Freight Elevator, Material Lift, Dumbwaiter and Handicap Lift Frequently Asked Questions

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</a></li> <li><a href="#Q3">What are the types of material lifts? </a></li> <li><a href="#Q4">How do we choose between a material lift and a freight elevator?</a></li> <li><a href="#Q5">How to determine the load capacity & platform size for a material lift?</a></li> <li><a href="#Q6">What are some other considerations to be kept in mind while defining the specification of a material lift/ freight elevator?</a></li> <li><a href="#Q7">What is a vertical platform lift?</a></li> <li><a href="#Q8">What is an overhead space & pit depth?</a></li> <li><a href="#Q9">How do we determine the travel for the elevator?</a></li> <li><a href="#Q10">What options do we have for the lift doors?</a></li> <li><a href="#Q11">Where we should locate the machine room for elevator?</a></li> <li><a href="#Q12">Can anyone with ‘know how’ of elevators, maintain them?</a></li> <li><a href="#Q13">What is elevator maintenance and how often should a material lift/ vertical platform lift should be maintained?</a></li> </ul> <dl> <dt><a name="Q1"></a>Q: What is an elevator?</dt> <dd>A: An elevating device equipped with a car that moves vertically in guides and serves two or more floors of a building or structure.<br> <br> <a href="#top"><img src="images/min_back_button.gif" width="60" height="20" border="0" alt="Back"></a></dd> <dt><a name="Q2"></a>Q: what is a material lift? </dt> <dd>A: A non-portable elevating device used for hoisting and lowering freight. It is used when travel distance between two fixed levels is more than two meters. Material lifts are restricted in speed and travel.<br> <br> <a href="#top"><img src="images/min_back_button.gif" width="60" height="20" border="0" alt="Back"></a></dd> <dt><a name="Q3"></a>Q: What are the types of material lifts?</dt> <dd>A: Material lifts are of two types:<br> Type A: No Rider, restricted to the carriage of freight only<br> Type B: With Rider, so that an attendant or freight handler may ride along with freight<br> <br> <a href="#top"><img src="images/min_back_button.gif" width="60" height="20" border="0" alt="Back"></a></dd> <dt><a name="Q4"></a>Q: how do we choose between a material lift and a freight elevator?</dt> <dd>A: Freight elevators are preferred over material lifts when: <ul> <li><font color="#333333">Travel is more than 12m (40feet)</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Speed required for lift is more than 30 fpm</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Momentary pressure push button is required in place of constant pressure push buttons</font></li></ul><br><a href="#top"><img src="images/min_back_button.gif" width="60" height="20" border="0" alt="Back"></a></dd> <dt><a name="Q5"></a>Q: how to determine the load capacity & platform size for a material lift?</dt> <dd>A: A number of things should be considered: <ul> <li><font color="#333333">Load capacity should be a few hundred pounds more than the heaviest item to be carried</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Take into account if load will be uniformly distributed in lift cab or if it will be a point load</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Platform size should easily accommodate the largest size item of the inventory</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Ensure clear opening of lift door is large enough to accommodate the load</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">If fork lift truck, pallet/pump truck is used for loading/unloading the goods in the elevator</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Whether the pump truck/fork lift truck, used to load the goods in to the elevator, also travel with the load in lift. If yes, then ensure load capacity and cab platform are large enough to accommodate the loading device</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">For type B material lift, ensure there is enough room for a person to stand safely</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Besides the above factors, also consider future requirements for at least the next five years</font></li></ul><br><a href="#top"><img src="images/min_back_button.gif" width="60" height="20" border="0" alt="Back"></a></dd> <dt><a name="Q6"></a>Q: what are some other considerations to be kept in mind while defining the specification of a material lift/ freight elevator?</dt> <dd>A: Following check list could be followed for this question: <ul> <li><font color="#333333">Determine whether you require a material lift or freight elevator</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Speed of elevator & time available for one round trip</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Whether hoistway shaft is to be fire rated</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">What would be the most suitable hoistway type: </font> <ul> <li><font color="#333333">Masonry block/ poured concrete shaft</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Is through bolting possible for the masonry block hoistway shaft</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Expanded metal hoistway shaft</font></li> </ul> </li> <li><font color="#333333">Ambient conditions: </font> <ul> <li><font color="#333333">Is flame proof or dust proof equipment required?</font></li> <li><font color="#333333"> Is spark or explosion proof equipment required?</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Is the environment humid/steamy or frequent elevator cab washing is required?</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Whether the hydraulic equipment (cylinder and power pack) subjected to extreme weather conditions (summer/winter)? This is important as viscosity of hydraulic oil is sensitive to temperature change and effects the elevator performance</font></li> </ul> </li> <li><font color="#333333">Is it convenient to cut the floor slab to make a lift pit or is No Pit lift required?