Choosing the right elevator starts with understanding what each type is designed to do. Specifying a hydraulic system for a building that would have been better served by a traction drive, for instance, typically means higher long-term running costs, more frequent maintenance, or a lift that simply does not suit how the building is actually used.
Below is a plain-language overview of the main types of elevators for buildings, and the situations each one suits best. If you are in the early stages of planning, this should help you arrive at your first conversation with an elevator company with a clearer sense of what you are looking for.
The Main Elevator Types at a Glance
| Type | Best suited to |
|---|---|
| Traction | Mid-rise and high-rise buildings, typically five floors and above. Office towers, hotels and hospitals. |
| Hydraulic | Low-rise applications, typically two to five floors. Warehouses and small commercial buildings. |
| Goods and freight | Warehouses, factories, shopping centres and hospitals that move heavy or bulky loads between floors. |
| Service and staff | Back-of-house use in hotels, hospitals and large commercial buildings. |
Traction Elevators
Traction elevators use steel ropes (or flat belts) running over a drive sheave, with a counterweight that offsets most of the cab weight. The motor sits in a machine room at the top of the shaft or, in some designs, in a compact space adjacent to the shaft itself. These are known as machine-room-less, or MRL, systems.
Best suited to: mid-rise and high-rise buildings, typically five floors and above, though traction systems can be specified for lower buildings too. Office towers, hotels and hospitals typically use traction drives. They are more energy-efficient than hydraulic systems at height, and the MRL variant reduces the amount of dedicated plant space required.
Considerations for PNG: traction systems require a reliable power supply and are sensitive to power quality. Buildings with frequent outages or significant voltage variation should factor this into the specification. In some cases an Automatic Rescue Device (ARD) may be worth including to bring the car to the nearest floor safely during a power loss. Read more about elevator power protection in PNG.
Hydraulic Elevators
Hydraulic elevators move the cab using a piston driven by pressurised fluid. The pump and power unit are housed in a separate machine room, which does not need to be at the top of the building. That is an advantage in some site configurations.
Best suited to: low-rise applications, typically two to five floors. Hydraulic systems are well established in warehouses, small commercial buildings, and applications where the travel height is modest and the simpler mechanical arrangement is an advantage. They are also commonly used for goods and service lifts where speed is less critical than load capacity.
Considerations for PNG: hydraulic fluid can degrade in sustained high temperatures. In tropical climates, the machine room environment and fluid specification should be matched to local conditions.
Goods and Freight Elevators
Freight elevators are built for load rather than passenger speed or comfort. They have reinforced car floors and structures, larger platform dimensions, and control systems designed for industrial use. Some are operated by the user from inside the car rather than from a fixed panel.
Best suited to: warehouses, factories, shopping centres with stock movement requirements, hospitals with equipment transport needs, and any building where regular movement of heavy or bulky loads between floors is required.
Service and Staff Elevators
Service elevators are passenger-capable lifts configured for back-of-house use. They typically have a more functional interior finish, larger dimensions to accommodate trolleys or cleaning equipment, and independent service operation.
Hotels, hospitals and large commercial buildings often specify both a passenger lift and a separate service lift.
The Factors That Shape the Final Specification
Beyond the basic type, the specification for any elevator is shaped by:
- The number of floors
- The expected passenger or load volume
- Available shaft and machine room space
- Power supply characteristics
- The building’s purpose and user profile
In PNG specifically, the durability and serviceability of components in a tropical environment is a practical factor that experienced specifiers take seriously. That means humidity, heat and the realities of local parts availability.
Free site assessment: the best way to get to the right specification is a site assessment by an engineer who knows the equipment and the local conditions. JD Elevators PNG provides free site assessments across PNG. Contact us to arrange one.
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