1 Scope
1.1This standard covers electrically operated overhead material handling equipment installed as a permanent part of the building: top-running bridge cranes (single and double girder), underhung/under-running bridge cranes, monorail systems, and electric chain and wire-rope hoists, together with their runway electrification, drives, and controls.
1.2The standard applies to water and wastewater treatment plants, industrial manufacturing and fabrication facilities, power generation plants, pump stations, equipment maintenance bays, and any facility where overhead lifting is required for equipment installation, maintenance, or production handling.
1.3Both new crane installations and capacity or control upgrades to existing runway systems are within scope.
NOTE The crane structure (girder, end trucks, bridge), the hoist and trolley, the runway electrification, the drives, and the pendant or radio controls shall be furnished and installed under this standard. (1.4)
NOTE Mobile cranes, tower cranes, construction hoists, and derricks are temporary construction equipment and are not covered by this standard. (1.6)
NOTE Below-the-hook lifting devices, hooks, slings, and rigging hardware are governed by ASME B30.20 and B30.26; this standard ends at the hook block and does not specify lifting beams or rigging except to require that their weight be deducted from net usable capacity. (1.7)
NOTE Freestanding jib cranes and portable gantry cranes are closely related but sufficiently distinct that they are not fully specified here; where present they shall be coordinated as separate equipment. (1.8)
NOTE The service or feeder conductors bringing power to the runway disconnecting means are part of the building power distribution and are governed by
Distribution Feeder Cables; this standard begins at the runway disconnect.
(1.9) 2 Referenced Standards
2.1Equipment, materials, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited.
2.2Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
| Standard |
Title |
| ASME B30.2-2022 |
Overhead and Gantry Cranes (Top Running Bridge, Single or Multiple Girder, Top Running Trolley Hoist) |
| ASME B30.17-2020 |
Cranes and Monorails (With Underhung Trolley or Bridge) |
| ASME B30.16-2017 |
Overhead Hoists (Underhung) |
| ASME B30.10-2024 |
Hooks |
| ASME B30.20-2025 |
Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices |
| CMAA No. 70-2025 |
Top Running Bridge and Gantry Type Multiple Girder Electric Overhead Traveling Cranes |
| CMAA No. 74-2025 |
Top Running and Under Running Single Girder Electric Overhead Traveling Cranes |
| HMI 100 |
Hoist Manufacturers Institute Standard for Electric Chain Hoists |
| NFPA 70 (NEC Article 610) |
National Electrical Code — Cranes and Hoists |
| 29 CFR 1910.179 |
OSHA — Overhead and Gantry Cranes |
| ASCE 7-22 |
Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (Section 4.10, crane loads) |
| AISC 360-22 |
Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (Appendix 3, fatigue) |
| ASTM A36 / A572 Gr. 50 |
Carbon Structural Steel / High-Strength Low-Alloy Structural Steel |
| NEMA MG-1 |
Motors and Generators |
| IBC 2021 (Section 1607.12) |
International Building Code — Crane Loads |
3 Submittals
3.1 Action Submittals
3.1.1The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review and approval before fabrication or release of the crane:
- Shop drawings showing crane general arrangement, span, lift height, runway profile, end approaches, and clearances to building structure
- Crane and hoist data sheets stating rated capacity, CMAA service class, and HMI/FEM hoist duty class
- Maximum wheel loads (vertical, lateral, longitudinal) and bumper impact forces transmitted to the runway, for coordination with the runway beam designer
- Electrical one-line diagram, control schematic, runway conductor sizing calculation, and disconnecting means rating
- Bridge, trolley, and hoist drive data including motor ratings, brake type, and VFD parameters where provided
- Runway electrification layout (conductor bar or festoon) with collector and feed locations
- Seismic and wind restraint details and supporting calculations for crane-mounted and runway-mounted components
☑ General arrangement shop drawings
☑ Crane/hoist data sheets (capacity, CMAA class, HMI duty)
☑ Wheel loads and bumper impact forces
☑ Electrical one-line and control schematic
☑ Runway conductor sizing calculation
☐ Drive data (motors, brakes, VFD parameters)
☐ Runway electrification layout
☐ Seismic/wind restraint details and calculations
NOTE Wheel-load and impact-force submittals shall be issued early enough that the runway beam designer can incorporate them before runway steel is released for fabrication. (3.1.2)
3.2 Closeout Submittals
3.2.1The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals before substantial completion:
- Operation and maintenance manuals for the crane, hoist, and drives
- Factory load-test certificate documenting the 125% rated-load proof test
- Field load-test and operational-test report documenting the 100% rated-load test and verification of brakes, limit switches, and safety devices
- Manufacturer certification of CMAA service class and HMI/FEM hoist duty class
- Inspection records and the initial inspection checklist required by ASME B30.2 and 29 CFR 1910.179
- Recommended spare parts list and lubrication schedule
☑ O&M manuals (crane, hoist, drives)
☑ Factory load-test certificate (125%)
☑ Field load-test and operational-test report (100%)
☑ CMAA class and HMI duty certification
☑ Initial inspection records (ASME B30.2 / OSHA)
☑ Spare parts list and lubrication schedule
NOTE Load-test and inspection documentation is a closeout deliverable, not a field formality; ASME B30.2 requires an operational test before first use, and recording it protects both the operator program and the warranty. (3.2.2)
4 Quality Assurance
4.1The crane manufacturer shall be regularly engaged in the design and fabrication of overhead traveling cranes of the type and capacity specified and shall design to CMAA No. 70 or No. 74 as applicable.
