Buying Custom-Built Commercial Elevators
When including custom commercial elevators in building planning, requirements for the size and capacity of an elevator and the amount of elevators present must be satisfied to meet the standards for commercial elevators set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and elevator code ANSI A17.1. The required numbers and sizes of commercial elevators vary depending on the building type, location, and number of people expected to use the building.
At Artisan Elevators, a nationwide leader in the home lifts industry, we can help you design one commercial lift or a dozen, whatever your needs may be, and you’ll get the same attention to detail and high-end craftsmanship that we devote to every custom elevator order.
What Is the Standard Size and Capacity of a Commercial Elevator?
In most municipalities, building designers are held to certain lift design and capacity standards for commercial elevators. For instance:
Different sizes and types of elevators for sale will suit different types of commercial buildings:
- Office building, hospital passenger, and hotel elevators should typically be 6 feet 8 inches wide and 5 feet 5 inches deep, with a weight capacity of 3,500 pounds.
- Residential commercial elevators should be 6 feet 8 inches wide and 4 feet 3 inches deep, with a weight capacity of 2,500 pounds.
- Service elevators should be 5 feet 4 inches wide and 8 feet 5 inches deep, with a weight capacity of 4,500 pounds.
- Hospital vehicle elevators should be 5 feet 9 inches wide by 10 feet deep, with a weight capacity of 6,000 pounds.
If you’re unclear about the required elevator capacity, a quotation from local building officials may be helpful to clarify any local code mandates.
What Is the Right Elevator Size for a Hotel?
The most common elevator size for hotel use is 6 feet 8 inches by 5 feet 5 inches. Commercial elevators of this size should be big enough to handle most passenger needs.
How Many Elevators Are Required in a Building?
The number of elevators required in a building depends on the type of building. For example, an office building requires one commercial elevator for every 45,000 net usable square feet, and the ratio of the number of floors to the number of commercial elevators should be 2:1 or less.
An apartment building requires one commercial elevator for every 90 units, except in urban areas, where the ratio is one commercial elevator for every 60 units. And a hotel must have one elevator for every 75 rooms or one elevator for a three-floor building. Both building types should have an elevator no more than 150 feet away from any unit.
For a general hospital, one standard-size commercial elevator and a service elevator are needed for every 100 beds. Health-care facilities located in urban areas require more elevators, and hospitals that typically have a number of visitors exceeding the number of beds also require more elevators. In addition, for operating areas, cafeterias, central supplies, and laundry areas located on upper levels, the hospital may need additional commercial elevators.
Keep in mind that a single group of commercial elevators shouldn’t number more than eight or serve more than 16 levels. And you may also need to think about one or more service elevators: For a building with four to eight floors, a separate service elevator could be useful, but for office buildings with more than eight floors, you’re typically required to have at least one service elevator in addition to all required passenger elevators. For a high-end hotel, one service elevator is needed for every two passenger elevators, while apartment buildings ten floors or higher are required to have a separate service elevator.
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Commercial Elevator FAQs
How Much Does it Cost to Install a Commercial Elevator in a Building?
Since the cost to install a commercial elevator depends on the elevator’s size and type and the building in which it will provide service, the cost can fall within a wide range. It’s best to contact us to get an accurate quote for installation.
What Is a Service Elevator?
A service elevator is a lift that’s intended to transport staff and heavy or bulky items, like furniture or equipment, in a commercial building. Service elevators are usually reserved for staff use and can be employed for the delivery of goods or services, like moving luggage or providing room service in a hotel. In some cases, service elevators can look strikingly similar to passenger elevators, but they are located away from guests’ quarters so as not to hinder visitors’ movements.
How Long Does it Take to Put In an Elevator?
The installation of an elevator generally takes about three days, but installation time can be influenced by the type of elevator purchased, hoistway attributes, the potential need for a machine room, additional component construction, and testing procedures. Planning for an elevator installation can require several weeks or months. For example, the design and creation of the elevator may take up to eight weeks, and the physical preparation of your home’s structure, including potentially dismantling an existing elevator, can take a few weeks as well.
What is a commercial elevator?
A commercial elevator is an elevator that is used in a public application or in a public space.
What is the cost of a commercial elevator?
The cost of a commercial elevator ranges depending on a number of factors such as levels, the size, the capacity and the speed of the elevator. The starting price of a commercial elevator is around $50,000.
How much does it cost to install a commercial elevator?
The starting cost of a commercial elevator is approximately $50,000-$60,000 for a LULA elevator. For a larger elevator the cost would depend on the size and the capacity.
How much does it cost to put an elevator in a commercial 2 story building?
A LULA (limited use, limited application) elevator, which is the smallest commercial elevator, would cost between $50,000-$65,000. For a larger commercial elevator, the cost depends on the size and classification.
Updated by Andy Darnley
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