Adapting your home to your needs at every stage of life is essential. It’s important to make your home accessible to plan for now and the future. Improving your home accessibility with a residential elevator can provide various benefits in addition to convenience. You can increase your property value, feel more secure, maintain your independence and age comfortably in your home.

You may want to determine whether a home elevator installation is the right choice for your home. It’s normal to take your time with this decision. This article will help you assess why an elevator may be the perfect addition to your home.

Should You Get a Home Elevator?

There are many factors to weigh when thinking about installing a home elevator. Assessing your immediate and future requirements — including your age and property value — can help you identify whether you should move forward with a residential elevator.

Signs That Your Home May Need a Residential Elevator

It’s important to make an informed decision about installing an elevator in your home. Here are seven signs that you may need a home elevator:

1. You want peace of mind as you age: It’s a good idea to consider preparing your home for older age. Mobility concerns like instability while walking and falls are common as we age. You can also sustain unintentional injuries like bone fractures from falls. Fortunately, you can prevent falls and injuries by making your home more accessible. Installing a home elevator can help you efficiently access your home, limiting the risk of falls while walking up or down a flight of stairs.
2. You want to make your home accessibility–friendly: Stairs can be challenging for those who struggle with mobility or use a walking stick or a wheelchair. An elevator can be wheelchair-friendly and accessible for people with mobility needs.
3. You want to enhance your property value: Home elevators are a beautiful and elegant addition to many homes. They come in various styles and designs, and you can customize features like cab styles and lighting. If you plan on selling your home, an elevator can offer an excellent selling point. With stylish, classic or modern designs and ease of accessibility, installing a home elevator can attract more interest and help you sell your home faster.
4. You want to make a bold statement: If you aim to create a home that will impress your guests, installing an elevator can help you make a statement. An elevator can leave your guests in awe with glistening finishes like glass or accordion fold gates as well as hardwood walls, floors and ceilings. You can customize your elevator doors and walls with sleek cab operating panels and handrail finishes to provide an elegant, modern look to your home.
5. You want to be independent: An elevator can help you maintain your independence and stay in your home even as you age. Many people choose to live in the comfort of their homes as they get older. With an elevator, you can access your home without assistance from others and feel secure with a code-generated access system. In turn, you can live comfortably in your home for as long as you choose.
6. You want to maximize your space: You may want to enhance the space in your home or redesign your home, but you need more room to work with. Installing an elevator can free up space for various renovations or home improvements. Elevators come in customized shapes and sizes and can be installed into a shaft outside of your exterior wall or, in many cases, inside a stacked closet, effectively saving space.
7. You want to make your home more comfortable: If you have a large house, tasks like carrying groceries or furniture from one floor to the other may be challenging with several flights of stairs. With an elevator, you can travel from the ground floor to various levels while carrying items comfortably. If you plan on moving, you can reduce the time and strain it takes to transport heavy furniture and appliances down the stairs.

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Where to Buy a Home Elevator

To ensure safety for everyone in your home, you want to buy a residential elevator that complies with codes specified by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the governing body of mechanical regulations nationwide. It is recommended to only buy elevators from a company that complies with all updated National Safety Codes.

Buying a residential elevator from an authorized dealer in your area is essential. An authorized elevator dealer will offer an onsite consultation so you can inspect the design and safety features of the elevator before installing it.

How to Install a Home Elevator

Installing an elevator is a complex process that requires trained technicians. You must employ a professional construction company to build the hoistway only and work with authorized elevator technicians to install your home elevator. Choosing a customizable elevator can make it easier to build into your home design.

Consider the best location in your home for your elevator and decide which design options you prefer. You may also want to determine when you want installation to occur so the elevator manufacturers can preassemble and deliver your elevator to your home within the ideal timeframe. Authorized elevator installers are trained to install your elevators according to the highest quality standards.

Buy a Residential Elevator From an Inclinator Dealer

Inclinator dealers offer safe, customizable residential elevators for when you’re ready to install your elevator. Inclinator manufactures home elevators that fit your unique home design while complying with residential elevator safety codes. We believe in providing elevators that make it safe and convenient for every family member to access their homes.

Customize your elevator to fit your home and maintain your independence with an Inclinator residential elevator. Locate an Inclinator dealer in your area or contact us with any questions.

