A lift is one of the biggest single purchases in a new building, and one that people use every day for twenty years or more. The right choice depends on how many people live or work there, how tall the building is, and something every Bangladeshi building has to plan for: what happens when the power goes.
Short answer: size the lift for the building’s busiest time, choose the speed for its height, and insist on an automatic rescue device (ARD) so nobody is trapped in a power cut.
Capacity: how many people
Lift capacity is given in kilograms and persons, allowing 75 kg per person. Common sizes:
- 320 to 450 kg (4 to 6 persons): small residential buildings.
- 630 kg (8 persons): the usual choice for apartment buildings. It takes a wheelchair.
- 800 to 1,000 kg (10 to 13 persons): offices, larger apartment buildings, hotels. 1,000 kg takes a stretcher in some layouts.
- 1,250 to 1,600 kg (16 to 21 persons): busy offices, hospitals, malls.
Hospitals need a bed lift with a long, narrow car. Goods should not travel in passenger lifts. A cargo lift is built for them.
Speed: how tall
Lifts run from 0.5 to 2.5 m/s. As a rough guide, about 1 m/s suits a building of up to about 10 floors, and taller buildings need faster lifts so that waiting times stay reasonable. Your lift supplier should do a traffic calculation for your building, not just pick a number.
Machine room or machine-room-less (MRL)?
A traditional lift has its motor and controller in a machine room on the roof. An MRL lift fits them inside the shaft. MRL saves a roof room, which can matter for rooftop space and height limits. Machine room lifts are easier to service in some cases. Both are safe when installed and maintained properly.
Passenger LiftPrice on requestGet a price
Power cuts: the automatic rescue device
With load-shedding, a lift that stops between floors is a real risk. An automatic rescue device (ARD) runs the lift on battery power when the mains fails, brings the car to the nearest floor and opens the doors. Insist on it. Also plan the lift onto your generator supply. See How to Size a Diesel Generator, and remember that a lift motor needs extra power to start.
Safety features to ask about
- Overload protection: the lift won’t move when too many people are inside.
- Door sensors along the full height of the door, not a single beam.
- An alarm button and intercom that work in a power cut.
- Compliance with EN 81, the standard our lifts are made to.
- Fire mode: when the fire alarm sounds, the lift returns to the ground floor and opens, so nobody uses it in a fire.
Servicing
A lift needs regular servicing by trained technicians for its whole life. Before you buy, ask who will service it, how often, how fast they come to a breakdown, and whether spare parts are kept in Bangladesh.
Common questions
What size lift does a 6 to 10 storey apartment building need?
Usually a 630 kg (8 person) lift at about 1 m/s. More flats per floor, or a taller building, may need a larger lift or two lifts.
What is an ARD in a lift?
An automatic rescue device. When the power fails, it uses a battery to move the car to the nearest floor and open the doors.
Is an MRL lift better than a lift with a machine room?
Neither is better in every case. MRL saves the roof room. A machine room can make some servicing easier. Choose by your building and your service support.
Can we use the lift during a fire?
No. Ordinary passenger lifts must not be used in a fire. Use the stairs.
Recommended products from our stock
These are the products this guide talks about, delivered all over Bangladesh. For items without a price, send us the quantity and we will reply on the same working day.