4.2The crane shall be designed, fabricated, and installed in accordance with ASME B30.2 for top-running cranes, ASME B30.17 for underhung cranes and monorails, and ASME B30.16 for underhung hoists, as applicable to the configuration furnished.
4.3Installations in general industry shall comply with 29 CFR 1910.179, which incorporates ASME B30.2 and NEC Article 610 by reference.
NOTE CMAA service class and HMI/FEM hoist duty class are independent scales: CMAA describes the crane structure, HMI describes the hoist mechanism, and both shall be specified and certified separately for every unit. (4.4)
4.5Welding of crane structural members shall be performed by welders qualified to AWS D14.1 (cranes and material handling) or AWS D1.1, and welds shall be inspected to the manufacturer's quality program.
4.6Field installation shall be performed by personnel experienced in crane erection and supervised in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.
5 Service Classification
NOTE The CMAA service class establishes the fatigue design basis of the crane and is the single most consequential selection in this standard; an under-classified crane fails by fatigue years before its expected life and voids the manufacturer's warranty. (5.1)
NOTE CMAA service classes A through F describe increasing severity by the combination of average loading relative to rated capacity and the number of load cycles over the crane's life. (5.2)
5.2.1The crane service class shall be selected to match the actual duty, not the nameplate capacity.
○ Class A — standby/infrequent (maintenance hoists, powerhouse)
○ Class B — light service (repair shops, light assembly)
● Class C — moderate service (process/general manufacturing)
○ Class D — heavy service (foundries, heavy fabrication)
○ Class E — severe service (high cycle, near-rated loads)
○ Class F — continuous severe (steel mill, bulk handling)
NOTE Class C is the 80% case for process and general manufacturing facilities: moderate service, an average load near 50% of rated capacity, and up to roughly 10 lifts per hour. (5.2.2)
NOTE Foundries, container yards, and heavy fabrication bays shall be classified Class D; standby or maintenance-only hoists in equipment rooms may be classified Class A. (5.2.3)
5.3The electric hoist shall independently carry an HMI/FEM duty classification (H1 through H5) appropriate to its starts-per-hour and load spectrum, declared separately from the crane CMAA class.
○ H2 (light)
● H3 (standard / general industrial)
○ H4 (heavy)
○ H5 (severe)
6 Crane Configuration
NOTE The crane type shall be selected from rated capacity, span, and available headroom; top-running cranes maximize capacity and hook height, while underhung and workstation cranes trade capacity for low headroom, multiple-bay coverage, and easy track interlocking. (6.1)
6.1.1The crane type shall be selected to suit the rated capacity, span, and headroom of the application.
● Top-running single-girder bridge crane
○ Top-running double-girder bridge crane
○ Under-running (underhung) single-girder bridge crane
○ Workstation/ergonomic under-running bridge crane
○ Monorail (straight or curved track)
6.1.2Single-girder construction shall be used for lighter capacities and shorter spans; double-girder construction shall be used where capacity, span, or required hook height exceeds the single-girder range.
6.2 Rated Capacity
6.2.1The crane shall be furnished with the rated capacity scheduled, and the rated capacity shall be the net usable load below the hook.
