought for the wrong class can be damaged in normal use, or be unsafe to load. The class is marked in the car, so it also becomes an operating rule for everyone who uses the lift.
2. The Five Loading Classes Explained
Class A — General freight loading
Goods are moved on and off the car by hand or with hand trucks. No single piece may weigh more than one quarter of the rated load. A 2,000 kg Class A elevator should therefore not take a single item heavier than 500 kg.
Class B — Motor vehicle loading
The car is used only to carry cars or trucks, up to the rated load. Because vehicles are large but relatively light for their footprint, the minimum rated load per area is lower than for Class A.
Class C1 — Industrial truck loading, truck carried
A forklift or other industrial truck drives into the car and travels with its load. The combined mass of the truck, the load and the operator must not exceed the rated load.
Class C2 — Industrial truck loading, truck not carried
The forklift enters only to place or remove goods; it does not travel in the car. During loading, the static load on the platform is allowed to exceed the rated load, up to the limit shown on the capacity plate. The car only travels with the goods, which must be within the rated load.
Class C3 — Other loading with heavy concentrations
Heavy items such as machinery, dies or stone blocks are loaded by other means. The static load during loading and unloading must not exceed the rated load, but the platform must be designed for concentrated loads.
Class definitions follow ASME A17.1/CSA B44. Local codes adopt it with their own amendments, so confirm the edition in force for your project.
3. Minimum Rated Load by Platform Area
The code sets a floor for the rated load based on the inside net platform area. California Code of Regulations, Title 8, §3037 states the same minimums: 50 lb/ft² for Class A and Class C, and 30 lb/ft² for Class B.
| Inside platform (W × D) | Area | Class A / C minimum | Class B minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 × 2,500 mm | 5.0 m² | about 1,220 kg | about 730 kg |
| 2,500 × 3,000 mm | 7.5 m² | about 1,830 kg | about 1,100 kg |
| 3,000 × 4,000 mm | 12.0 m² | about 2,930 kg | about 1,760 kg |
| 3,000 × 6,000 mm | 18.0 m² | about 4,390 kg | about 2,640 kg |
Figures use 1 lb/ft² = 4.882 kg/m² and are rounded. They are minimums. The rated load you buy must also cover your heaviest real loading case, which is usually higher for forklift work.
4. Worked Example: Forklift Warehouse
The figures below are hypothetical. They show the method, not a JAFITA specification.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Forklift service mass (with battery) | 3,200 kg |
| Heaviest pallet | 1,000 kg |
| Operator | 80 kg |
| Platform needed | 2,500 × 3,500 mm (8.75 m²) |
Option 1: Class C1 (forklift travels in the car)
Required rated load ≥ 3,200 + 1,000 + 80 = 4,280 kg. Select the next standard size, for example 4,500 kg. The area minimum (about 2,140 kg for 8.75 m²) is easily met.
Option 2: Class C2 (forklift only loads and unloads)
The forklift places the pallet and reverses out; goods travel alone. The heaviest static load during loading is about 4,280 kg. If the capacity plate allows a loading load of 150% of the rated load, the rated load could be about 2,850 kg. The car must still never travel with the forklift inside.
Option 2 can reduce machine and car size, but it depends on strict operating discipline. If drivers are likely to ride with the truck, specify C1.
See also the forklift freight elevator checklist and freight elevator cycle-time worksheet.
5. Projects Under EN 81-20 or ISO 8100-1
EN 81-20 and ISO 8100-1:2026 do not use the A–C letters. They link the rated load to the available car area and treat loading equipment that enters the car as part of the load.
For projects in Europe, the Middle East or Asia, still describe your loading method in the same terms: hand loading, forklift riding, forklift loading only, or heavy concentrated loads. The supplier needs the same facts to design the platform, sill and structure.
