Recommended Load Capacity of Castors: Some considerations
- It is important to be aware that castors are rated for the load capacity of each castor and NOT the set.
- The most common method for calculating the required load capacity of an individual castor to safely handle the total gross weight to be carried by a set of castors is given below under each of the standard castor configuration headings.
- Please be aware of the following:
- Gross weight includes the weight of the transport equipment plus the maximum weight of the load to be carried.
- Unless otherwise stated in the product description, load capacities of castors is based on using manual propulsion (hand pushed) at walking speed (4km/h).
- Power towing applications require castors that are specifically designed for power-towing which causes different stresses on the swivel head to hand pushing castors.
- There needs to be a margin of safety on the load capacity because of: floor imperfections, castor configurations and loading methods.
- Floor imperfections cause extra shock loads. Examples include, but are not limted to: castors hitting floor joints, cracks, kerbs, drainage gullies, and potholes when moving.
- Castor configurations may cause one or more castors to lift off the floor on uneven surfaces leaving the remaining castors that are in contact with the floor castors to take the load.
- Loading methods may cause extra shock loads from operatives dropping loads onto the equipment even from a small height. For example, to avoid trapping fingers.
Four castors configuration:
- Each castor must be able to carry at least (Maximum Load + Weight of Transport Equipment) / 3, that is, 33% of gross weight.
Three castors configuration:
- Each castor must be able to carry at least 40% of gross weight.
- This configuration is only suitable for small trolleys and light loads.
Six castors configuration with pivoting central Fixed Castors:
- This configuration has two central fixed castors that have a larger overall height than both the front and back two.
- The additional overall height is typically achieved by either using larger middle castors (usually the next size up) or adding packing plates to achieve 25mm of extra height.
- It is a configuration mainly used on long platform trolleys to maximise manoeuvrability while maintaining control.
- For this configuration, the two central fixed castor must be able to hold at least 50% of the total gross load each.
- The other smaller castors’ load requirement is usually restricted to at least 33% of the total gross weight.
Jacking Castors and KGD Footmaster Levelling Castors:
- Each Jacking Castor or KGD Footmaster Levelling Castors must be able to carry at least 50% of the total gross weight
- It is important that the minimum Jacking or Footmaster Levelling Castor load capacity is obtained by calculating the total gross weight to be carried (Weight of Transport Equipment + maximum load) and dividing that by 2.
- This is because the lifting and lowering operation of Jacking and Footmaster Levelling castors means that each castor can be subjected to half the total gross weight.
If in doubt, please call us on 0121 772 1010 and speak to one of our sales team (Mon – Fri: 8:30am to 5:00pm)
