CRANE AND HOISTS CLASSIFICATIONS

CLASS I - LOCATIONS
Hoist Classification

Corresponding crane class

Typical application

FEM

HMI

ISO

CMAA

DIN 15018 and sim.

DIN 15018 and sim.

1Cm

H1

M2

Class A

H1/B2

Maintenance crane in machine house. Used only occasionally.

1Bm

H2

M3

Class B

H1/B2

Light duty work shop crane, single shift operation, low average loads. Maximal load
lifted occasionally.

1Am

H3

M4

Class C

H2/B3

Light/Medium duty work shop crane, single shift operation, medium average loads.
Occasional lifting of max load.

2m

H4

M5

Class D

H2/B3

Medium/heavy duty work shop crane, 1 or 2 shift operation. Regular medium and
heavy loads.

3m

H4

M6

Class D

H2/B3
or
H3/B4

Heavy duty crane, 2 shift operation. Nominal load regularly lifted Traverse or other
dead loads below the hook.

4m

H4
or
H5

M7

Class D
or
Class E

H3/B4
or
H4/H6

Very heavy duty crane, 2-3 shift operation, grab or magnet below the hook. Regular
heavy loads.

Source http://www.proservcrane.com/resources_craneknowledge_comparison.html

HMI HOIST DUTY CLASSIFICATIONS

Hoist
Duty

H1

H2

H3

H4

H5

Typical Areas of Application

Powerhouse and Utilities, infrequent handling, Hoists used
primarily to install and service heavy equipment, loads
frequently approach capacity and hoist idle for long periods
between use.
General machine shop fabricating, assembly, storage, and
warehousing; loads and utilization randomly distributed. Total
running time not over 25% of work period.
General machine shop fabricating, assembly, storage, and
warehousing; loads and utilization randomly distributed. Total
running time not over 25% of work period.
High volume handling of heavy loads, frequently near rated
load in steel warehousing, machine and fabricating shops,
mills, and foundries, with total running time not over 50% of
the work period. Manual or automatic cycling operations of
lighter loads with rated loads infrequently handled such as in
heat treating and plating operations, with total running time
frequently 50% of the work period.
Bulk handling of material in combination with buckets,
magnets, or other heavy attachments. Equipment often cab
operated. Duty cycles approaching continuous operation are
frequently necessary. User must specify exact details of
operation, including weight of attachments.

Operational Time Ratings at 65% Load Factor

Uniformity Dist.
Infrequent
Work Periods
Work Periods
Max.
Max.
Max.
Max On
No.
From
No.
Time Min/Hr.
Starts/Hr.
Cold Start
of Starts
7.5 min
(12.5 %)

75

15 min.

100

7.5 min
(12.5 %)

75

15 min.

100

15 min
(25 %)

150

30 min.

200

30 min
(50 %)

300

30 min.

300

60 min
(100 %)

600

N/A
(Note 1)

N/A
(Note 1)

Note: (1) Not applicable since there are no infrequent work periods in Class H5 service.
Source: http://www.cordellmfg.com/tech_hmi.htm

EXPLOSION PROOF CLASSIFICATIONS

Explosion classified areas are defined by the following classes, divisions and groups, by the National Electric Code (NEC) (*See caution below). Many hoist
manufacturers can furnish equipment to comply with the various classifications. A distinction needs to be recognized between equipment designed to comply
with these provisions of the NEC and equipment that is designed to be spark resistant. The provisions of the NEC are related primarily to the use of proper
enclosures and wiring trolleys, bronze hooks, stainless steel chain or wire rope to accomplish the necessary spark resistance. When specifying equipment for
these areas please determine if you need spark resistant features in addition to the NEC requirements for the electrical enclosures and wiring. Spark resistant
features when applied to hoist equipment normally decrease the capacity and increase the cost.
Explosion Proof Classifications
Class

Definitions

Class I

Locations: Are those in which flammable gases or vapors are or may be present in the air in quantities sufficient to
produce explosive or ignitable mixtures.

Class II

Locations: Are those which are hazardous due to the presence of combustible dust.

Class III

Locations: Are those which are hazardous due to the presence of easily ignitable fibers or flyings, but in which such
fibers or flyings are not likely to be in suspension in the air in quantities to produce ignitable mixtures.

Division
Division I

Locations in which hazardous concentrations in the air exist continuously, intermittently, or periodically under
normal operating conditions.

Division II

Locations in which hazardous concentrations are handled, processed, or used but are normally within closed
containers or closed systems from which they can escape only in case of accidental rupture or breakdown.

Group (Class I)
Group A

Atmospheres containing acetylene.

Group B

Atmospheres containing hydrogen, or gases (or vapors) of equivalent hazard, such as manufactured gas.

Group C

Atmospheres containing ethyl-ether vapors, ethylene or cyclo propane.

Group D

Atmospheres containing gasoline, hexane, naptha, benzine, butane, alcohol, acetone, benzol, lacquer solvent
vapors, or natural gas.

Group (Class II)

Group E

Atmospheres containing metal dust, including aluminum, magnesium and their commercial alloys and other metals
of similarly hazardous characteristics.

Group F

Atmospheres containing carbon black, coal, or coke dust.

Group G

Atmospheres containing flour, starch, or grain dust.

CMAA CRANE DUTY CLASSIFICATIONS

CMAA Crane Duty Classifications
CMAA Class
Class A

Class B

Class C

Class D

Class E

Class F

Description

Further Explanation

This class normally includes installation and maintenance cranes. This equipment usually operates at slow
Standby or Infrequent
speeds for precise handling with long idle periods between lifts. Maximum capacity lifts are sometimes
Service
required.
Light Service

This class of crane is used in repair shops, light assembly operations, service buildings, light warehousing, etc.
Service requirement is light and speeds are slow. Loads vary from none to occasional full capacity. Lifts per
hour would range from 2 to 5, and average 10 feet per lift.

Moderate Service

In terms of numbers, most cranes are built to meet Class C service requirements. This service covers cranes
that may be used in machine shops or papermill machine rooms. In this type of service, the crane will handle
loads that average 50% of the rated capacity with 5 to 10 lifts per hour wveraging 15 feet. Not over 50% of the
loads at rated capacity.

Heavy Service

This service covers cranes which may be used in heavy machine shops, foundries, fabricating plants, steel
warehouses, container yards, lumbermills, etc., and standard duty bucket and magnet operations where heavy
duty production is required. In this type of service, loads approching 50 percent of the rated capacity will be
handled constantly during the working period. High speeds are desirable for this type of service with 10 to 20
lifts per hour averaging 15 feet, not over 65 percent of the lifts at rated capacity.

Severe Service

This type of service is reserved for top riding bridge and gantry type multiple girder electric overhead travelling
cranes and requires a crane capable of handling loads approaching rated capacity throughout its life.
Applications may include magnet, bucket, magnet/bucket combination cranes for scrap yards, cement mills,
lumber mills, fertilizer plants, container handling, etc.,with 20 or more lifts per hour at or near the rated
capacity.

Continuous Severe
Service

This type of service is reserved for top riding bridge and gantry type multiple girder electric overhead travelling
cranes and requires a crane capable of handling loads approaching rated capacity throughout its life.
Applications may include custom designed specialty cranes essential to performing the critical work tasks
affecting the total production facility.These cranes must provide the highest reliability, with special attention to
ease of maintenance features.