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520 Barry’s Advanced Construction of Buildings
levels. Typical loadings are 250 or 300 kg. The size of the lift car is typically around 1000 mm
wide and 1000 mm deep, with a height of approximately 1400 mm. Hinged or concertina
landing entrance gates are common.
Service lifts
A service lift carries relatively small loads, e.g. food, drinks, beer crates, documents and
laundry between floors of buildings. Originally termed a ‘dumb waiter’, the service lift
allows quick, convenient and safe movement of goods between floors. Service lifts are
widely used in restaurants, pubs and clubs for the transportation of bottled drinks and
food, e.g. where the kitchen is located above or below the dining area. Typical maximum
loadings are 50 or 100 kg. The size of the car will typically be around 500–650 mm wide
and 350–650 mm deep with a service door (hatch) somewhere around 800 mm high.
Service lifts are available from stock in a variety of standard sizes, although some variation
in dimensions and finishes can be made on request to the manufacturers. It is usual to
provide an intercom facility adjacent to the service lift to allow persons to communicate
their requirements between floors.
Stair lifts
A stair lift, as the name implies, is installed on a flight of stairs to allow safe access between
levels for disabled people. Stair lifts are usually installed in domestic buildings where a lift
is deemed not to be necessary, or cannot be installed economically in existing buildings.
In public buildings, it is common to provide stair lifts (or platform lifts) in addition to lifts.
Platform lifts are designed to accommodate a wheelchair and should be operational without
assistance. Controls are located on the lift platform. The lift car moves up and down a rail
fitted to the wall adjacent to the stair flight. For new projects, the stairs must be constructed
to be wide enough to allow safe access of stair lift and people. For installation in existing
buildings, e.g. houses, the stair lift will take up the whole width of the stair when in use.
The stair lift may be designed to fold away when not in use.
Vertical platform lifts
A vertical platform lift comprises an open (or closed) flat platform, with safety rails and
door. It is sometimes positioned next to small flights of stairs to allow access for wheelchairs,
pushchairs and goods trolleys and comes with its own supporting structure. Some
shaft sizes on the market are as small as 680 × 810 mm. These lifts have a very small pit
depth, e.g. 300 mm, which can be replaced with a ramp if it is not possible or feasible to
use a pit.
Lift specification
The design and specification of lifts involves a large number of options; the main ones are
listed here:
Capacity
The anticipated capacity of the lift car will determine its size and load-carrying capacity.
What is the lift to be used for? People only; people, equipment and goods; or goods only?
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Low volume (e.g. 6-person lift)
High volume (e.g. 16-person lift)