Elevators
Nowadays, almost all residential buildings have an elevator installed. Elevators provide convenience to residents and building employees since they won’t have to go up and down several flights of stairs carrying tons of things. Imagine living in the 5th floor and you have to carry bags of groceries, each time. Now, if you have a residential building and want to get an elevator installed, there are several things that you need to consider. Picking the right elevator is important because you‘d want to make sure that it performs well and that it will always be safe for everyone to use.
There are many types and models available for residential elevators, today. Some are very stylish and can easily blend in with the interiors of the building. However, the style is not the only factor that you have to look into when picking the right elevator for your residential building. Take a look at some of these factors to ensure that are you making the right choice in the end.
Type of Elevator
There are 3 types of elevators that are commonly used: hydraulic, pneumatic and cable. You have to know which of these three will be best suited for your residential building. Hydraulic elevators make use of cables and a piston to move the lift up and down. The pneumatic elevator uses a vacuum and air pressure to make the elevator go up and down while the cable elevator mainly uses cable and pulleys. For low-rise residential buildings, it will be best to use a hydraulic or pneumatic elevator.
Installation
The installation of the elevator is another important factor to look into. Different models of lifts will have different installation requirements. There are models that will necessitate a separate machine room, elevator pit, and hoist way. But, there are models that are easier to install and don’t require any structural modifications. It is best to talk to your contractor and determine how the installation will take place. You don’t want your existing structure to be altered completely just because of your elevator installation.
Safety Features
A residential elevator always carries passengers, which is why it is important that it is able to provide a safe and smooth ride. Elevator controls should be user-friendly and it should have plenty of safety features to safeguard residents who use it. Here are some safety features of a quality elevator system:
- A manual emergency button
- Emergency light, alarm, and stop button
- A telephone system inside the elevator
- Interlocking doors
- A non-skid platform
- A key lock so no one can tamper with the control panel
- A safety rope system in case something goes wrong
Capacity
Another thing that you should look into is the loading capacity and size of the elevator. It is best to decide based on the population of the building but since it is only residential, a 5 to 8-person loading size will suffice. However, you must also consider the loading capacity of the elevator especially when it’s the only lift to carry heavy items. If one of the residents has bought a new appliance and the elevator cannot carry this, they still have to carry it up through the stairs, which will be a big hassle for them.
