Crane Advisor

FEM CLASSIFICATION

CLASS M3 – STANDBY OR INFREQUENT SERVICE

This service class covers cranes which may be used in installations such as powerhouses, public utilities, turbine rooms, motor rooms and transformer stations where precise handling of equipment at slow speeds with long, idle periods between lifts are required. Capacity loads may be handled for initial installation of equipment and for infrequent maintenance.

CLASS M4 – LIGHT SERVICE

This service covers cranes which may be used in repair shops, light assembly operations, service buildings, light warehousing, etc., where service requirements are light and the speed is slow. Loads may vary from no load to occasional full-rated loads with two to five lifts per hour, averaging ten feet per lift.

CLASS M5 – MODERATE SERVICE

This service covers cranes which may be used in machine shops or paper mill machine rooms, etc., where service requirements are moderate. In this type of service the crane will handle loads which average 50 percent of the rated capacity with 5 to 10 lifts per hour, averaging 5 meters/15 feet, not over 50 percent of the lift at rated capacity.

CLASS M6 – HEAVY SERVICE

This service covers cranes which may be used in heavy machine shops, foundries, fabricating plants, steel warehouses, container yards, lumber mills, etc., and standard duty bucket and magnet operations where heavy duty production is required. In this type of service, loads approaching 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 5 meters/15 feet, not over 65 percent of the lifts at rated capacity.

CLASS M7 – SEVERE SERVICE

This type of service requires a crane capable of handling loads approaching a 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 twenty or more lifts per hour at or near the rated capacity.

CLASS M8 – CONTINUOUS SEVERE SERVICE

This type of service requires a crane capable of handling loads approaching rated capacity continuously under severe service conditions 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.