Electric Hoist Inspection Requirements: Special Equipment Rules
Key Point An electric hoist sold, stored, or used as a standalone unit is not legally classified as special equipment. However, once the hoist is installed on a complete crane — such as an overhead crane, gantry crane, or jib crane — and the crane's rated lifting capacity is ≥3t, the entire crane falls under special equipment regulation. Simple rule of thumb: 3t is the threshold — below 3t, no regulatory oversight is required; at 3t and above, the complete crane must be inspected and registered.
Whether an electric hoist requires inspection and whether it qualifies as special equipment are among the most frequently asked questions we receive. Many users purchase an electric hoist and are unsure whether annual inspection is mandatory, whether an operator certificate is required, or what consequences follow from skipping inspection. The answer is actually straightforward — it all comes down to two distinct scenarios: using the hoist independently versus installing it on a crane. This article clarifies the classification criteria for electric hoists under China's Special Equipment Safety Law (2014 edition), TSG Q7016-2016 (Rules for Supervision Inspection of Installation, Retrofit, and Major Repair of Lifting Appliances), TSG Q7015-2016 (Rules for Periodic Inspection of Lifting Appliances), and the State Administration for Market Regulation's Announcement No. 57 of 2020.
1. Legal Definition of Special Equipment
Article 2 of the Special Equipment Safety Law of the People's Republic of China defines special equipment as boilers, pressure vessels, pressure pipelines, elevators, lifting appliances, passenger ropeways, large amusement rides, and special-purpose motor vehicles within factories that pose significant risk to personal and property safety. An electric hoist itself is not an independent category of special equipment. However, when it serves as the hoisting mechanism on a crane, the complete crane falls under the "lifting appliances" category of special equipment management. Announcement No. 57 of 2020, which publishes the Special Equipment Catalog, states: "Lifting appliances are electromechanical devices used for vertical lifting, or vertical lifting combined with horizontal movement of loads. The scope covers lifts with a rated lifting capacity of 0.5t or greater, and cranes with a rated lifting capacity of 3t or greater (or tower cranes with a rated lifting moment of 40t·m or greater, or unloading bridges with a productivity of 300t/h or greater), provided the lifting height is 2m or greater."
The key takeaway: an electric hoist sold, stored, or used independently is not legally defined as special equipment. But once installed on a complete crane — bridge crane, gantry crane, jib crane, etc. — and the crane's rated lifting capacity reaches 3t or more, the entire crane must be brought under special equipment supervision. A simple way to remember: 3t is the dividing line — below 3t, no regulatory filing is needed; at 3t and above, the complete crane must be submitted for inspection.
2. When Is Inspection Mandatory?
Under TSG Q7016-2016 and TSG Q7015-2016, the following three scenarios require inspection by a special equipment inspection body:
Scenario 1: Installation Supervision Inspection. After an electric hoist is installed on a crane with a rated lifting capacity of ≥3t, the user must apply to the local special equipment inspection body for installation supervision inspection. Inspection items include: equipment body inspection (metal structure, hoisting mechanism, travel mechanism), safety device inspection (limit switches, brakes, overload limiter), electrical system inspection, and load testing (125% static load + 110% dynamic load). Upon passing, the inspection body issues the Crane Installation Supervision Inspection Report, and only then may the crane be put into operation.
Scenario 2: Periodic Inspection (every 2 years). Cranes in service must undergo periodic inspection every two years, conducted on-site by an inspection body. Inspection items include: visual inspection, functional testing of safety devices, wear inspection of major components, insulation resistance testing, and load testing (100% rated load). Cranes that pass receive the Crane Periodic Inspection Report; those that fail are ordered to cease use and must undergo rectification followed by re-inspection within a specified timeframe.
Scenario 3: Annual Inspection (every year). User units must organize their own annual inspection each year — this is distinct from periodic inspection. The annual inspection is carried out by the user unit's safety management personnel or by a qualified maintenance contractor, following the inspection items and standards in Appendix A of TSG Q7015-2016. Annual inspection records must be kept on file for future reference, and market supervision authorities will verify compliance during routine inspections.
3. When Is Inspection Not Required?
① Electric hoists with a rated lifting capacity below 3t (including micro electric hoists rated at 0.25t, 0.5t, and lower).
② Electric hoists sold or stored as standalone components, not installed on a complete crane.
③ Manual lifting equipment with a rated lifting capacity of 3t or more (hand chain hoists / lever hoists), as manual lifting equipment falls outside the scope of the Special Equipment Catalog.
④ Household micro electric hoists used in non-commercial settings (rated lifting capacity <3t and lifting height <2m). Note: an electric hoist with a rated lifting capacity of ≥3t used independently is still not classified as special equipment and is not subject to special equipment regulation. However, if a safety incident occurs, the user unit still bears primary responsibility for workplace safety.
4. Inspection Standards and Authorized Bodies
Special equipment inspection is performed by inspection bodies approved by the provincial market supervision administration. Most cities have one or two qualified inspection bodies (e.g., the Provincial Special Equipment Inspection Institute or the Municipal Special Equipment Inspection Office). Inspection fees are set by the provincial pricing authority and typically range from $75 to $445 per crane per inspection (varying by equipment type and tonnage).
Handling of Failed Inspections: If a crane fails its periodic inspection, the user unit must complete rectification within the timeframe specified by the inspection body (typically 30 days). After rectification, a re-inspection must be requested. Equipment that fails re-inspection must be taken out of service and deregistered. Rectification costs typically range from several hundred to several thousand US dollars (depending on the number of non-conforming items) — far exceeding the inspection fee itself. Kelude recommends that user units perform annual inspections and routine maintenance to resolve issues before the periodic inspection deadline.