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Residential elevators are convenient home additions that improve mobility, increase resale value and enhance your interior. After learning about their practical and aesthetic benefits, you might want to install your own. Since a home elevator is a significant investment, educating yourself on safety, price and structure is important.

Being concerned about the risks of residential elevators is understandable, but modern lift systems are safer, more reliable and more affordable than ever. We’ll address three common myths about elevators so you can create a more accessible future for yourself and the people you care about. Discover the truth about these misconceptions:

Myth: Residential Elevators Aren’t Safe

Home elevators adhere to safety standards set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Known as ASME A17.1 in the United States and CSA B44 in Canada, this code regulates designs, installations, repairs, maintenance and alterations. While ASME 17.1 applies to all lift systems, section 5.3 sets specific guidelines for residential elevators. Protocols are adjusted frequently, with the latest update being in 2019.

Individual states may also have their own regulations. While features vary by manufacturer, Inclinator prioritizes your security throughout the purchasing process. Our drawings, planning guides, installation instructions and elevators meet all code requirements. Every Elevette^® model comes with standard safety components, including:

• Gates: Lightweight and compact, gates travel with your elevator. Your elevator knows when they’re open, closed or obstructed and stays in place until everyone is safely on board.
• Interlocks: Interlocks prevent elevator doors from opening while the elevator is moving or at a different landing. They use a lock and keeper bracket, which must be connected for the door to open. These components usually connect electronically, but you can also use a key to control them manually.
• Lighting and indicators: Our home elevators feature low-temperature LED lights. Brighter than traditional lighting, they’ll turn on when the elevator is open or in motion. You can configure your own lighting to ensure maximum visibility and reduce the risk of tripping.
• Handrails: Handrails help you maintain or regain stability by giving you a secure object to grip. Simple yet necessary, they’re beneficial for anyone who needs assistance staying balanced.

Optional add-on components offer more convenience and safety to fit your lifestyle, needs and preferences. These features include:

• A speakerphone in your elevator cab
• Automatic gate and door openers

Myth: Residential Elevators Are Expensive

Your thoughts about residential elevators may include a high price tag, but home elevators are more affordable than you think. Several factors impact the cost of your elevator, including:

• Cab style
• Drive system
• State and local regulations
• How many elevators you’re installing
• Custom accessories
• Your hoistway’s complexity and configuration
• Whether it’s a new installation or a retrofit

With numerous customization options, accessibility and independence come at a wide range of price points. Work with a reliable Inclinator dealer to select what fits your tastes, needs and budget. Modify elements such as:

• Cab style: We offer six distinctive cab styles to suit your unique home. Select a simple and economical design like the 100 Cab, or create a sleek, sophisticated look with the 500 Cab. All cab styles can have one or two openings and up to 18 potential configurations.
• Drive system: Mechanical personalization is essential, as well. Our drive systems offer similar travel times and offer their own benefits. Since each one varies in cost, comfort and space requirements, we’ll help you choose a suitable one for your residence.
• Gates and doors: Gates and doors are available in a variety of durable materials and finishes, including hardwood, acrylic, aluminum and vinyl laminate. No matter which one you choose, you can count on them for ease of use, safety and aesthetic appeal.

Since residential lift systems are highly customizable, you receive only the features you need or want. This flexibility lets you save on your purchase and get the most value out of your home elevator. Whatever options you choose, you can expect an affordable, attractive addition to your home.

When considering the price, you should note that you’re investing in long-term convenience. A single installation can provide you with many years of improved mobility and a better quality of life. That fact alone makes a home elevator worth the investment.

Future repairs are another financial aspect to include. Home elevators are complex machines, meaning they may require occasional servicing. You can minimize these costs by being proactive. Schedule professional maintenance annually to increase your system’s longevity and address issues before they become more serious.

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Myth: Residential Elevators Don’t Offer Much Power

Elevators are designed to carry passengers from landing to landing — it’s understandable to have concerns about residential elevators’ weight limits. However, home elevators are supported by multiple steel cables and robust drive systems. The drive system determines how your car travels, using either hydraulic fluid or cable to raise and lower the elevator.

Whether you choose hydraulic or cable, your elevator can safely hold several occupants at once. A 15-square-foot cab can accommodate up to 1,000 pounds, while a 12-square-foot cab has a 500-pound capacity. We offer three different configurations:

• Cable drum: Cable drum systems feature monorail guides for a compact elevator design and the quietest travel in the industry.
• Hydraulic: Hydraulic drive systems use hydraulic fluid pressure to raise a piston, lifting your elevator with it. Our hydraulic system uses less fluid and provides smooth, peaceful rides.
• Machine roomless (MRL) overhead cable drum: This drive system operates in the shaftway instead of requiring a machine room. It runs on two guide rails for enhanced stability.

While exact weight limits vary depending on the drive system, our drive systems are compatible with any cab size. Each system comes with cab door and gate safety devices as well as two Type A safety mechanisms, so you can feel secure every time you step in. If you and other passengers or objects exceed the recommended weight, the elevator will remain in place until it senses a suitable capacity.

Home elevators can also handle power outages. All Elevette models have battery backup, emergency lighting and an emergency bell. These features activate as soon as you lose electricity, allowing your elevator to lower you to the bottom floor safely. A manual lowering system lets you move your car by hand if you need to quickly exit the car or building.

Learn More About Residential Elevators Today

With almost a century of experience, Inclinator is a trusted manufacturer for safe, reliable mobility solutions. We offer the most customizable elevators in the industry to meet your individual needs while ensuring complete safety and the right price.

Add convenience and comfort to your home in five easy steps — our experts will guide you through every detail so you’ll always know what to expect. Contact your local dealer today to get started or if you have questions about our elevators or the installation process.

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There are around 900,000 operating elevators in the United States today. Elevators have become an integral part of our society. Without elevators, we wouldn’t have the iconic skylines of cities like New York or Chicago. Elevators have transformed the architecture of the modern world.

Elevator operation involves a pulley-esque system where a metal rope connects to the top of the elevator cart and travels through a sheave that acts like a pulley wheel. Elevator controllers and buttons work to tell the elevator what to do. The most common elevator car controls include floor selection buttons, operation buttons and control buttons.

Hall Indicators

Hall indicators, also called position indicators or hall lanterns, are used to notify elevator riders that their elevator is arriving and what direction it will be traveling. In addition to visually alerting an upcoming elevator, a hall indicator gives audible signals. Most audible signals will sound once when elevators are going up and sound twice when the elevator is going down. Vocal indicators can also be installed that say “going up” or “going down” in place of the tones.

Hall indicator requirements are as follows:

• Position indicators are to be mounted a minimum of 72 inches above the floor.
• The arrows on the hall indicator must be a minimum of 2 1/2 inches tall.
• The arrows on the hall indicator should be visible from the vicinity of the call buttons.

Elevator Car Controls

The controls inside an elevator vary significantly based on the elevator and the specifications made when it was installed. However, some standard items are present on all elevator control panels:

• Floor selection buttons: Floor designators are used to tell the elevator which floors to go to. The button that indicates the floor’s number will light up when pressed. A lot of elevator buttons are numbered, but there are some variations. The button for the floor that the lobby is on may be labeled with an “L.” Another common variation for the lobby button is a star. Buttons for basements or underground floors are typically marked with a “B.”
• Door open button: The door open button is used to reopen the elevator doors when they are closing. Holding this button down will keep the door open for the duration that the button is pressed. This button is a mandatory door control button.
• Door close button: The close door button is used to close elevator doors immediately. On some elevators in the United States, the close door button can only be used in fire or independent services. In recent years, it has been more common to find door-close buttons that don’t work. Since the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act, it has become standard for these buttons to no longer have functionality, so that people with disabilities have time to board the elevator.
• Door hold button: Also called a door delay button, this button is useful for loading goods or baggage. The door delay button holds the door open for more extended periods, usually up to five minutes.

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Nonstandard Control Panels and Elevator Safety Buttons

Controls outside of the standard car controls can be handy. They include key switch controls and emergency buttons.

Elevator key switch controls are primarily for people carrying service keys. In the United States, they’re typically located in a locked service cabinet panel. These are sometimes found above the floor selection buttons or below the emergency buttons. They allow for different functions or buttons to be toggled on and off the by building’s operations team. Some of the functions may include fire department control, close-door control and maintenance functions.

Some possible emergency button options include:

• Emergency stops: Emergency stops are used to stop the cart abruptly in case of an emergency. Some stop switches are the flip type or the push-and-pull type. The elevator cab will not start again until the button or switch is reset.
• Emergency alarms: The emergency alarm in an elevator is usually connected to a bell. The bell rings when the button is pushed to alert people that someone is stuck in the elevator and needs assistance.
• Telephones: Usually marked with an image of a phone, this button is used to contact a technician for help. It will also alert maintenance that there is an issue with the elevator so they can fix it as soon as possible.

You may never need to use an elevator’s safety buttons at all. If you do experience an emergency, try to keep these steps in mind:

1. Stay calm: Try to remain level-headed to make sound decisions moving forward.
2. Find a light source: If the elevator lights are out, use your phone light to locate the buttons. Be careful not to drain your phone’s battery.
3. Press the call button: Locate and press the call button to contact a technician to help you.
4. Press the alarm button: Press the alarm button to notify others that you are stuck. People in the building will likely hear the alarm and will find someone to help.
5. Wait it out: Elevator calls are taken seriously, so you are unlikely to have to wait for long. You will typically be freed in 30 minutes or less.

Elevators should not be complicated. You should know what controls are in your elevator so you can get to where you need to go and how to handle unforeseen situations in case they happen. The controls on the elevator in your residential space would be even more straightforward than the control panels discussed. Therefore, you can trust that the operation of your elevator will be easy and smooth.

Contact Inclinator for Your Residential Elevator Needs

Use America’s favorite and most trusted residential elevator company for your elevator project. We offer fully customizable personal elevator solutions to fit any space. Contact us for more information or find a local dealer near you.

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An elevator helps us get from point A to point B. It makes it easy to transport heavy objects from one floor to the next and helps people with limited mobility navigate spaces without using stairs. Although elevators are functional, there’s much more to them than practicality. Elevator architecture can be among the most breathtaking in the world.

Learn more about some of the most unique elevators across the globe. These destinations may even earn a spot on your travel bucket list!

11 Most Interesting Elevators in the World

From an aquarium-encased tube to an elevator that takes you into the sky, fascinating elevators worldwide are functional works of art.

1. Hammetschwand Elevator

How do you get to the top of a mountain? You can climb, or perhaps you can take a ski lift. Or, if you’re in Ennetbürgen, Switzerland, and want to get to the top of Bürgenstock to look over Lake Lucerne, you can take the Hammetschwand Elevator.

Built in 1905, the elevator is the tallest in Europe. If you’re apprehensive about the idea of riding in an elevator that’s well over a century old, there’s no need for concern. The Hammetschwand has been updated since its debut. Today, its cab consists of sleek glass and metal instead of wood. The elevator’s speed has also increased over the years. Today’s model will take you to the top, a distance of 500 feet, in less than one minute.

2. Luxor Hotel Inclined Elevator

The Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas is shaped like a pyramid, so its elevators aren’t standard up-and-down models. Instead, the elevators travel from floor to floor of the hotel on a diagonal. They’re positioned at a 39-degree angle. While riding the elevator, hotel guests and visitors get to look out over the hotel’s atrium.

3. AquaDom Elevator

Many aquariums have elevators to take guests from floor to floor. But few aquariums are quite like the AquaDom in Berlin. The AquaDom is essentially a giant fish tank. It’s 12 meters across and 25 meters high. It holds around 1 million liters of water and nearly 2,600 fish. At the center of the AquaDom is a glass elevator. When you ride the elevator, you get an up-close and personal look at the fish that call the aquarium home.

4. Lacerda Elevator

The Lacerda Elevator was the first elevator ever built in Brazil, in Salvador, Bahia. It’s a public elevator that connects the upper part of Salvador to the lower part. Built in 1873, the elevator is 240 feet high and in continuous operation. Three-quarters of a million people take the Lacerda lift monthly. Some ride it for fun, while others use it as part of their daily commute.

Lacerda blends form and function. It’s a necessary feature to help people travel through the city of Salvador. But it also looks stylish. The elevator was built in the Art Deco style and retained much of its original detail work.

5. Mercedes Benz Museum Elevator

A visit to the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, is a must for anyone who loves cars. It’s also a must-visit for fans of elevator architecture, thanks to its pod-shaped, futuristic elevators.

The pod-shaped elevators attach to the interior walls of the museum, transporting visitors from floor to floor. Inside each pod, the floor of the elevator is illuminated, creating a fun ambiance. There’s also a viewing window in each pod that lets visitors watch as they travel up or down the museum.

