Did you know that there’s more than one type of commercial elevator? Chances are, you’ve been in several different kinds of elevators without even realising it, just by visiting various commercial premises!At Lancs & Cumbria Lifts UK LTD, we’ve been in the lift industry for over 30 years, and offer everything from lift installations and repairs to maintenance and refurbishments.If you’re responsible for choosing what kind of lift installation you need for your commercial premises, we hope this commercial elevator selection guide comes in handy.
What are the best types of elevators for commercial premises?
We install a variety of lifts, but not all are suited to commercial premises. The best-suited lifts for these kinds of buildings are:
Hydraulic elevators
Hydraulic lifts use a fluid-driven piston mounted inside a cylinder to raise the lift. Within the piston, the pressure of hydraulic fluid is increased using an electric pump, and it is this pressure that pushes the piston to raise the elevator. To lower the lift, the process reverses.
Advantages:
- Easier to install and therefore lower installation costs than traction elevators.
- Easy to maintain with a simple design.
- Smooth operation.
- Heavy lifting capabilities.
- Ideal choice for commercial buildings five to six stories high.
Limitations:
- Slower than traction elevators.
- Less energy efficient.
- Not suitable for high-rise premises.
Traction elevators
Instead of using a fluid-driven piston, traction elevators are a bit more old-school and use a combination of steel ropes or belts, a traction sheave (a type of pulley), an electric motor, and a counterweight to operate.
Advantages:
- Speedier than hydraulic elevators.
- Better suited to high-rise commercial buildings.
- Smooth operation despite high speed.
- Can travel greater distances.
Limitations:
- Expensive to install.
- Harder to maintain.
- Requires more complex infrastructure to install.
Machine Room-less (MRL) Elevators
A subtype of hydraulic and traction elevators, machine room-less elevators do not need the space of an adjoining machine room to operate. They instead work using a gearless traction machine, which is positioned in the hoistway.
Advantages:
- Space-saving.
- Energy efficient thanks to gearless traction technology.
- Quieter operation in comparison to traction elevators.
- Faster and smoother operation for mid-rise buildings compared to hydraulic elevators.
Limitations:
- Costly to repair.
- Higher upfront cost compared to hydraulic lifts.
- Not ideal for tall buildings — their compact motor has limited lifting power and insufficient cooling for heavy use.
- Requires specialised maintenance.
From these three major types of commercial lifts, you can then choose from sub-types to suit the requirements of your premises, including passenger, goods, freight, and platform lifts.
8 Important questions to ask when choosing a commercial elevator
When we work on a commercial lift installation, we always start by surveying the site and getting a clear understanding of the client’s needs. By visiting the site and discussing any existing challenges, we can then recommend the most suitable lift type for their commercial building.Here are some of the key questions we ask to help clients choose their ideal lift:
1. How many people will be using the lift?
One of the most important aspects to consider would be the estimated footfall of the lift. This can help determine the lift’s required size, capacity, and speed. For instance, a lift in a shopping centre would need to be large enough to hold lots of people and fast to reduce congestion.
2. Which type of people will be using the lift?
Will a specific group of people use your lift? For instance, employees, goods handlers, or people using wheelchairs? This question can ascertain whether you’ll need accessibility adaptations or a heavy-duty goods lift, for example.
3. How many floors will the lift need to cover?
As you’ve read in the section above, hydraulic lifts are suited to low-rise buildings, while traction and MRL lifts are better for high-rise buildings.
4. What is your building used for?
The purpose of your building can also influence which type of lift you choose. For example, warehouses and factories benefit from freight lifts, whereas hotels would benefit more from passenger lifts.
5. How old is your building?
Lifts don’t discriminate by age, but it’s important to consider that older buildings may have weak or outdated infrastructure that isn’t suited to a particular kind of lift. We’ll take a look at the estimated shaft size, floor-to-ceiling height, and machine room space to narrow down your selection.
6. How much space is available?
This leads us nicely to any space constraints present in the building. Lifts are no small structure and require adequate space for installation. Smaller buildings may opt for an MRL lift, for instance.
8. Does the building have an existing lift shaft?
If you’re looking to upgrade or switch lift models, it’s important for our team to assess its state and whether it can be reused or needs to be completely refitted. If we retrofit a lift into an existing shaft, it may limit the type of lift you can choose.
7. What is your budget for a commercial lift?
Obviously, budget is also a key consideration, and ongoing lift maintenance costs must also be factored into this. If you’re looking for a commercial elevator on a tight budget, it may be better to choose a low-maintenance lift type, like a hydraulic elevator.
How to work out your budget for a commercial lift
This is something our team can help you with, but as a guide, these are the following features we take into account when quoting for a commercial lift installation:
- Lift type and quantity
- Floor coverage
- User volume
- User type
- Lift and shaft dimensions
- Safety requirements (such as weight capacity)
- Building dimensions
- Regulatory factors (for example, whether planning permission is needed)
- Industry-specific needs that require additional attention for design and installation
Using this information, we can then create a tailored quote to meet your specific lift installation needs.
What types of lifts can we install at Lancs & Cumbria Lifts UK LTD?
As lift engineers, we can install, service, and repair a variety of lift types. While not all of these lift types are suited to commercial buildings, our skill set means we can approach almost any residential, commercial, or industrial project with confidence:
- Passenger lifts – traction & MRL traction lifts
- Platform lifts
- Hydraulic MRL lifts
- Hydraulic lifts
- Machine directive lifts
- Scissor lifts
- Firefighting lifts
- Goods lifts
- Glass lifts
- Firefighting lifts
- Car lifts
- Panoramic lifts
- Atex-approved lifts
Find the ideal lift for your commercial premises with us
Whether you’re looking for a single lift, a fully integrated lift system, or scheduled lift maintenance for your commercial building, our friendly and knowledgeable team is here to deliver.Contact us today using our online form, call 01942 242 413, or email enquiries@lclifts.co.uk, and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible.