elevator type
The mechanical classification of vertical transport systems by the type of lift mechanism.
The elevator type for any built object is the classification of its vertical transportation according to basic systems of lift mechanisms. Elevator types vary according to available technology, the height of the building or structure, and the usage. They are also an indicator of modernization, as some elevator types employ more efficient or advanced technologies.
A built object may sometimes use multiple elevator types; for example gearless traction for the passenger elevators and hydraulic for the freight elevators. Old buildings might also have a mix of elevator systems, especially during a phased modernization.
Data on elevator types is not readily accessible by simple visits and cursory observation. Gathering this information normally requires technical knowlege or reference to construction drawings. The type can sometimes be ascertained visually for panoramic elevators or by looking inside the shaft or machine room for normal elevators.
More specific definitions
6 sub-definitions-
hydraulic
Elevators raised by a fluid-powered cylinder-and-piston mechanism and lowered by controlled release of fluid. -
paternoster
Doorless vertical lift cabins carried upright around a continuously moving loop with upward and downward shafts. -
platform lift
A platform raised and lowered mechanically to transport persons and cargo between different levels. -
rack and pinion
Elevators that climb along a toothed rack through the rotation of pinion gears engaged to the rack. -
scissor lift
Elevators raised and lowered from underneath by an extendable lattice of criss-crossed folding beams. -
traction
Elevators raised and lowered along tracks by cables, using a counterweight for balance.
Related definitions
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architectural style
A classification of a structure's appearance in terms of design vocabulary and historical period. -
entrance approach
The basic form in which a pedestrian main entrance of a building is reached from outside. -
facade color
Colors covering at least ten percent of a structure's facade, excluding windows and allowing distinct or combined patterns. -
facade material
The primary material(s) of a structure's exterior surface, except for windows. -
facade system
The arrangement of exterior cladding over at least ten percent of the facade, excluding thin surface coatings such as paint. -
feature
Special properties or facilities directly associated with a built object, including amenities and physical characteristics. -
flooring material
The substance and form applied to the floors throughout a structure or a module. -
foundation system
The type of structure which gives structural support to a building beneath its lowest floor or ground base. -
frame material
Materials forming a structure's load-bearing skeleton, distinct from finishes, removable partitions, and foundations. -
framing system
The principal structural framework resisting gravity and lateral loads above ground, distinct from the foundation system. -
heating type
The energy source and, where applicable, delivery system used to heat a building's main occupied areas. -
insulation material
Forms and substances used as thermal insulators in building walls, roofs, and facades. -
insulation position
The position of thermal insulation materials with respect to the structural perimeter walls or framework of a building. -
level
The position and form of an entity acting as a company within a corporate organization or partnership. -
lighting system
The basic format of electrical structure or appliance used to illuminate the interior of a building. -
perimeter form
The outline shape of a horizontal cross section at the majority of a building's floor levels. -
qualitative indicators
Predefined or subjective measurements of various qualitative aspects of properties. -
roof covering
The substance and layout of the material used to cover the upper surface of a building. -
roof form
The prevailing shape of a building's roof or top section, using the most prominent form where several occur. -
roof frame material
The material forming the structural framework that supports the outer covering of a building's roof. -
secondary facade material
Material used for the non-display side(s) of a structure, or used in less than 10% of its facade area. -
staircase material
The framing material which supports the steps and risers in an object's stairways. -
stairway configuration
The general path of a stairway, describing the directions of individual flights and the connections between flights. -
storage type
The basic arrangement of facilities for storing large quantities of items, commodities, or materials. -
tenancy design
The intended arrangement of a building's space for one or more tenants, including private and shared occupancy provisions. -
window frame material
The material forming the frames that hold a structure's windows in place or allow them to move. -
window type
The type used for a majority of a building's windows, indicating whether and how they open, and how they are divided.