6. Bailong Elevator

While the Hammetschwand is the tallest elevator outdoors in Europe, the Bailong Elevator, located in China’s Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, holds the record for being the tallest outdoor elevator in the world. The Bailong Elevator is 1,070 feet tall.

It is built into the side of a cliff and first opened to visitors in 2002. As people travel in the elevator, they can enjoy views of the forest park’s monolith formations. A trip to the top takes just one and a half minutes.

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7. Gateway Arch Tram

Visitors to the Gateway Arch in St. Louis have one way to get to the top — a glass tram or elevator. Although the tram gets you to the top of the arch, it’s not an elevator like you might be used to. Instead, it consists of eight cars that hold five people each. The structure of the tram is similar to that of a Ferris wheel. Even though you’re traveling up an arched incline, you stay level during the entire trip.

8. Sky Tower Elevator

You could take the stairs to the top of the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand, but the trip involves 1,267 steps and would take nearly 30 minutes. A quicker, more scenic option is to take the elevator from the base to the observation deck on top of the tower. The elevator can take 225 people up to the top every 15 minutes. A trip in it takes just 40 seconds.

9. Oregon City Municipal Elevator

Public transit in many cities includes buses and trains. In Oregon City, it also includes an elevator. The municipal elevator links the city’s upper neighborhood, nestled on top of a basalt cliff, to its lower neighborhood, along the Willamette River. At 130 feet, the municipal elevator is the only outdoor elevator of its kind in the U.S. It’s one of four in the entire world.

10. Skyview Elevator

The Skyview Globe Arena is a dome-shaped building in the heart of Stockholm. It first opened in 1989 and is among the largest globe-shaped buildings worldwide. On the exterior of the building are globe-shaped elevators that transport visitors to the top, giving them an impressive view of the city.

What makes the Skyview elevators unique is their shape and function. As the elevators travel up and over the building, the floor stays level, so people inside don’t fall over or tilt as they ride.

11. Santa Justa Lift

Lisbon, Portugal, is a multi-leveled city. People can travel up and down the streets of Lisbon by taking the stairs or by catching a lift in one of several funiculars. Another option is to take the Santa Justa lift, the only remaining public elevator in the city.

The lift was built at the start of the 20th century. It features ornate ironwork that looks like it came straight out of a Gothic novel.

Combine Form and Function With a Residential Elevator

While an elevator in your home won’t be nearly as tall as the Bailong Elevator or as unique as the AquaDom, it can still make your life easier and add convenience to your routine. If you’re considering retrofitting your home with an elevator or installing an elevator in new construction, contact an Inclinator dealer near you today.

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As people get older, they often have several decisions to make about their living situation. Some choose to downsize, moving into a smaller residence or from a multi-story home to a single-story home. Some move into independent or assisted living facilities. Still others prefer to age in place, remaining in their homes for as long as possible.

Aging in place has become increasingly popular in recent years, and people have modified their homes to make it possible. There are also several programs available to help older adults live alone. Learn more about the aging-in-place resources that might be available to you.

What Is Aging in Place?

As we learned from Dorothy Gale, “There’s no place like home.” That sentiment rings especially true for someone who might have lived in the same house for 30, 40 or even 50 years. Leaving home as an older adult can be challenging and heartbreaking. There’s also a loss of independence that often goes hand in hand with leaving home. If a person moves in with a family member or into an assisted living facility, they might feel like they are giving up some part of themselves.

Aging in place refers to remaining in your original home as you get older. There are many benefits of aging in place, such as a reduced cost and the opportunity to stay close to an established community. There are also some concerns involved when someone decides to stay home as they get older. For instance, their home might lack features and spaces designed for someone with mobility issues. Or, they might find they can’t do the things they did previously, such as drive or prepare meals.

Since so many people want to stay at home as they get older, several aging-in-place organizations exist to make that goal a reality. These senior community resources can provide transportation, food, care and companionship to adults who choose to remain in their homes.

4 Organizations That Can Support You

Many organizations focus on providing care and assistance to older adults who want to remain in their homes. Some aging-in-place organizations are government-funded, while others are privately operated. While some point older adults in the direction of further assistance, a few provide direct support. Whether you’re looking for help with food, transportation or other day-to-day activities, here are a few available elderly resources for you.