5. Special Equipment Classification Reference Table
| Equipment Type | Lifting Capacity | Whetherspecial equipment | inspection requirements | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Hoist(Individually) | Optional | Whether | Exempt from Inspection | General Administration2020No.57Issue No. |
| crane Complete Machine(Including Electric Hoist) | ≥3t | Yes | supervision inspection+Per2Yearperiodic inspection+Annuallyannual inspection | TSG (Special Equipment Safety Technical Regulation) Q7016-2016/7015 |
| crane Complete Machine | <3t | Whether | Exempt from Inspection | 《special equipment Catalogue》 |
| Manual Hoist(Manual Chain/Lever) | Optional | Whether | Exempt from Inspection | 《special equipment Catalogue》 |
| Explosion-proof electric hoist | ≥3t | Yes | Same Standardcrane+Explosion-proof Special Inspection | TSG (Special Equipment Safety Technical Regulation) Q7016-2016+GB/T 3836.1-2021 |
6. Special Equipment Definition Data Card
| 3t special equipment Boundary Rated Lifting Capacity≥3tOfcrane Complete Machine Subject tospecial equipment Supervision, Not Required Below | 2Year periodic inspection interval In Servicecrane Per2Once Every Yearperiodic inspection, By Certifiedinspection body Toon-site execution | 3~30Ten Thousand Not Inspection Fine Amount Withoutsupervision inspection Orperiodic inspection Namelyput into operation Of, May Be Penalized3Ten Thousand~3010,000 Yuan Fine |
| 500~3000Yuan Per Occurrence Inspection Fee Provincial Pricing, Based on Equipment Type andtonnage Adjustment, Excludingrectificationre-inspection fee In Service | 3Special Inspection Equipment Type New Installationsupervision inspection+Per2Yearperiodic inspection+Annuallyannual inspection, All Required | 30Days rectification period Inspection After Failed Inspectionrectification period Generally30Days, re-inspection If Still Non-Compliant, Must Be Taken Out of Service and Deregistered |
The above is the complete regulatory interpretation of how electric hoists are classified as special equipment. Every crane sold by Kelude that incorporates an electric hoist comes with a full Factory Acceptance Test Report and complete technical documentation, helping users navigate the installation supervision inspection application process. For more on inspection and reporting procedures, refer to the daily inspection points for safety protection devices covered in the electric hoist limit switch wiring guide.
Special Equipment Classification — Technical Note
"Whether an electric hoist needs to be reported for inspection is a question we get hundreds of times a year. The short answer: an electric hoist sold on its own is not special equipment, but once installed on a crane with a lifting capacity of ≥3t, the complete crane becomes special equipment. Many small workshops buy an electric hoist, weld their own frame, and use it as a crane — no inspection, no annual check. When caught, fines start at 30,000 RMB. Kelude signs a special equipment notification and acknowledgment form with every customer at delivery, clearly stating the inspection obligations so users don't unknowingly operate outside the law."
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is a 0.5t electric hoist classified as special equipment?
A: An electric hoist sold or stored as a standalone unit — regardless of capacity — is not special equipment and does not require inspection reporting. However, when a 0.5t electric hoist is installed on a complete crane with a lifting capacity of ≥3t, the complete crane falls under special equipment regulations. It must undergo installation supervision inspection in accordance with TSG Q7016-2016, and a formal inspection report must be obtained before the crane can be put into service. A simple way to remember: look at the complete unit, not the individual component — the component alone is not special equipment; the complete assembly is.
Q: Do I need an operator certificate for a 2t electric hoist?
A: A 2t electric hoist itself does not require an operator certificate. But when a 2t electric hoist is installed on a crane with a lifting capacity of ≥3t, the person operating that crane must hold a special equipment operator certificate (project code Q2, Crane Operator). Under the Regulations on Supervision and Administration of Special Equipment Operators, anyone engaged in special equipment operation without the required permit will be ordered to rectify the violation and fined between 1,000 and 10,000 RMB. So the real question is not "does a 2t electric hoist need a certificate" but "does operating a crane with an electric hoist require one" — and the answer is yes.
Q: What happens if I don't report my electric hoist for inspection?
A: The consequences escalate in stages. First, if market supervision authorities find an unreported crane during an on-site inspection, they will issue a Special Equipment Safety Supervision Directive Order, requiring immediate cessation of use and mandating inspection reporting within a set deadline. Second, if the rectification is not completed by the deadline, fines of 30,000 to 300,000 RMB apply under Article 84 of the Special Equipment Safety Law. Third, if a safety incident occurs, the person in charge of the user unit may face criminal liability (liability for major accidents, with a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison). Additionally, an unreported crane cannot be covered by equipment insurance — any loss is paid entirely out of pocket. We recommend that user units contact an inspection body before equipment installation and build the inspection into the project schedule.
Q: Is the annual inspection the same as the periodic inspection for electric hoists?
A: No, they are fundamentally different. The annual inspection is a self-conducted check performed once a year by the user unit (Appendix A of TSG Q7015-2016). It can be carried out by the unit's safety management personnel or by a delegated maintenance company, and the inspection records simply need to be kept on file for future reference. The periodic inspection, by contrast, is a legally mandated on-site examination conducted every two years by an approved special equipment inspection body. It carries legal effect, and a formal inspection report is issued upon successful completion. The annual inspection cannot replace the periodic inspection, and the periodic inspection does not waive the annual inspection obligation. One is a routine management responsibility; the other is a statutory technical supervision procedure — they cannot substitute for each other.
For more on special equipment management, see the electrical safety requirements discussed in the follow-up article Electric Hoist Power Wiring and Electrical Control System.
