W hen Sampath Kumar was building his home at Marnamikatte in Mangalore, he was sure he wanted an elevator installed. And as the four-storeyed home sprawled across 6,000 sq.ft. took shape, the five passenger elevator was set up in due course. “I have my entire family staying with me including elderly parents, and therefore, I needed to ensure comfortable mobility.”
Latest trends
Amit Gossain, Managing Director, KONE India, explains how the home elevator segment is growing in the country. “Along with the demand for new elevators, there is an increase in the installation of elevators in existing buildings where there were no lifts earlier. This demand is witnessed largely from villa housing and existing structures which have a ground +1 or more floors,” says Gossain. The need for elevators in this segment, he explains, is seen from two perspectives — an absolute necessity or an added luxury. While the former requires simple elevators with low speeds, in the latter, aesthetics and features play a major role. As decisions are predominantly made by individuals here, the need for customisation is also on the rise.
Given current lifestyles, people are now developing health issues that can affect their mobility as early as in their 40s and 50s. And it is in this light that Sachin Kashved, co-partner at Mumbai-based Jet Elevator, finds that an increasing number of individuals are making provisions for elevators that they may require in the future. “Besides independent homes with multiple floors, we have seen that even homes that are G+1 floor duplexes or terrace apartments include lifts to avoid using the main elevator of their apartment complex”.
Considering one?
If you are looking to have an elevator in your home, the basic infrastructure you will need is a hoist-way, which is the shaft within which the elevator moves up and down. “In the case of existing buildings, additional modifications may be required to construct the hoist-way,” says Gossain. Alternatively, a modular hoist-way may pre-fabricated and installed as this reduces the modifications needed for an existing building. You will also need three phase power supply to operate a lift.
Kashved adds that today, hydraulic elevators are retrofitted and come with a self-standing structure. “With minimal structural changes one can install these lifts in existing houses and such lifts do no need a big sunk below nor machine room at the top.” Apart from utility, people today expect their lifts to be smart. There are several options available in market today in terms of materials, ranging from various metal panels for the cabin, to plastic laminates, leather, designer glass and even mirrors.
Designer lighting is also available for the ceiling and floors. Touch screen panels, floor indicators with calendars and even temperature indicators are commonly features.
Maintenance and more
As India continues to urbanise, sustainable solutions will play a key role, as will energy saving systems and space-conservation features, points out Sebi Joseph, President, Otis India. And with developers and owners becoming environmentally conscious and looking for green certifications like LEED, the demand for eco-conscious systems is only slated to grow further.
As far as cost-effectiveness in electricity consumption goes, experts say hydraulic elevators are a good choice as power is required only for ascending travel. This results in lower recurring expenses. Cabin lights and fans can be operated with human detector sensors that power off the cabin when it is empty.
Periodic maintenance is necessary to ensure smooth operation of the unit and a longer life span. During these checks, the lift’s movement, levelling accuracy, smooth opeSning and closing of doors, acceleration, and deceleration are examined and appropriate settings are changed.
