Planning for lift installations When the contractor is planning for lift installation he has to consider whether the

building is for public usage with heavy traffic or domestic building where very few people use the lift and also the number of storeys that have been constructed and the speed. For very tall building especially those much over seven storeys, traction lifts rather than hydraulic lifts which are much slower than traction lifts. This is because people have to access the upper to avoid waiting in the lobby. This also helps to plan whether you need direct current for traction lifts or alternating current for hydraulic lifts. Also a sky lobby or intermediate concourse is constructed to provide an interchange between high speed lift that serve for ground floor and concourse and the lift serving individual floors at higher levels. The concourse also favours those people that prefer to travel between lift zones. Due to the heavy traffic in public buildings, many lifts have t be installed ranging from 2 to 3 and even more to cater for the big number since they all work at intervals. Lifts have to be grouped together which favours the people to use to any opportune time if the car is available at the floor. When they are more than 3 lifts, they have to be placed side by side to give satisfactory service.

group of lifts

bank of lifts

If more lifts are required to deal with the population of the building it will be desirable to provide separate groups of lifts serving different vertical zones. This is appropriate for groups of fewer than four lifts. It is also economical to divide the building into two where one lift lobby and group lifts serving ground to mid height and the other passing from the ground floor directly to mid height and then moves up to the top. This cuts the number of people waiting in lobby. It is not advisable for more than 3 lifts to be placed in rows because passengers might not notice when the lift arrive even when arrivals are properly announced. When lifts are placed in row it causes some inconvenience of access particularly if the lobby is crowed. Also lifts should never be separated by corridors or stairs. It does not only make the viewing and access by passengers more difficult on arrival but also circulation and maintenance as well. The stairs must be close to the lifts and visible plus being sign posted so that people with relatively short vertical distances can be encouraged to take the stairs instead of waiting in the lobby. Groups of lifts should ideally be placed at the centers of gravity of circulation systems that they serve. Although this affects the convience of the entrance floors and also distorts the planning of the entrance floor. If placed too close to the entrance, the general circulation and waiting becomes unpleasant. Furthermore, a lift lobby of adequate size to accommodate the number likely to be waiting should be provided where it will not be affected or affect the movement of through the entrance but where it will be readily seen and reached by people coming into the entrance. In domestic buildings the ease of access for deliveries and adequate maneuvering space for perambulator must be borne in mind of the project planner. Because of the low traffic that uses the lift, the planner must plan to alternating current hoist machine for the lift.