Elevators are an important part of designing a building – residential or commercial. But which type of elevators should you pick? In this post you will learn about the four main types. In addition, you will learn about the different dimensions to achieve their intended transport objectives.
Elevators have something in common with other vital but unflashy technologies in our lives: we take them for granted. But, much like the internet or the hot water in your house, when elevators don’t function properly, we are quickly annoyed.
As elevators are often the overlooked heroes of a building, you probably won’t receive high praise for good elevator design. Still, it’s important to approach the design process carefully so all elements of the building work together like a well-drilled team.
A passenger elevator is any elevator intended for the transport of people through a building. These elevators can vary drastically in terms of size, speed and interior options depending on the use of the elevator.
A service elevator is found in many commercial buildings and is intended for the transport of goods through the buildings by employees, such as the housekeeping staff moving cleaning carts through a hotel. Service elevators are also used in hospitals for the transport of patients on hospital beds. To comply with code requirements, these elevators are typically more robust and deeper than standard passenger elevators, so they can navigate larger items through the building.
A freight elevator is intended to move very heavy loads, such as cars or cargo in industrial buildings. These elevators are not intended for passenger transport and are designed to withstand tougher working conditions, which is why their interiors are focused on robust design, with heavy steel walls and floors, rather than more attractive interiors.
A dumbwaiter is a small freight elevator. It is often used for the transport of food in restaurants. However, they can be found in both commercial, public and private buildings.
Another important way the type of building influences elevator design is in selecting the best hoist system. Understanding the terminology between various types of elevator hoist systems will help you determine which models or types of elevators may be the most appropriate for your building.
Common types of elevator hoist systems include:
This type of hoist system is usually only used in low-rise buildings, typically up to six stories high or to transport extremely heavy loads Hydraulic elevators are lifted by pistons from below. These elevators require more energy to operate than other elevator models and, due to the introduction of machine-room-less elevator with high-efficiency machine and drives, have largely been replaced in the elevator market.
This type of elevator operates via a pulley system, using steel ropes or belts and a counterweight to move the cabin up and down. There are two types of traction elevators: Gearless Traction and Geared Traction. Gearless traction elevators are the more advanced solution, with a wheel attached directly to the motor and counterweights are used to operate the hoisting system. Geared traction uses a gearbox to turn the hoisting sheave and lift the elevator. These systems are typically slower than gearless systems.
Overall, traction elevators are typically more energy efficient and provide a smoother and quieter ride for passengers. Most modern elevators are typically gearless traction, which is considered the most energy and space efficient solution available.
With advancing technology, it is no longer mandatory to have an elevator machine room to house the machine and drive components.
Machine room-less systems can be either traction or hydraulic. By incorporating more compact hoisting sheaves, they do not require a machine room to operate the lift and the machine is located directly in the elevator hoistway. This provides the optimal use of space for the building design
Machine room systems can be either traction or hydraulic. In traction elevators, the machine room is typically located above the hoistway. However, the machine room can also be located at the bottom of the hoistway or in a room adjacent to the elevator bank.
We know there are a lot of things to keep track of when designing an elevator. To help, we created a resource site with a lot of information that will prepare you for your next elevator or escalator project.
Or if you want to test your ideas, visit our Plan and Design tool and start creating!
Use our helpful guide to plan elevator designs that meet standard or custom size requirements, fulfill functional and safety needs and offers a stunning range of interior options.