The permitted number of passengers depends on the elevator’s rated load, approved configuration and capacity plate. A cabin may physically accommodate more people than it is permitted to carry. Passengers, luggage, tools and other items all contribute to the load.
For an elevator already in use, follow its displayed load limit and passenger rating. For a new installation, select capacity together with cabin dimensions, accessibility needs and expected traffic.
What does rated load mean?
Rated load is the load for which the elevator is designed and specified. It is not an estimate of how much can be squeezed inside or a target that passengers should attempt to exceed.
A product’s passenger count is associated with its design basis and applicable requirements. It does not mean that every passenger has the same weight, and it does not remove the need to include carried items when considering the total load.
Examples from a passenger elevator product range
The published FUJI-FHSP50 parameter table includes the following load and passenger-count combinations. These describe listed configurations; they are not universal capacities for every elevator.
| Listed rated load | Listed persons |
|---|---|
| 450 kg | 6 |
| 630 kg | 8 |
| 800 kg | 10 |
| 1,000 kg | 13 |
| 1,350 kg | 18 |
| 1,600 kg | 21 |
Confirm the approved technical specification for the particular lift being ordered. For an installed elevator, its own capacity plate and operating instructions take precedence over a general product table.
Why a passenger count is not the whole answer
Consider a group travelling with large suitcases or equipment. The same number of people can produce a different total load on different trips. Mobility aids and other carried items also need to be accommodated in the usable cabin and entrance space.
Overload detection, where fitted, is a protective function. It is not a method for testing how much extra load an elevator will accept. If an overload warning occurs, reduce the load and follow the equipment’s operating instructions.
Cabin area, door opening and comfort
Rated capacity and comfortable occupancy answer different questions. A lift may be within its permitted load yet feel crowded. Wheelchair users, a companion, luggage or service trolleys can need more space than a group of standing passengers.
Review clear cabin width and depth, clear entrance dimensions, door arrangement and landing access together. A larger floor area alone does not establish a higher certified load, and a wider doorway does not change the capacity plate.
Capacity for a new building
For a home lift, start with the people and items the household expects to carry. For an office, hotel, hospital or other busy building, also consider how many passengers arrive during the busiest period and how the elevator group will serve them.
A single larger car is not automatically a substitute for several elevators. Waiting time, journey time, stops, door operation, service movements and maintenance availability all affect the system’s performance. Capacity selection should form part of the building’s traffic assessment.
Information to provide when requesting a proposal
- Building use and project location.
- Number of floors, stops and expected users.
- Expected luggage, mobility aids, trolleys or other loads.
- Available shaft, cabin and entrance space.
- Traffic expectations and accessibility requirements.
- Installation, inspection and maintenance responsibilities.
Share these requirements with FUJIHD to request an appropriate configuration. The objective is a lift that serves the building’s users within its approved limits, rather than the largest passenger number that can be advertised.