6. Platform, Sill and Door Details by Class
| Item | Class A | Class B | Class C1 / C2 / C3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform floor | Steel plate, often checker plate | Reinforced for wheel tracks | Designed for wheel or point loads; thicker plate and stiffeners |
| Sill | Standard freight sill | Wide, flush with vehicle approach | Heavy-duty sill for forklift wheel loads at the edge |
| Doors | Side-opening or bi-parting | Wide opening for vehicles | Wide opening; protect frames from impact |
| Car walls | Steel panels with bumper rails | Wheel guards and bumpers | Impact-resistant panels and bumper rails |
| Operation | Normal | Driver controls in reach | Leveling accuracy matters: the truck crosses the sill |
JAFITA freight door systems include a safety door operator verified for one million cycles. See Door Systems.
7. Capacity Plate, Signs and Operating Rules
- The car carries a capacity plate with the rated load. For Class C2, it also shows the maximum load allowed during loading and unloading (California Code of Regulations, Title 8, §3037).
- A sign states the loading class, for example “This elevator designed for general freight loading”.
- Freight elevators must not be loaded beyond the rated load on the capacity plate.
- For forklifts, US workplace rules require the elevator to carry the combined weight of truck and load, a slow and square approach once the car is level, and controls neutralised, power off and brakes set inside the car (OSHA powered industrial trucks: elevators).
8. Freight Elevator RFQ Checklist
| Item | What to send |
|---|---|
| Country and code | Destination and applicable code (ASME A17.1, EN 81-20, GB/T 7588 or local) |
| Loading class | A, B, C1, C2, C3 — or describe how goods enter the car |
| Heaviest load case | Heaviest single item, pallet mass, forklift or vehicle mass |
| Platform size | Clear width × depth needed for the load and truck |
| Door | Clear opening width and height; side-opening or bi-parting |
| Travel and stops | Travel height, number of stops, entrances per floor |
| Duty | Trips per hour and hours per day |
| Shaft | Available shaft size, pit depth and overhead, or drawings |
9. Why JAFITA for Freight Elevators?
- Freight elevators are our core manufacturing line. Beijing Jafita Elevator Co., Ltd. was founded in 2001 and has exported since 2008.
- Certified: China Special Equipment Production License; ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
- Tested door systems: freight safety door operator verified for one million cycles.
Explore Freight Elevators, Heavy-Duty Elevators and Industrial & Logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the freight elevator loading classes?
ASME A17.1 defines Class A (general freight), Class B (motor vehicles), and Class C1, C2 and C3 (industrial trucks and heavy concentrated loads).
What is Class A freight loading?
Goods loaded by hand or hand truck, with no single piece heavier than one quarter of the rated load. Minimum rated load is 50 lb/ft² (about 244 kg/m²) of platform area.
What is the difference between Class C1 and C2?
In C1 the forklift travels in the car, so truck plus load must be within the rated load. In C2 the forklift only loads and unloads; the loading load may exceed the rated load up to the capacity-plate limit, but the truck never travels.
Can I use a Class A elevator with a forklift?
No. Forklift loading puts high wheel loads on the platform and sill. Use a Class C elevator designed for that loading.
How do I size a freight elevator for a forklift?
Add forklift service mass, heaviest load and operator. For C1 the rated load must cover that total, and the platform must fit the truck and load with clearance.
Do European standards use loading classes?
EN 81-20 and ISO 8100-1 do not use A–C letters, but you should still specify the loading method so the platform and structure are designed for it.
Request a Freight Elevator Quotation
Send JAFITA the country, loading class or loading method, heaviest load, forklift or vehicle mass, platform size, stops and shaft data.
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Standards and references
- ASME A17.1/CSA B44 — Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators (loading classes)
- California Code of Regulations, Title 8, §3037 — freight loading rated-load minimums and capacity plates
- OSHA powered industrial trucks: elevators — 29 CFR 1910.178(n)(12)
- ISO 8100-1:2026 — Lifts for the transport of persons and goods, safety rules
Technical note: Worked examples are illustrative and are not JAFITA product ratings. Final rated load, platform and structure depend on the approved design and the code in force at the project location.