Many building managers still confuse a service Elevator for a freight elevator. Before you purchase an industrial freight elevator in Vancouver, you might need to pay close attention to the difference between them.
The first thing to note is that different elevators are recommended based on the weight and type of load they are meant to transport. With that in mind, let's take a closer at freight elevators and service elevators and what makes them unique.
What are Freight Elevators?
As the name implies, Freight elevators are used for transporting freight vertically through a building. Unlike passenger elevators, industrial freight elevators are not built for high-speed transport. Instead, they are built to be rugged and able to withstand heavy loads, 20,000 pounds or more.
For industrial freight elevators, efficiency and safety outweigh aesthetics. It is not uncommon to find a freight elevator in Vancouver with heavy steel and a reinforced steel gate.
Some freight elevators have vertically opening doors that allow for large-sized freight to enter into the car. Freight elevators that have vertical doors use lesser hoistway space and prevent damage to the door and the cargo during loading and offloading.
In general, the design and installation of industrial freight elevators focus on optimizing it for heavier cargo transport. They aren’t designed to transport the general public. Although, the exterior of freight elevators can be designed to match the inside of a building, the inside of the freight elevator itself is built with utility in mind.
Some freight elevators have vertically opening doors to allow for large-sized freight to enter into the car and most of them have non-skid floors.
Freight elevators can be found in:
Automobile dealerships
Warehouses
Parking lots
Industries
What are Service Elevators?
On the surface, there doesn't seem to be much difference between a service and an industrial freight elevator. What makes them different is their weight capacity and intended use. Service elevators primarily transport persons and light loads vertically within the building, while freight elevators carry more weight.
Most service elevators have doors that open horizontally, unlike some freight elevators. Commercial service elevators are designed to service the building. In that, they are usually installed in the employee section of the building to transport employees and light cargo without disturbing other users of the building. Service elevators can be used in a hotel by housekeeping, or in a hospital by nurses.
Freight Elevator or Service Elevator; Which one do I pick?
Your building specifications and commercial needs should be your deciding factors. When choosing an industrial elevator, safety is vital, so you must confirm your building safety codes to see which one it supports.
After considering that, your intended use comes into play. You want to get an elevator that suits your everyday business needs and can withstand the weight of the cargo it carries.
Let us help you
Our team of experts has installed service elevators and industrial freight elevators in Vancouver for decades. We are happy to help you decide which elevator type fits your intended use and building specifications. Contact us now for a free consultation.