Low Rise Buildings : The best elevators to choose from

When it comes to choosing an elevator or lift for our homes we are spoilt for choices. From local manufacturers to the most renowned brands and technologies which range from traction to vaccum to hydraulics etc.

For the many past decades we have been experiencing the wonderful ride of elevators. Going up and down and the doors opening up on unexplored and unseen floors. Most of our fond memories of elevators are of some hotel or a mall or some high rise building.  

However, in the last few years we have seen the demand for elevators rise for low rise buildings or private homes. Though when it comes to home front we are forced to choose options which are neither made for homes nor safe for us or our family. See my blog for choosing the best home elevators here.

While traction elevators are obvious choice for industrial applications and high rise buildings where carrying greater weights at higher speeds is a basic requirement, they are not at all recommended for Low rise building where safety is the primary concern (mostly 4-5 floors).

Let's take a few structural and operational points into consideration and see which elevator type you should go for.

Space

Traction: Traction elevators require a pit , headroom and a machine room for installation of the equipments. These take up a lot of civil work and space planning. For a commercial building, space is never a constraint, but for homes it can prove to be a daunting task.

Hydraulic : Modern hydraulic systems require only one wall support and do not require a pit or headroom or space for a machine room. The hydraulic units can be as small as a shoe rack and can be placed anywhere convenient.

Counterweights and Cabin Size

Traction : Apart from taking up space Traction elevators also use counterweights for lower energy consumption and smooth ride. Counterweights can take up to 2 feet of space inside the shaft which results in a smaller cabin size. Also, counterweights are fatal in case of an earthquake or fire hazard because they can come down crashing and the cabin will also fall free without any support and balance.

Hydraulic : Since the cabin here is installed on the pistons and counterweights are not involved, hydraulic type lifts offer bigger cabin size in the same shaft size. Also, there are zero chances of a crash even in case of an accidental oil leakage because the cabin will gradually come down with decreasing pressure.

Energy Efficiency

Traction : Traction lifts enjoy the status of being the most energy efficient. Using counter-weights helps the motor work less and move the lifts faster because the counter-weights provide that speed. This is very useful where the lift has to be operational all the time and has to carry thousands of passengers to great heights. It's like an investment in the form of energy which brings great returns.

Hydraulic : Hydraulic elevators have an advantage over traction lift in this department. Traction elevators are energy efficient only when the operation is extensive. But for a home environment, hydraulics are way better because they only use 1/6 energy compared to traction, the number of floors are less, passenger capacity is less, cabin is lightweight, and  they do not require power to come down.

Conclusion

Traction Elevators

Traction elevators are like the race cars of the elevator world. Faster and More Efficient weight carrying capacity than any other system make traction units suitable for high rising, modern buildings. They also offer smoother and more comfortable rides when high capacity passenger transportation is required.

Is it possible that such a magnificent system may also have some disadvantages? Well, in absence of a magnetic synchronous motor, traction units can be a struggle to  maintain and care because the drive units are located in the headroom, not much accessible for the common user.

.

Hydraulic Elevators

For most of us it’s an achievement of a lifetime that we conceptualize and start bulding our own little home. Home of dreams, hopes and freedom. But a lot of planning that goes in before you start the construction work also includes intelligent utilization of space. And the moment you start thinking of putting up an elevator, you start thinking of a huge Lift shaft, a pit which goes feets deep into the ground and a headroom which protrudes like an unwanted ugly structure where you could have possibly curated a beautiful terrace garden.   

Much to your help come Hydraulic lifts which do not require a pit or a headroom or a gigantic lift shaft and save real-estate in your well planned home. Moreover, hydraulic systems are proven and tested to provide higher lifting capacity compared to traction ropes.

Also a home hydraulic lift ensures that they do not cross the specified speed limits to keep the passengers safe and not get stuck due to any fault during travel.

More sophisticated systems use oils specially manufactured for hyfraulic lift to be used at home. This means the oil does not get affected due to temperature difference and are more accurate with landings on floors.

  

Oil leakage and greasing is also limited in these systems so that the home dwellers are not running for maintenance every month. 

Make sure that all these factors are considered while  choosing the best elevator for your home.

Basic Comparison Chart

Parameter	Hydraulic	Traction
Low Rise < 5 stops	1	0
Power Consumption	<1.5 KW	>3.5 kw
Electricity Phases	1	3
Voltage	220v	220/440v
Carrying Capacity	upto 6 passenger	> 6 passengers
Cabin size	max 5x5 feet	>5x5 feet
Speed	< 0.20 m/s	>1 m/s
Trap Door on Top	Yes	No
Easy Maintenance	Yes	No
Aesthetics/ Customizable	Yes	No
Machine Room Less	Yes	Yes
Counterweights	No	Yes

Owing to the way both the elevator types work, the features also vary. It is necessary that you do a comprehensive study to find out the best option for your home and check the various safety, reliability and comfort features in these elevators.