The Difference Between Residential and Commercial Elevators
Posted By Houston Decorator on September 5, 2010
Elevators come in several forms. On the smallest level are residential or home elevators; even smaller are dumbwaiters but, as small freight elevators, these are only used to transport objects. Even larger are commercial elevators, which can range in size from 1000 to 6000 pounds. Home elevators are increasing in popularity, as they often make a home accessible and offer other conveniences. Commercial buildings, on the other hand, are often required to have an elevator of some kind in order to make the structure accessible.
Elevators use a hydraulic, traction, winding drum, or pneumatic system. For some of these, a machine room is needed. A machine room, usually above the hoistway but it may also be below for some home systems, stores the system’s electric motor or hydraulic pump and controller cabinet. Some systems, however, do not need a machine room and, instead, are small enough so that all components fit inside the car and hoistway. For commercial systems, a small cabinet with an elevator computer may be added above.
Machine room-less elevators also have another advantage. Such systems operate from above through a system of pulleys and a traction rope. As a result, this system ends up taking less space in a building or home, uses less energy, does not need oil, is lower in cost, runs faster, and has all components above ground. Typically, low- to mid-rise buildings will have a machine room-less elevator system.
Aside from the operation of the system, the capacity for elevators also varies. A commercial elevator, for example, is designed to hold 1000 to 6000 pounds. Manufacturers of such models sell systems in 500 pound increments and often include an alarm to indicate if the capacity has gone over. The type of system used for this size range varies, however. Elevators carrying this amount that need to go no higher than eight floors are often electric or hydraulic. Systems that need to go higher will be electric or gearless.
A residential elevator, on the other hand, holds no more than 1000 pounds and will hold from one to 12 people inside. Often, these elevators are used to hold wheelchairs and can fit one wheelchair at a time. Not all residential models are ADA-compliant, however, and some do not have the space to hold a wheelchair. If this is your primary concern for adding an elevator, find a design that has a car large enough to hold a wheelchair.
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