The lift itself is only one part of a lift installation.
Before an installation team arrives on site, there will normally be work that needs to be completed by the main contractor, builder and other trades. Depending on the lift and the building, this can include preparing the lift shaft and pit, forming landing openings, providing structural support, arranging electrical supplies and making sure there is safe access for the installation team.
Problems at this stage can have a much bigger effect on a project than people sometimes expect. A shaft that is slightly out of position, an incorrectly formed opening or a power supply that has not been completed can prevent work from progressing as planned.
The exact requirements vary between lift systems, so the approved drawings and project-specific information should always take precedence. However, there are several areas that need to be considered on most projects.
The Lift Shaft Has to Match the Approved Drawings
One of the most important pieces of builder’s work is the lift shaft itself.
It is not enough for the shaft to have approximately the right width and depth at one point. It needs to maintain the required dimensions throughout the lift’s travel and be constructed in accordance with the general arrangement drawings.
Plumbness is particularly important.
If a shaft narrows or a wall runs out of plumb between the bottom and top floors, the usable space available for the lift is reduced. Installation measurements are effectively governed by the tightest point.
That means a shaft can appear to have the correct overall dimensions while still creating a problem for the installation team.
New Lift Solutions’ own installation guidance identifies incorrectly constructed shafts as one of the common problems encountered on site. The practical lesson is straightforward: checking dimensions at one floor is not sufficient. The complete shaft needs to be checked.
Structural Support Needs to Be Considered Before Construction
The lift equipment transfers loads into the surrounding structure, so the walls and pit cannot simply be treated as an enclosure.
The required fixing positions and loads should be identified on the project drawings. The building designer or structural engineer can then determine how those loads will be accommodated.
Guide rails and landing doors require suitable fixing points, while the pit floor also needs to support the equipment specified for the installation.
This is one reason why the lift should be considered early in the building design.
Constructing a shaft first and asking the lift contractor to work around it later can create unnecessary structural alterations. It is much easier to establish where support and fixings are required before the shaft is built.
Where a conventional load-bearing shaft is not appropriate, a steel supporting structure may be another option for certain lift systems. That still requires coordination with the building because the frame will have its own fixing and support requirements.
The Pit Needs More Than the Correct Depth
Where a lift requires a pit, its dimensions will be shown on the approved drawings.
Depth is only part of the requirement.
The pit needs to be correctly positioned in relation to the shaft above, with a suitable flat and level base. It also needs to remain dry.
Water entering a lift pit can damage mechanical and electrical equipment, so signs of water ingress should never be regarded as something that can simply be dealt with after the lift has been installed.
Drainage, waterproofing and the surrounding construction need to be resolved as part of the building work.
Finished floor levels also matter. Lift dimensions are coordinated against defined levels, so subsequent changes to floor build-ups can affect landing interfaces and door positions.
This is why floor finishes need to be known rather than treated as a detail to resolve at the end of the project.
Where conventional pit construction is difficult, certain low-pit lift systems may provide an alternative, depending on the building and application.
Landing Openings Need to Be Formed Correctly
Every landing served by the lift needs an accurately formed entrance.
The dimensions depend on the particular lift and door arrangement, and should be taken from the approved general arrangement drawings rather than assumed from another project.
The relationship between the finished floor and the door opening is especially important.
If a screed, tile, raised floor or other finish is added after the opening has been set out without allowing for it, the final entrance height can be wrong.
The surrounding construction also needs to provide the required support for the landing-door fixings.
There can be restrictions on services in these areas as well. Underfloor heating pipes, electrical cables and other concealed services should not be placed where lift-door equipment needs to be fixed.
Finding a heating pipe exactly where a fixing needs to go is not a problem the lift installer can solve by simply moving the door.
It needs to be prevented at the building-design stage.
Headroom Has to Be Protected Throughout the Project
The space above the upper landing is another dimension that can easily be affected as a project develops.
The required headroom depends on the lift system.
Ceilings, structural beams, ventilation equipment, ductwork and other services can all reduce the available space if they are introduced without reference to the lift drawings.
This is particularly relevant where several contractors are working within a restricted area and each trade is concentrating on its own installation.
A dimension that was correct when the shaft was first constructed may no longer be available once additional services have been installed.
The lift zone therefore needs to remain coordinated throughout the project, not just when the original drawings are approved.
Electrical Work Needs to Be Ready at the Right Time
The electrical requirements vary according to the lift being installed, so they need to be confirmed for the individual project.
What matters from a programming perspective is that the required supplies are available when the installation team needs them.
For some New Lift Solutions systems, electrical power is required from the first day of installation because the lift equipment itself is used during the installation process.
Waiting until the lift is physically assembled before arranging the permanent supply can therefore be too late.
