Residential Elevator Size Considerations

by | Nov 27, 2020 | Residential Elevators

For those who don’t know, a residential elevator helps people maneuver between your home’s floors without having to use a ramp or stairway. These residential transport units enhance vertical mobility in the house and can help disabled people or seniors maintain their independence. The space you require for a residential elevator relies on how many levels you’ve got to go and where you want to install it.  

There are several aspects that influence how much space you require for your residential elevator. The form of the elevator you prefer is important. Also, the limits of your house design might define where you install the residential elevator.  

Here are several other things to think about when choosing how much space you need for residential elevators Long Island: 

Space for Drive Components 

You might require room for any exterior drive components and electrical systems that power your elevator. A couple of residential elevators have a drive system attached in the hoist way. This lowers the required space outside the shaft. Some elevators need an external machine room for the drive.  

Elevator Clearance 

Aside from the space taken up by the mechanisms, the elevator housing, and the physical cab that make the elevator properly operate, you also require running clearance around the car’s perimeter. There needs to be enough space for the doors to properly open and for people to get inside the elevator and disembark at every level. In addition to that, you require clearance above the elevator. A lot of units need at least ½ feet of overhead clearance above the elevator’s top portion. Local building codes might specify a particular amount of clearance at the sides or top. Thus, you’ve got to consider these needs as well before you can install your residential elevator.  

Door Width 

Residential elevators sometimes have doors measuring 3-feet wide. This will help accommodate a wheelchair. However, there are a couple of smaller units that have doors as slim as 2-feet wide.  

Wall Width 

Usually, a residential elevator utilizes a rail system attached to a wall. Thus, the wall width is extremely crucial when thinking about if you’ve got enough room. Having 30 square feet of available space may not be enough if you do not have a wall wide enough to hook onto the rail. 

Aside from these things, you also might have to rewire part of your electrical system for current houses trying to retrofit. This will help you accommodate the residential elevator. Because of this, you must have enough space behind the walls to route new electrical wiring systems. On several occasions, installing a residential elevator means you will have to reroute other units in your house. This includes water pipes in the walls or your HVAC system. You have to account for these changes whenever you are thinking about space requirements for your residential elevator.  

Because of this, it is always crucial to hire a professional company to help you plan the installation of your residential elevator. With this, you can avoid any issues down the line once the installation is complete.