1. Area Agencies on Aging: This organization’s mission is to help people live in their homes for as long as possible. There are more than 600 AAAs across the U.S., and each one provides a range of services to older adults and their caregivers. While the exact resources can vary, many provide access to meal delivery, transportation options and counseling.
2. National Aging and Disability Transportation Center: Some older adults choose to stop driving due to changes in their vision or medical concerns, making it challenging to stay alert behind the wheel. If you remain in your home, there will likely be times when you need to go somewhere, such as a doctor’s appointment or the store, and don’t have a friend or relative to take you. NADTC helps connect older adults to transportation options, such as customized community transportation buses.
3. Meal delivery programs: You might not want to cook only for yourself, or perhaps you’re not very comfortable in the kitchen. Meal delivery programs bring fresh, cooked meals straight to your door. While many programs target older adults, some are convenience programs for busy couples and families. If you can or want to cook, another option is to subscribe to a meal kit program. You’ll receive pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes for several meals each week.
4. Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly: Adults over age 55 who meet specific requirements can take advantage of PACE. PACE provides health care services, meal preparation, transportation and chore help to those who qualify for it.

4 Examples of People Who Can Support You

Besides connecting with national or local organizations to help you age in place, you can also get support from individuals in the community. Some of these people might know and love you and want to help, while others are professionals you can hire.

1. Your neighbors: Your neighbors can be an excellent source of support. How much you depend on your neighbors depends on how close you are to them, their willingness to help and what you need. For example, they might be happy to bring your mail in for you or take your trash out to the curb weekly. If you’re close to your neighbors, they might visit you every so often to keep you company. You could also ask them to pick up groceries or other necessities for you.
2. Your family: Family can be another excellent resource, especially if yours lives nearby. Your children or grandkids can do chores around the house. Your children might also be willing to drive you to appointments or the supermarket. Depending on your level of need, family members can handle making appointments for you, too.
3. Geriatric care manager: A geriatric care manager is typically a social worker or nurse who directs you to helpful resources or who can support your day-to-day activities. They might visit your home and recommend ways to improve it. They may also help you with long-term planning or act as a mediator between you and your family members.
4. Home health aides:  A home health aide can assist you with daily tasks, helping you get dressed and ready to go in the morning. They might prepare meals for you, too. While they aren’t nurses or doctors, a home health aide can keep track of your overall health, monitor your vital signs, and report to your family or medical team if they notice any drastic changes in your mental or physical health.

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Common Concerns About Living Alone as a Senior

As you decide to remain in your home, it can be helpful to list potential or current concerns you have. Knowing what is or could be an issue can help you find the resources that will best support you. For example, some concerns older adults often have include:

• Transportation
• Meal preparation
• Keeping up with medications
• Mobility
• Feeling lonely
• Feeling bored

The resources mentioned above can help you address or avoid many of the concerns people encounter when they age in place.

Make Your Home More Convenient With a Residential Elevator

There is a wealth of resources available to help you feel comfortable with the idea of aging in place. Along with taking advantage of any community resources or the support of your network, you might also want to consider modifying your home to make it more convenient to age in place. One option is to install a residential elevator, so you can continue to live in a multi-story home without limiting your access to specific areas.

To learn more about the process of retrofitting your home for an elevator, contact an Inclinator dealer near you today.

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Homeowners who are considering adding an elevator to their property can rest assured that there are safety standards in place to make residential elevators safer and minimize the risk of injury. The code is from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and it is intended to serve as the backbone for the design, building, installation, operation, inspection, testing, maintenance, repair and alteration of elevators and moving lifts.

Called ASME 17.1 in the U.S. and CSA B44 in Canada, the safety code is made up of a set of voluntary national safety standards prepared by dedicated elevator industry professionals with high levels of expertise. While ASME 17.1/CSA B44 is designed for all types of elevators and lifts, section 5.3 of the standards focuses specifically on residential elevators and is a good guide to follow for home elevator safety compliance.

The ASME code is updated regularly in response to concerns or changes in technology. The most recent update was in 2019. Changes made to the code at the end of 2019 included:

• Changes to door requirements for residential elevators.
• Clarification of seismic requirements for elevators and escalators.
• Updates to requirements for emergency communication inside of an elevator.
• Modification of door requirements for passenger elevators.

