Lift Design | Elevator Design

During the concept and schematic design phase of a new building, Elevating Studio applies sophisticated traffic analysis to create multiple vertical transportation options. We then evaluate them together with you, based on your budget, the required performance, and the possible core configurations.

As part of the traffic analysis simulations, we will consider a wide range of parameters, from the needed traffic handling and expected building population to parking and accessibility requirements – based on your artistic and architectural design of the building.

At the end of the concept and schematic design phase, Elevating Studio will provide a ‘Schematic Design Report’, which will clarify the options, recommendations and budget estimates, for the owner, architect and developer to select and decide.

At the start of the detailed design phase of your project, you will have selected the most suitable vertical transportation scheme. Elevating Studio will then create detailed layouts of equipment and machine rooms. Project may sometimes require special solutions or considerations. Elevating Studio will propose custom equipment and will create system layouts for these special configurations. We will also estimate additional costs related to these special solutions.

Elevating Studio has extensive knowledge on how to accelerate the construction phase, especially for tall buildings. We have developed sophisticated traffic analysis methodologies for the construction phase, which will help you in the planning of transportation needs on the construction site.

There are several VT solutions available in the market, which are specifically designed for the construction phase of the building. These ‘construction time use’ solutions for elevators, may help you to reduce the overall project lead time, and can significantly improve your return on investment. These needed technologies during construction should be planned early for optimum impact, and are therefore a very important part of the Detailed Design. Elevating Studio has in depth knowledge on all these construction time use VT technologies, and we can help you to make the best decision for your construction planning.

At the end of the detailed design phase, Elevating Studio will prepare a ‘Detailed Design Report’ which clarifies the decisions taken on the vertical transportation design, the schematic drawings, the construction time use solutions, lay-out schemes, interfacing design requirements, etc.

Your vertical transportation equipment will be part of a total building system. During the detailed design phase there are multiple areas where the equipment needs to be interfaced with other building systems. Elevating Studio will estimate interfacing disciplines such as:

• Electrical load estimates
• Energy consumption load estimates
• Heating and Cooling load estimates
• Structural loads and lifting beam estimates
• Noise Load estimates

As part of the detailed design report, Elevating Studio will also compile a first list of works by others to ease construction engineering planning and procurement. If your building has special green accreditation needs, we will also estimate all sustainability requirements to reach the desired level.

Elevating Studio can also provide a list of interfacing requirements for other building services, which need to be coordinated or integrated with the vertical transportation systems, such as:

• Access control
• Fire alarm/fire detection
• Evacuation/PA
• Earthquake
• Building management system
• Construction time use

As your project is nearing the procurement phase, Elevating Studio produces comprehensive independent tendering specifications for use in bidding. Our specifications are generic and performance-based to guarantee competitive bids with fewer specification deviations. Apple to apple comparisons will therefore be easier in the bid evaluation phase. Where critical for quality, we will use prescriptive clauses and specifications, for certain specific components.

The Elevating Studio team has an extensive code experience, and knows the performance standards, and products needed in different countries, which is an important asset when providing specifications.

In case construction time use solutions are part of the VT design and construction plan, Elevating Studio will include the specifications for the needed VT technologies.

Another option is to include detailed service and maintenance specifications for the occupation phase of the building, as part of the equipment tender specifications and in line with the relevant codes and standards. To include the maintenance services in the initial biding – for a defined period after the hand-over of your equipment – will help understand the true ‘life cycle costs’ of your vertical transportation system.

Elevating Studio will encourage lift contractors to submit value adding proposals that can reduce project or life cycle costs, or which can speed up your project completion. Bidders may be able to provide propriety solutions that can greatly benefit your project. Though these solutions typically comply or are only minor alternations within our performance specifications, we can access whether these propriety solutions provide or even exceed the performance levels set in the specifications.

Right after procurement, in the early construction phase of your project, the selected bidder will provide shop drawings and will provide the submittals indicated in the specification. These shop drawings and submittals should comply with the project needs and the relevant codes. This documentation should also comply with the architectural needs of the project and should indicate any other third party interface requirements. Elevating Studio will review shop drawings and other materials from the manufacturer of your selection. Where the supplied information does not comply with the requirements, we will snag the information until all design is in accordance with the project expectations.

As proper planning in this phase will mitigate a large number of project risks, Elevating Studio can minimize construction delays, by coordination this process which will involve your vertical transportation supplier, the architect and other building construction disciplines.

During the construction phase of your project, the selected supplier will deliver the material to site and will start installation of the equipment. In addition, the supplier will also start billing the project.

As part of the construction administration services by Elevating Studio, our team will overlook the whole installation process. Safety during the construction is of major importance, whilst our team will also ensure that all needed QA/QC processes are followed – to guarantee the end quality of the delivered vertical transportation equipment. It is essential that possible quality problems are identified as early as possible and corrective actions executed immediately. Too late snagging may cause problems during the occupation phase - with ride comfort, equipment availability, or, in worst cause man-traps or break-downs. These teething problems will negatively affect the reputation of your project on the market, and create complaints and problems with the end users.

Elevating Studio can support your construction project management team with specific knowledge and expertise on installation safety, quality and progress, and we can help supervise and audit the suppliers’ performance during the construction and installation phase.

Projects can run late during construction, and temporary use of equipment may be expanded to beyond what was specified in the vertical transportation specifications. Without clear contract conditions and specification of extra temporary use of vertical transportation equipment, the owner may end up with a product that has too much mileage at handover. If there is a need for acceleration, we can specify what needs to be done to guarantee handover of a high quality product - in accordance with the requirements of the owner.

As billing starts, Elevating Studio will verify that billing is in line with progress on site and in accordance with the contract conditions and the relevant quality and performance requirements.

Handover inspection is recommended to be carried out at completion of new installation or modernization. Does the equipment perform as per contract? Are all works completed including tests and documentation delivered?

Installation inspections are conducted during the construction phase of a modernization project or new construction project. Inspections support management and quality control of the project. Core activities of installation inspection include but are not limited to:

• Quality verification of material deliveries and storage facilities
• Work accuracy
• Safety of working environment

Elevating Studio issues a report on measurements found defects, deviations and non-compliances.

Elevator and Escalator safety certification are often required by insurance companies and by labour law.

Elevating Studio is an authorized provider for Annual Safety Test, Inspection, and Formal Certification with a safety mark. Tests follow EN81 and EN115 standards and abide international and local government regulations and requirements.

The load-test certification is valid for 5 years for elevators. Inspections are carried out by a certified Elevating Studio safety inspector, accredited by the Dutch Liftinstituut.