01 Jul I’M THINKING OF INSTALLING AN ELEVATOR, WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?

WHAT DO I NEED TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE INSTALLING AN ELEVATOR?

The main aim of our blog is to help with technical issues in the world of construction and today we are going to talk about what is necessary to install an elevator, particularly in cases in which houses and buildings would benefit from having elevators on a daily basis.

In any building with more than one floor, an elevator could be considered a necessary service, just like plumbing, sewerage and electricity. Its mere existence provides an impressive quality of life; it improves accessibility for people with reduced mobility and in the long run it is something could even be an absolute necessity when we get older and can no longer climb stairs. Once we are sure of the need to install an elevator in our house, we can consider the advantages that its simple installation provides.

What steps do I need to consider to install an elevator?

You must establish an action plan, identify your specific needs and especially your starting point. The starting point is important because normally a building that doesn’t have an elevator belongs to a housing park that doesn’t have elevator due to its age, type of construction or for some other reason and there may be alternative ways to complete the installation. Any of these conditions mentioned which are the reason a house doesn’t have an elevator, will produce a series of concerns which we will now address in our blog. For example:

Can an elevator be installed in my building?

Considering that each case is different, an individual assessment of each situation is required. From our experience, in 95% of cases IT IS POSSIBLE TO INSTALL AN ELEVATOR.

What should we consider before installing an elevator in our building?

Whether the installation of an elevator is possible sometimes depends on the year of construction, the structure of the building is the clear decider, which raises the more important question:

Will an elevator fit in our building?

Normally, but depending on each individual case, the elevator is fitted in the stairwell, or an inner courtyard adjoining the stairwell. Even when there is no existing place, it can still be achieved by opening gaps in the floor, which consequently reduces the surface area of each house. It is also possible to install the elevator outside. The solutions are like a finely tailored suit, you have to adapt to each situation and fit it with the best solution.

Does installing an elevator endanger our building in any way?

It is true that installing an elevator is an intrusive action for the structure of a house and that it affects the stability of the building. However, with current technology, construction systems and solutions tailored to each case, techniques have been developed so as to have little effect our building, so we can say that there is no danger of installing an elevator in a building.

Does an elevator cause disruption to the neighbours?

When the process of installing elevators was in its infancy, and required the use of now outdated machinery, the presence of an elevator in a building could cause disruption to the neighbours. Vibrations and noise were disruptions that would occur in rooms which shared interior walls. But of course, that was before. Nowadays, systems have evolved, there are new technologies and this type of discomfort has been left in the past. There are now multiple solutions, none of which result in disruption.

At this point when we are certain that we want an elevator installed and we are prepared to carry out the work, it is necessary to consider the administrative aspect of the installation. Not only does this mean hiring the elevator installer and the bricklayer crew, which of course is a necessary task for the final phase of the job, but also obtaining the relevant permits required to carry out the work.

The installation of an elevator is considered a job which carries administrative duties. As such it is necessary to obtain a work license relevant to these works. The appropriate licenses are processed and granted by the city council. In order to grant this permit, the city council will request a series of documents that, generally called a project of works, in which the work is sufficiently detailed and specified. Most important is that the draft is written by a competent technician. This project together with an acceptance of the Directorate of Execution Works, also by a competent technician (normally the same technician) are mandatory conditions for obtaining the necessary licenses and permits.