There may also be requirements for an isolator, control cabinet supply, shaft lighting, emergency lighting, fire-alarm interfaces and emergency communication.
These should be coordinated with the electrician and other relevant contractors before the lift installation begins.
New Lift Solutions’ project documentation sets out the electrical provision required for the specific lift rather than leaving the contractor to determine it on site.
Other Services Should Not Simply Be Run Through the Lift Shaft
A lift shaft can look like a convenient vertical route for building services.
It isn’t general service space.
Pipework, electrical containment, ventilation systems and other unrelated services should not simply be routed through the lift shaft because there happens to be room available.
The shaft is part of the lift installation and needs to remain suitable for the equipment, access and safety requirements associated with it.
This needs to be communicated to the wider project team early, particularly on larger commercial lift projects where different trades may be working from separate drawing packages.
Safe Access Is Part of Site Readiness
A technically correct lift shaft is not enough if the installation team cannot work safely.
Access to the work area needs to be available, and any scaffolding, planking or other temporary access required for the particular installation must be suitable.
The shaft should also be clear of other trades and unnecessary materials.
This is partly a health and safety issue, but it also affects the installation programme. Lift installation is specialist work carried out within a restricted area. Trying to continue unrelated building work in the same space creates obvious conflicts.
Site access outside the shaft needs considering too. Equipment has to reach the installation position in the first place.
A Site Survey Does Not Replace the Approved Drawings
A pre-installation site survey is an important opportunity to identify problems before the installation date.
It should not, however, be treated as transferring responsibility for all builder’s work to the lift contractor.
There may be parts of the construction that cannot be fully checked during a visit. A shaft may not yet be complete, access may not be available or structural elements may be concealed.
The contractor still needs to ensure that the completed works match the approved drawings and project requirements.
This is particularly important if changes are made after the survey.
Moving a wall, altering a floor build-up or changing an opening may appear relatively minor from the building contractor’s perspective but can affect equipment that has already entered manufacture.
Arranging the pre-installation survey well before the planned installation date gives the project team time to deal with outstanding issues before engineers arrive on site.
Builder’s Work Continues After the Lift Is Fitted
Not every building task is completed before the lift installers arrive.
Depending on the system and project, there may be finishing work required after the main installation.
This can include completing enclosure or cladding around the lift shaft, making good around landing entrances and ensuring there are no gaps or trip hazards between the finished floor and door sill.
Care is needed at this stage.
Newly installed lift doors, cables and other components need to be protected from plaster, paint, dust, debris and water while the remaining building work is completed. Nothing should be fixed to the lift equipment or structure without agreement.
The permanent electrical supply also needs to be available for final testing and commissioning.
The lift should therefore remain part of the construction programme after the physical installation has taken place rather than being regarded as a finished item that other trades can simply work around.
Good Lift Installation Starts Before the Lift Arrives
Most of the issues that delay a lift installation are easier to resolve before the equipment reaches site.
The shaft can be measured. Structural requirements can be checked. Landing openings can be coordinated with finished floor levels. Electrical supplies can be arranged and access can be planned.
Once the lift has been manufactured and the installation team is on site, the options become much more limited.
For builders, architects and contractors, the general arrangement drawings should therefore be treated as working construction information rather than something that belongs solely to the lift contractor.
A few millimetres in the wrong place, an unplanned service or an unfinished electrical supply may look like a small construction issue.
When the lift has been manufactured to fit the space shown on the approved drawings, it may not be small at all.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lift Builder’s Work
Who is responsible for completing the builder’s work for a lift?
The exact responsibilities should be agreed for each project, but the main contractor or builder will normally be responsible for preparing the building in accordance with the approved lift drawings. This can include the shaft, pit, landing openings, structural support and associated building work. Electrical work will usually be completed by the project’s electrical contractor.
When should the builder’s work be completed?
Most pre-installation work needs to be finished before the lift installation team arrives. The project programme should allow sufficient time for the shaft, pit, openings, power supply and site access to be checked before the agreed installation date.
Can the lift shaft dimensions be changed after the lift has been ordered?
Changes should not be made without discussing them with the lift supplier first. Lift equipment is manufactured around agreed project dimensions, so changes to the shaft, travel, openings or finished floor levels can affect the specification, cost and installation programme.
Can a steel structure be used instead of a traditional lift shaft?
For some lift systems, a supporting steel structure can provide an alternative to a conventional masonry shaft. Suitability depends on the lift, building layout and structural requirements, so the arrangement needs to be agreed during the design stage.
What happens if the site is not ready on the installation date?
If critical building work, access or services are incomplete, the lift installation may not be able to proceed as planned. This can result in a return visit being required and may affect the wider project programme, which is why pre-installation checks are important.