Before the 2019 update, the code was revised in 2016 to make many safety improvements, including changes that would minimize the risk of injury to children using residential elevators. Learn more about the specifics of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Safety Code and how it helps to make residential elevators safe for all.

The 3/4 x 4 Rule

A set of revisions was made to the safety code for residential elevators to prevent entrapment and injury of small children between the hoistway door and the car door. These changes focused on decreasing the space between the hoistway door and the elevator car door in three ways:

1. Limiting the space between the hoistway door and the car door so that folding doors reject a 4-inch diameter ball at all points along the gate. For sliding doors, this applies to any 4-inch x 4-inch area.
2. Ensuring that any car door can withstand a force of 75 pounds without warping or displacing the car door from its guide or tracks so that small children cannot wedge themselves between the two doors.
3. Deflection was limited to no more than 3/4 inch to minimize give and decrease the likelihood of accidents.

The reduced clearances were based on a hazard analysis that was conducted and provided to the subcommittee responsible for overseeing the codes for personal-use residential elevators.

Inclinator has been installing light curtain sensors as a standard feature since 2015 as a short-term measure while the aforementioned ASME 17.1/CSA B44 was being developed and approved. A light curtain detects any obstruction, such as a person, pet, or object, that is between the hoistway door and the cab door. If an obstruction is detected, the cab will not be able to move until it is removed. Older elevators can be retrofitted with light curtains to reduce the risk of something becoming trapped between the hoistway door and the cab door.

To further support this safety initiative, Inclinator Company of America adopted the new code changes to ensure our residential elevators meet only the highest safety standards on all models as of May 30, 2017.

Home Elevator Size Requirements

In addition to the rule limiting space between the cab door and hoistway door, there are several other requirements and standards that residential elevators need to meet. Some of the requirements of private residence elevators are described in chapter four of the United States Access Board’s ADA Standards. These standards focus on the required size of a home elevator car and the means of operation.

Additionally, section 5.3 of ASME A17.1 states that the inside area of a residential elevator cab shouldn’t be more than 15 square feet.

Other Home Elevator Safety Features

Section 5.3 of ASME A17.1 details other features a residential elevator needs to have to ensure safety. Several of the requirements include:

• Hoistway requirements: The hoistway is the shaft the elevator travels up and down as it moves between floors. Under section 5.3.1.1 of ASME A17.1, the hoistway of an elevator needs to be fully enclosed and properly fire-rated based on the Standard Building Code. Additionally, hoistway key access is necessary on all floors. Key access allows emergency personnel to get into the hoistway if the elevator becomes stuck or there is another issue.
• Machine room requirements: Elevators with machine rooms need to meet certain requirements, spelled out in sections 110-26 and 620-5 of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Per the NEC, the clearance in the machine room needs to be at least 36 inches from the wall to the controller with a non-conductive surface or 42 inches from the wall to the controller with a conductive surface. Additionally, the machine room shouldn’t be used for storage, per the electrical section of the International Residential Code.
• Car clearance requirements: Per ASME 17.1, Section 5.3.1.3, the speed of a residential elevator determines the amount of clearance required between it and the overhead area. A car that travels at 30 feet per minute (fpm) requires a clearance of 6 inches. For cars that travel up to 40 fpm, 9 inches of clearance is necessary.
• Backup power requirements: Residential elevators need to have a backup power source to keep people from becoming stuck in the elevator if a home loses electrical power. Additionally, the cab of the elevator should have emergency lights that turn on in the event of a power outage to reduce the risk of trips and falls.

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How to Ensure Home Elevator Safety Compliance for Older Models

Modern residential elevators need to meet code requirements for safety and have numerous safety features. If you installed an elevator in a home years ago and homeowners are concerned about its safety, they have options. Residential elevator maintenance is essential to keep the elevator operating smoothly and to assess its safety. During an inspection, a technician will evaluate the elevator’s overall condition and identify any repairs needed. If the elevator isn’t up to current codes, the technician can recommend changes to bring the older elevator into compliance with current safety codes.

Contact Inclinator to Learn More About Home Elevator Safety Compliance

Inclinator cares about the safety and well-being of all our customers, which is why we only install elevators that meet current codes. To learn more about our safety standards or to schedule a safety inspection of an existing residential elevator, contact the Inclinator dealer nearest you today.

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