NOTE The weight of the hook block, any lifting beam or spreader, and all rigging shall be deducted from the rated capacity when establishing net usable lifting capacity; failing to do so is the most common capacity error and leaves the crane unable to make its design picks. (6.2.2)
6.3 Span and Bays
6.3.1The bridge span shall be measured center-to-center of the runway rails and shall match the structural bay dimension and required coverage.
Per drawings — crane plan, runway rail centerlines
6.3.2The number of runway bays served, the runway length, and the end-approach dimensions shall be coordinated with the building structure. The runway location and extents are shown on the drawings crane runway plan and column lines. 6.4 Lift Height
6.4.1The hoist shall provide the scheduled lift height, measured from finished floor to the hook in its highest position, accounting for the hoist headroom below the runway beam flange.
NOTE Lift height shall be the actual hook height required to reach the design pick points, not a rounded nominal value; specifying a round number instead of the true requirement is a frequent cause of a crane that cannot reach its pick points. (6.4.2)
7 Hoist and Trolley
7.1 Hoist Type
7.1.1The hoist type shall be selected for the rated capacity and duty cycle of the application.
● Electric wire-rope hoist
○ Electric chain hoist
NOTE Electric wire-rope hoists shall be used for capacities above 2 tons or for high-cycle service; electric chain hoists may be used for lighter, lower-cycle applications. (7.1.2)
7.1.3The hoist trolley shall be of the motorized type matched to the runway or bridge beam flange, except where a hand-geared or push trolley is explicitly scheduled for a light workstation system.
7.2 Hoisting Speed
7.2.1The hoist shall provide a controlled hoisting speed appropriate to the load and the duty class.
NOTE Two-speed or variable-frequency hoist control should be provided where precise load spotting is required; single-speed control may be used only for simple, infrequent lifts. (7.2.2)
8 Drives and Controls
8.1 Bridge and Trolley Drives
8.1.1The bridge and trolley drives shall be of the motorized type and shall provide smooth, controlled acceleration and deceleration appropriate to the crane service class.
○ Single-speed
○ Two-speed
● Variable frequency drive (VFD)
NOTE Variable frequency drive control is the 80% case for process cranes because it eliminates load swing on starting and stopping and reduces shock to the runway; VFDs shall be provided as crane-duty rated and coordinated for harmonic mitigation per
Low Voltage Variable Frequency Drives.
(8.1.2) NOTE Specifying a VFD without confirming its crane-duty rating or harmonic mitigation causes nuisance trips; the drive selection and harmonic analysis are governed by
Low Voltage Variable Frequency Drives and shall be coordinated with this standard.
(8.1.3) 8.1.4Bridge and trolley drive motors shall be crane-duty rated for the service class; the motor frame sizing, insulation class, and service factor are governed by Electric Motors and NEMA MG-1. NOTE Hoist drive motors shall be NEMA MG-1 Design D (high-slip, high-starting-torque) for wire-rope hoists requiring controlled acceleration, with Class F insulation minimum. (8.1.5)
8.2 Operator Controls
8.2.1The crane shall be furnished with operator controls suited to the operating environment and floor coverage.
○ Hardwired pendant only
● Radio remote with pendant backup
○ Radio remote only
NOTE A hardwired pendant shall be provided as the primary or backup control unless a documented operating and safety program accepts radio-only control; radio-only control with no pendant backup is a single point of failure that most operator programs prohibit. (8.2.2)
8.2.3The pendant shall be strain-relieved independently of the control conductors and shall be suspended on a separate festoon or messenger from the trolley.
8.2.4Control circuits shall be grounded and a separate equipment bonding conductor shall be provided in accordance with NEC 610.61; the bridge and trolley frames shall not be considered grounded through wheel-to-rail contact.
9 Runway Electrification
NOTE The runway electrification system delivers power to the moving crane and is selected from the runway length, environment, and number of conductors required; enclosed conductor bar is the most common industrial choice, while festoon is used for short runs or where conductor bar mounting is impractical. (9.1)
9.1.1The runway electrification method shall be selected to suit the runway length and environment.
● Enclosed conductor bar
○ Flat (open) conductor bar
○ Festoon cable on track
○ Cable reel
9.1.2Runway conductors shall be sized for an ampacity of at least 50% of the largest crane motor full-load current plus 100% of the full-load current of all other motors on the crane, in accordance with NEC 610.14.
