Efficient vertical mobility is a critical component of tall buildings and it is possible with the help of elevators. This mobility equipment enables easy access to different levels or floors of a multi-storied building. An elevator is capable of moving up and down carrying people and heavy goods from one floor to another. Nowadays elevators or lifts have become very common in the world and many people prefer lifts to stairs. Recent innovations in lift design ensure significant reduction in energy consumption.
Elevators Indispensable in Skyscrapers
Skyscrapers cannot do without elevators. The first passenger elevator was installed in New York’s Haughwout Department Store in 1857, and since then elevator shafts have been a prominent part of skyscraper design. In fact, elevator shafts comprise the building’s central hub in most skyscrapers. The Empire State Building for example has 73 elevators that move 600 to 1400 feet per minute and at the fastest speed they will take you from the lobby to the 80th floor in 45 seconds. Now, high-rise buildings are becoming more common around the world and many people love living in apartments high above cities and enjoying the striking views. However, you need to consider the amount of time that would be spent travelling to and from your apartment in elevators. Studies have found that the annual trips in an elevator would be more than hundreds of miles. People looking to purchase apartments in high-rise buildings must consider the speed, safety and design of the elevator system used.
Advantages of Elevators
Installing elevators in tall buildings prove to be beneficial in the following ways:
- Elevators help disabled and older people, and pregnant women to move from one floor to another easily.
- These systems can be also used for carrying heavy materials up and down the building effortlessly.
- Constructing multi-storied buildings is a strategy of increasing the floor area, and with elevators access to each floor becomes easy.
- Use of lifts/elevators prevents accidents; the number of people getting hurt falling down the stairs are many, whereas accidents involving lifts are rare.
Builders and architects now compete to build high-rise buildings that have faster elevator systems. It is rather challenging to design buildings compatible with high speed elevators because they require a large amount of space for their motors. The world’s fastest elevators are in Taipei’s 101 Tower, and these travel at speeds of 55 feet per second. The elevators planned for China’s Guangzhou CTF Finance Center are expected to travel at top speeds of 66 feet per second.
Reputed dealers in mobility products in New York offer reliable elevators that meet all safety and accessibility standards. These can be installed in buildings, hospitals, shopping malls etc. A reliable supplier would also provide maintenance, testing and inspection service to keep the equipment in excellent working condition.