Size does matter. When it comes to your building’s elevator needs that is.
If you’ve ever thought that your space is too small to warrant an elevator or too big for it to be easy, it’s not true. Big, small, or any size in between. No matter the size of your space, there’s an elevator solution for you… You can even have elevator access to floating mezzanine levels! So how do you know exactly what’s right? Enter our handy guide to everything you need to know about elevator levels.
How high your lift should go
If you have levels for days, here’s some food for thought. While you could technically find a lift that reaches any height imaginable, it’s not always a great option for convenience and practicality. Did you know that for larger buildings, it’s best to have several elevators that provide access to a cluster of levels, instead of one lift that stops at every floor? It’s actually become the standard for most architects.
Confused? Well, picture this: You work on the top floor of a busy 50-storey building and in a rush to get to a 9am meeting. If your lift happens to stop at every single floor on the way up (a very real possibility in peak travel time) it could take nearly an hour to get to the top. Level clusters help minimise congestion and make travel between floors fast and easy.
Travel distance vs number of stops
An important detail to know when looking to install your elevator may be the difference between travel distance and the number of stops. Travel distance will tell you exactly how high (in meters) a lift design can physically travel while the number of stops refers to how many levels the lift is able to stop at. Stops include individual floors as well as floating mezzanine levels.
Elevator options on the market
Every elevator company is different and this means the types of lifts available and how high they can go will differ too. Many companies will choose to focus on only one building type (ie. residential elevators, low rise commercial or high-rise skyscrapers), so this is also something to keep in mind when narrowing down your options.
Commercial lifts
For your commercial space, tall or small, you want to choose a DDA certified lift tailored to your space. Here’s a refresh on what that means and why it matters: While residential lifts can be tailored specifically to your needs (and your needs alone), a public-use elevator needs to work for everyone. For example, if you want buttons high up or in a tight corner that may not be a worry if it’s just for your own personal use, but in a public space it could prevent people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments from being able to reach or find the controls.
DDA certified lifts are designed to work with everyone’s needs, so you don’t have to worry about isolating anyone. For more information on lift requirements for commercial spaces check out this article here: Why Your Building Needs an Elevator.
Residential lifts
For the home any residential lift crafted thoughtfully to work in your space, will serve you well. The main factors to consider are your own personal taste and design preferences. Here’s what you should know about residential lifts:
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- Residential lifts can be customised to travel a distance of up to 12m (5-6 stops)
- Your lift can be installed inside the home or on the building’s exterior to save on space
- The cabin size can be as small as 650mm x 850mm
Mini Lifts
Need something on the ultra small side? Say hello to something special… mini lifts! Suitable for both residential homes and commercial spaces, mini lifts can cover a distance as low as one meter and provide access to raised platforms, above ground buildings, porches and more.
Platinum Elevators lifts at a glance
Platinum Elevators can help out on jobs both big and small, with a variety of residential and commercial elevator options available. Need a summary of all the details? Look no further:
Commercial
Travel Distance: Up to 18m
Stops: 5-6 stops for standard 12m and under lifts with extra options available for the 18m Maxi
Regulations: Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), WorkSafe Australia Registration
Lift styles available:
Residential
Travel Distance: Up to 12m
Stops: 5-6 stops
Regulations: Australian building standards code AS1735.18
Lift styles available:
Mini lifts
Travel Distance: up to 2m
Stops: 1 stop
Regulation: DDA and Australian Building Standards Codes AS1735.14 & AS1735.15
Lift Available: Crystal Mini Lift
Next Level Lifts: The highest lifts in the world
Get ready for your jaw to really drop… (and a little bit of entertainment to finish off).
Although most high rise buildings opt for multiple elevators there are some that break the mould, creating some seriously impressive feats. The world’s fastest elevator in the Guangzhou CTF Finance Center spans 95 floors in only 43 seconds! Don’t believe us? Take a look…
While the thought of being shot up or down 95 floors that fast is enough to make you feel dizzy, like many other skyscrapers, Guangzhou CTF Finance Center has 93 other smaller elevators which help ease congestion and make travel around the building easier and quicker for everyone. If your interest has piqued and you’re keen marvel at the most impressive lifts out there, you’ll be completely awestruck (and inspired) by: “Globe Trotting: The 5 best elevators around the world.”
No matter the size of your building, from city skyscrapers to future-proofing your home, there is a lift solution for you. From 1 meter to 100, no distance is too big or too small to implement elevator access.
If you’re unsure of where to begin, we can help with that! Get in touch today for more information on what we have to offer. Or pop down to our showroom to see for yourself.