NOTE A lockable runway disconnecting means rated for the full crane load shall be provided within sight of the crane in accordance with NEC 610.31; the feeder serving this disconnect is part of the building distribution under
Distribution Feeder Cables.
(9.1.3) 9.1.4The runway disconnecting means shall be lockable in the open position and shall be located within sight of the crane runway.
9.1.5Collector shoes or trolleys shall be of the spring-loaded type maintaining continuous contact and shall be accessible for inspection and replacement without removing the crane from the runway.
10 Runway Rail and End Stops
NOTE The runway rail and the runway beam are distinct scopes: this standard establishes the wheel loads and the rail designation, and
Structural Steel Framing designs the beam, columns, and rail-to-beam connection. The rail is sized by wheel load, not by crane capacity alone.
(10.1) 10.1.1The runway rail shall be selected for the maximum crane wheel load and shall match the structural connection detail.
● ASCE 60 (60 lb/yd) — light duty
○ ASCE 85 (85 lb/yd)
○ ASCE 104 (104 lb/yd)
○ Crane rail CR-style (e.g. CR175)
NOTE Rail butt joints shall be detailed to minimize gaps; mismatched hole patterns, missing clip angles, or open rail joints generate vibration, noise, and accelerated wheel wear and shall be coordinated with the runway steel detailer. (10.1.2)
10.2 End Stops and Bumpers
10.2.1Runway end stops and trolley end stops shall be provided at both ends of travel to prevent the bridge and trolley from running off the rail.
10.2.2Energy-absorbing bumpers shall be provided where bridge or trolley travel speeds or masses produce impact forces that a rigid stop cannot safely arrest; the bumper impact force shall be reported to the runway beam designer.
● Energy-absorbing (rubber/cellular/spring) bumpers
○ Rigid bolt-on stops
○ Rigid welded stops
11 Structural Loads and Deflection
11.1.1The crane manufacturer shall report the maximum vertical wheel load, lateral force, longitudinal force, and bumper impact force to the runway beam designer before runway steel is released.
11.1.2A vertical impact factor of 25% of the maximum static wheel load shall be applied for cab-operated or remotely operated cranes in accordance with IBC 2021 Section 1607.12.2.
11.1.3A lateral crane load equal to 20% of the sum of the lifted load and trolley weight shall be applied at the top of the runway rail and distributed to the runway in accordance with ASCE 7-22 Section 4.10.2.
NOTE The runway beam vertical deflection under maximum wheel load shall not exceed L/600 of the runway span; this is a crane-performance limit and shall be coordinated with the runway beam designer, not assumed to be covered by structural adequacy alone. (11.1.4)
11.1.5The bridge girder vertical deflection shall not exceed L/888 for CMAA Class A through C and L/1000 for Class D through F.
● L/888 (CMAA Class A-C)
○ L/1000 (CMAA Class D-F)
12 Seismic and Wind Restraint
NOTE Crane runway seismic and wind restraint is frequently omitted because the crane vendor does not design the runway structure; in moderate and high seismic zones ASCE 7-22 requires lateral bracing of the runway, and the responsibility for it shall be explicitly assigned. (12.1)
12.1.1Seismic restraint of the crane and runway shall be provided in accordance with ASCE 7-22 using the site Ss and S1 values, and the responsibility for runway lateral bracing shall be assigned in the contract documents.
12.1.2Where seismic restraint is required, the crane manufacturer shall provide rail clamps, lateral restraints, or anti-uplift devices as needed and shall coordinate their reactions with the runway beam designer.
● Yes — moderate/high seismic (ASCE 7-22 lateral bracing)
○ No — low seismic
12.1.3Outdoor or open-structure cranes shall be provided with wind-restraint devices (rail clamps or storm anchors) designed for the ASCE 7-22 wind load at the site.
13 Environmental and Service Conditions
NOTE Enclosure selection is governed by the operating atmosphere: a NEMA 1 enclosure specified in a washdown, humid, or corrosive process area causes rapid motor and control failure, which is among the most common and costly crane specification mistakes. (13.1)
13.1.1Motors, controls, and electrification shall be furnished with an enclosure rating suited to the installed environment.
