Rated load is the maximum weight an equipment can handle. Nominal loads are determined by standardized equipment and testing. It is recommended to use equipment with load rating that exceeds maximum capacity. Load ratings are important for structures and equipment, and companies are required to disclose them truthfully.
Rated load is the heaviest load for which a piece of equipment has been designed. Nominal loads can consist of different types of loads, including energy, weight, and speed. Most equipment is marked with information plates that indicate the rated load along with other parameters for use so that people can use the equipment safely and avoid situations that could pose a threat to health and safety.
Manufacturers determine the nominal load. This is done in part by the use of standardized equipment that has known tolerances, and in part by testing the equipment to see how much load it can take or produce. For example, electrical equipment can be classified in terms of the energy it generates or in terms of the amount of energy it can handle as an output. Similarly, equipment can be loaded to see how much weight it can handle, with the equipment being used under test conditions similar to how it is used in the real world. An elevator, for example, would be moved vertically to determine the rated load.
It is usually recommended to use equipment with a load rating that exceeds the maximum potential capacity and to avoid actually pushing the load limits of the equipment. For example, when installing tires on a vehicle, people would choose equipment with a tire load rating that exceeds the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight. This would reduce the risk of equipment failure and increase safety for users.
Load ratings can be determined for both structures and equipment, such as when people study the rating loads of bridges to find out how much traffic they can safely handle. In the case of something like a bridge, the load can be quite unique, because the bridge itself isn’t necessarily standardized. This makes it important to perform a wide variety of calculations to ensure the bridge is safe and usable.
With many types of equipment, companies are required by law to determine the load rating and truthfully disclose it. Failure to observe this precaution can result in legal penalties, especially if someone is injured by improperly tested or labeled equipment. Many companies make their test methods and results public so that people can understand exactly how the equipment was tested and examine the result for themselves. Proprietary testing techniques may have withheld details when published so the manufacturer can maintain its market share.
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