Lifts are one of the few building services that are hard to fix once the structure is built. Shaft size, pit depth, overrun and the number of cars are all set early. Get them wrong and the building lives with the result for decades.
TLC provides independent lift design and specification advice for new buildings and major refurbishments. We work for the owner or developer, not for a lift company. That means our advice is about what suits the building, not what suits a particular product.
Early lift design advice
The best time to involve a lift consultant is at concept design, before the core is fixed. At this stage we help the design team answer the basic questions.
- How many lifts? Enough to serve the building at peak times without over-building.
- What size? Car sizes that suit the occupants, furniture moves, bins, bikes and stretchers.
- What speed? Matched to building height and the service level the owner expects.
- Which lift type? Traction, machine-room-less or hydraulic, depending on rise, use and budget.
- How should they be grouped and zoned? Especially in taller or mixed-use buildings.
For a quick first estimate, try our free How Many Lifts? tool or the lift calculator. They give a useful starting point. A proper traffic analysis should follow before the design is locked in.
Traffic analysis
Elevator design starts with traffic. We model how people will move through the building at its busiest times. For an office, that is usually the morning up-peak and the lunchtime period. For residential and hotel buildings, the patterns are different.
Our analysis follows recognised methods, including CIBSE Guide D and ISO 8100-32. We report handling capacity, interval and waiting time in plain terms, so the owner can see what service level they are buying and what it costs to improve it.
Shaft, pit and machine space
Once the number and size of lifts is set, the space needs to be coordinated. We advise on:
- Shaft dimensions and tolerances
- Pit depth and headroom (overrun)
- Machine room or machine space requirements
- Structural loads at the pit and top of the shaft
- Ventilation, lighting and access for maintenance
- Landing door arrangements and fire rating
Early coordination avoids redesign later. It also avoids locking the project into one supplier because the shaft only suits one product.
Accessibility, stretcher and emergency lifts
The National Construction Code (NCC) sets requirements for access, stretcher facilities and emergency lifts, depending on building class and height. Lifts must also suit people with disabilities, including car size, controls, signage and door timing.
We check the design against the NCC and relevant Australian Standards, including the AS 1735 series and the AS/NZS ISO 8100 parts that apply to the project. Where fire engineering affects the lifts, such as emergency lifts or lift use during evacuation, we work with the fire engineer to make sure the lift design supports the fire strategy.
Lift specification
A good lift specification describes what the owner needs, clearly enough that several contractors can price it on an equal basis. We write performance specifications that set:
- Capacity, speed and number of stops
- Ride quality and noise limits
- Door types, finishes and car fit-out
- Control, monitoring and security integration
- Energy performance
- Testing, commissioning and handover requirements
- Warranty and defects liability expectations
- Maintenance requirements during and after the defects period
A performance specification leaves room for contractors to offer their own equipment while protecting the outcome. It also reduces the risk of proprietary lock-in that makes future maintenance harder to tender.
Independent design review
Sometimes the lift design has already been done by a lift supplier, a design-and-construct contractor or another consultant. We can review it independently. Our peer review checks traffic performance, compliance, coordination with the building, and whether the specification protects the owner.
Where a project is still being tested for viability, our feasibility studies give early answers on lift numbers, space and cost, before significant design fees are spent.
Working with architects and engineers
Lift design touches almost every discipline. We coordinate with:
- Architects on core layout, lobbies, finishes and accessibility
- Structural engineers on loads, pits, beams and lifting points
- Electrical and mechanical engineers on power, ventilation and fire services interfaces
- Fire engineers on emergency lifts and evacuation
- Building certifiers on compliance
We attend design meetings, respond to requests for information and review drawings as the design develops.
Tender documents
When the design is ready, we prepare the lift tender package. It includes the specification, drawings, schedules of rates, and the commercial conditions. We then run the tender, answer contractor questions and assess the offers. More detail is on our tendering page.
A clear tender makes offers easier to compare. It also sets the baseline for the contract, so there is less room for dispute during installation.
Why use an independent lift consultant?
Lift companies offer design help, and it can be useful. But their design will naturally suit their own product. An independent consultant designs for the building and keeps the tender open to all suitable contractors. TLC takes no commission from lift companies and does not sell, install or maintain lifts.
Frequently asked questions
When should a lift consultant be engaged?
As early as possible, ideally at concept design before the core layout is fixed. Changes to shafts and pits become expensive once structural design has progressed.
What is a lift traffic analysis?
It is a calculation or simulation of how people will use the lifts at peak times. It shows whether the proposed number, size and speed of lifts will give an acceptable waiting time and handling capacity.
What is the difference between a performance specification and a product specification?
A performance specification describes the outcome the owner needs. A product specification describes a particular product. Performance specifications allow fairer competition and reduce the risk of being tied to one supplier.
Can you review a lift design prepared by someone else?
Yes. We regularly carry out independent design reviews for owners, developers and design teams.
Talk to us about your project
If you are planning a new building or a major refurbishment, we can help you get the lift design right from the start. Contact us or call (07) 5509 0100 to discuss your project.