● NEMA 1 (dry indoor)
○ NEMA 4 (washdown/wet)
○ NEMA 4X (corrosive/washdown)
○ NEMA 7/9 (hazardous/explosion-proof)
13.1.2In water and wastewater process areas, food and pharmaceutical facilities, and other hose-down or corrosive environments, motors and controls shall be furnished as NEMA 4 or 4X, and stainless or epoxy-coated components shall be used where washdown chemicals attack carbon steel.
13.1.3Explosion-proof cranes for Class I Division 1 or 2 or Class II hazardous locations shall be furnished with spark-resistant hardware, hazardous-rated motors and controls, and the appropriate enclosure listing for the area classification.
● None (ordinary location)
○ Class I Div 2
○ Class I Div 1
○ Class II (combustible dust)
14 Surface Preparation and Coatings
NOTE Most crane manufacturers apply only a standard shop primer; without an explicit finish-coat specification the crane arrives shop-primed and never receives a finish system. The coating system, surface preparation, and field touch-up are governed by
Shop Painting And Galvanizing and shall be specified there, not left to the crane vendor's default.
(14.1) 14.1.1The crane structural steel coating system, including surface preparation, prime coat, and finish coat, shall be specified in coordination with Shop Painting And Galvanizing. 14.1.2Field touch-up of shop-applied coatings damaged during shipment or erection shall be performed with the same coating system as the shop application.
15 Testing
15.1A factory proof load test at 125% of rated load shall be performed before shipment in accordance with ASME B30.2, and the certificate shall be submitted as a closeout deliverable.
15.2A field load test at 100% of rated load shall be performed after installation, and the results shall be documented and submitted.
15.3Operational tests of brakes, limit switches, and locking and safety devices shall be performed before initial use in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.179(j)(1).
15.4The upper-limit switch and any lower-limit switch shall be verified to stop hoist travel within the rated stopping distance during the operational test.
15.5Skewing, tracking, and bridge alignment shall be checked under no load and under rated load, and any binding or excessive wheel float shall be corrected before acceptance.
16 Installation
16.1Runway rails shall be installed straight, level, and parallel within the manufacturer's and CMAA tolerances for span, elevation, and rail-to-rail level before the crane is set on the runway.
16.2The crane shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and bridge end-truck wheels shall be checked for full contact and correct gauge after setting.
16.3Runway electrification shall be installed continuous and aligned so that collectors maintain contact through the full length of travel, with feeds and expansion sections located to avoid collector lift-off.
16.4The runway disconnecting means shall be installed within sight of the runway, lockable, and labeled, and the separate equipment bonding conductor required by NEC 610.61 shall be installed and terminated.
16.5End stops and bumpers shall be installed at both ends of bridge and trolley travel before the crane is energized for testing.
NOTE Existing-runway upgrades shall verify that the existing runway beams, rail, and electrification are adequate for the new crane wheel loads and current draw before the new crane is placed in service; where the existing runway is inadequate, the deficiency shall be reported before installation proceeds. (16.6)
17 Delivery, Storage, and Handling
17.1Crane components shall be delivered protected against weather, with machined surfaces and motor shafts coated or wrapped to prevent corrosion in transit.
17.2Components shall be stored indoors or under cover, off the ground, and protected from moisture and construction debris until installation.
17.3Hoist rope, chain, and electrical components shall be stored in their original packaging and protected from contamination and physical damage.
18 Warranty
18.1The crane, hoist, drives, and controls shall be warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for the manufacturer's standard warranty period, not less than one year from substantial completion.
NOTE The warranty shall be void if the crane is operated above its rated capacity or outside its certified CMAA service class; the as-built service class and capacity shall be recorded in the closeout documents to establish the warranty basis. (18.2)
19 Spare Parts
19.1The Contractor shall furnish the manufacturer's recommended spare parts for the crane, hoist, and electrification, suitable for the certified duty class.
19.1.1The Contractor shall furnish, at minimum, the following spare parts:
- Spare collector shoes or trolleys for the runway electrification
- Spare hoist brake lining or brake assembly
- Spare control contactors or, for VFD drives, recommended spare fuses and control fuses
- Spare pendant push-button station, where a hardwired pendant is provided
☑ Collector shoes/trolleys
☑ Hoist brake lining or assembly
☑ Control contactors / VFD spare fuses
☐ Pendant push-button station