Freight & Industrial Lifts in Australia

Goods-only vs passenger-goods: the fundamental distinction

Every freight lift installation begins with one question: will people ride in the lift alongside the goods?

If yes, the lift must meet passenger lift requirements under the NCC and the relevant AS 1735 series standards. Car size, door configuration, emergency communication, ventilation, and control systems must all comply with passenger lift specifications. DDA access provisions under the Premises Standards 2010 may also apply, depending on the building class and the nature of the work.

If no — if the lift moves goods only and passengers are excluded — the compliance requirements are simpler but still significant. Goods-only lifts must have physical barriers (interlocked doors or gates) preventing human entry. They must still be registered as plant under WHS regulations, and they still require routine inspection and maintenance.

The cost difference is substantial. A goods-only lift for the same load capacity and travel can cost 30–50% less than a passenger-goods lift, primarily because of the reduced compliance and safety system requirements. But retrofitting passenger compliance into a goods-only installation is far more expensive than specifying correctly from the start.

Freight lift types in detail

Goods-only freight lifts

Goods-only lifts range from compact units moving palletised stock between mezzanine levels to heavy-duty platform lifts handling multi-tonne industrial loads. Key specifications include:

• Load capacity: 500 kg to 5,000 kg+ depending on application
• Car size: Determined by the largest item to be transported — allow clearance for pallet jacks, trolleys, or forklifts where relevant
• Door type: Vertical bi-parting doors, roller shutters, or swing gates depending on the load profile and available headroom
• Drive type: Hydraulic for low-rise heavy loads; traction for higher travel distances

Goods-only lifts must be clearly marked as not suitable for passenger use. Interlocked doors must prevent the lift from operating unless all landing and car doors are fully closed and locked.

Passenger-goods lifts

Passenger-goods lifts are the standard choice for commercial buildings where staff accompany goods — hospitals moving beds between floors, retail stores with stockroom access, and warehouses where personnel ride with palletised goods.

These lifts must comply with the full suite of passenger lift standards, including:

• AS 1735.1 or AS 1735.2 (depending on configuration)
• Emergency communication requirements (4G VoLTE emergency phone)
• DDA provisions where applicable under the Premises Standards 2010
• Car ventilation and lighting to passenger standards

Capacity ratings typically range from 1,000 kg to 5,000 kg.

Dumbwaiters

Dumbwaiters are small goods-only lifts with car sizes too small for human occupancy. Typical applications include:

• Restaurants and cafes — moving food and dishes between kitchen and service levels
• Hospitals — transporting medical supplies, pharmacy items, or meal trays
• Libraries and archives — moving books and records between floors
• Retail — stock transfer between sales floor and storage

Capacity ranges from 50 kg to 300 kg. Installation is relatively simple compared to full freight lifts, and costs are significantly lower — indicative range of $15,000–$50,000.

Dumbwaiters still require WHS plant registration in most jurisdictions. Do not assume the smaller scale exempts them from compliance obligations.

Car lifts

Car lifts (vehicle lifts) are heavy-duty platforms designed to move cars, trucks, or other vehicles between levels. Load ratings start at approximately 2,500 kg for passenger vehicles and extend to 10,000 kg+ for commercial vehicles.

Car lifts require substantial structural engineering — the pit, shaft, and supporting structure must handle dynamic loads significantly greater than the rated static capacity. Hydraulic drive is common for car lifts due to the high load and low speed requirements.

NCC compliance requirements

The National Construction Code (NCC) sets the building compliance framework for lift installations. For new commercial buildings (NCC classes 2–9), the NCC Volume One specifies where lifts are required, the performance requirements they must meet, and the referenced Australian Standards that provide the deemed-to-satisfy solutions.

Goods-only lifts that do not carry passengers have a different compliance pathway under the NCC compared to passenger-goods lifts.

WHS plant registration

Under Schedule 5 of the model WHS regulations, lifts are classified as registrable plant. Both the design and each installed unit require registration with the relevant state regulator.

Victoria operates under the OHS Act 2004 rather than the model WHS framework. Plant registration in Victoria is administered by WorkSafe Victoria, and the requirements differ from other states.

Choosing the right freight lift

The selection process starts with three questions:

1. What are you moving? Define the heaviest single load, the largest physical item, and the daily throughput.
2. Will people ride in the lift? This single question determines whether you need goods-only or passenger-goods compliance — and has the largest impact on cost.
3. What is the travel distance? Low-rise applications (1–2 levels) suit hydraulic drive. Higher travel favours traction systems.

For maintenance obligations after installation, see our lift maintenance guide. For cost data, see commercial lift costs. For modernising ageing freight equipment, see lift modernisation.