</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Is sufficient overhead space available?</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Whether floor level loading or any lowered platform height is required</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Number of openings per level and orientation of openings: </font> <ul> <li><font color="#333333"> In line</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Opposite</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">At right angles</font></li> </ul> </li> <li><font color="#333333">Door to be: </font> <ul> <li><font color="#333333">Manual/power operated or fully automatic</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Fire rated or not</font></li> </ul> </li> <li><font color="#333333">Type of doors: </font> <ul> <li><font color="#333333">Swing – single section / double section</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Vertical bi-parting</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Vertical sliding up</font></li> <li><font color="#333333"> Horizontal sliding – single section / double section</font></li> </ul> </li> <li><font color="#333333">Operation to be: </font> <ul> <li><font color="#333333">Momentary touch automatic push button</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Constant pressure push button</font></li> </ul> </li> <li><font color="#333333">Available voltage and phase</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Location of machine room with respect to hoistway shaft</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Is there a habitable space below hoistway shaft?</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Is material lift / freight elevator accessible to general public?</font></li></ul><br><a href="#top"><img src="images/min_back_button.gif" width="60" height="20" border="0" alt="Back"></a></dd> <dt><a name="Q7"></a>Q: what is a vertical platform lift?</dt> <dd>A: An elevating device meant to carry a person in a wheelchair with an attendant. Vertical platform lifts are restricted to following: <ul> <li><font color="#333333">Speed: 0.15m/sec (30” fpm)</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Travel: 7000 mm (275”)</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Restricted access: means to obtain access</font></li> </ul> <br> Vertical platform lifts are of two types: <ul> <li><font color="#333333">Type C: it has a fully enclosed runway</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Type D: it has a partially enclosed or unenclosed runway</font></li></ul><br><a href="#top"><img src="images/min_back_button.gif" width="60" height="20" border="0" alt="Back"></a></dd> <dt><a name="Q8"></a>Q: what is an overhead space & pit depth?</dt> <dd>A: Overhead space (headroom) is the clear distance from the finished floor level of top landing to the underside of the hoistway roof. Pit depth is the recess space in the hoistway shaft below the lowest landing floor level.<br> <br> <a href="#top"><img src="images/min_back_button.gif" width="60" height="20" border="0" alt="Back"></a></dd> <dt><a name="Q9"></a>Q: How do we determine the travel for the elevator?</dt> <dd>A: We add floor-to-floor heights between all of the landings (including the floor slab thickness) to determine the travel for the elevator.<br> <br> <a href="#top"><img src="images/min_back_button.gif" width="60" height="20" border="0" alt="Back"></a></dd> <dt><a name="Q10"></a>Q: what options do we have for the lift doors?</dt> <dd>A: Doors can be manual or power operated. Typically doors for material lifts are: <ul> <li><font color="#333333">Horizontal swing type</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Horizontal sliding type</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Vertical bi parting</font></li> <li><font color="#333333">Vertical slide up</font></li> </ul> Fire rating of the area should be taken into consideration when deciding on the doors for the lift.<br> <br> <a href="#top"><img src="images/min_back_button.gif" width="60" height="20" border="0" alt="Back"></a></dd> <dt><a name="Q11"></a>Q: where we should locate the machine room for the elevator?</dt> <dd>A: Our equipment is hydraulic; it gives us flexibility in placing the machine room within 16m (50 feet) from the hoistway. To get the best performance, it is ideal to place the machine room at the bottom level just adjacent to the hoistway.<br> <br> <a href="#top"><img src="images/min_back_button.gif" width="60" height="20" border="0" alt="Back"></a></dd> <dt> <a name="Q12"></a>Q: can anyone with ‘know how’ of elevators provide maintenance?</dt> <dd>A: as usage of elevators revolves around safety of people, only licensed elevator mechanics can install and maintain elevators.<br> <br> <a href="#top"><img src="images/min_back_button.gif" width="60" height="20" border="0" alt="Back"></a></dd> <dt><a name="Q13"></a>Q: what is elevator maintenance and how often should a material lift/ vertical platform lift should be serviced?</dt> <dd>A: Maintenance means regularly scheduled or other action taken to ensure that an elevating device is and will remain in safe operating condition. Material lift/vertical platform lifts must be serviced at least once, every month by a licensed mechanic. Some conditions also allow the lift to be serviced once every three months, subject to usage.<br> <br> It is the responsibility of every owner to ensure the elevating device is not used or operated unless a registered and licensed contractor maintains it.<br> <br> <a href="#top"><img src="images/min_back_button.gif" width="60" height="20" border="0" alt="Back"></a></dd> </dl> <p>For further information, please feel free to contact our sales office by e-mailing <a href="mailto:sales@bramaleaelevator.com">sales@bramaleaelevator.com</a> or calling<strong> <span class="mainTextBlue">905-792-1360</span></strong>.</p> <br> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </body>