Different Types of Lifts Explained for Homes and Businesses

Intro

Whether you’re installing a lift in a private home or a multi-storey commercial building, choosing the right type matters more than most people realise.

The wrong choice can mean inadequate weight capacity, unsuitable mechanisms for the building height, or a lift that simply isn’t built for its intended use.

This guide covers the main types of lifts available in the UK, from passenger and platform lifts to freight and service elevators, breaking down how each works, where it’s used, and what to consider before making a decision.

Types of Lifts

Types of Lifts

Lifts have many uses; therefore, each type requires different features to ensure successful operation.
 

Lifts for Homes

Lifts aren’t necessarily just used in commercial buildings; many households use lifts as well, from disabled access to apartment buildings.
 

Passenger Lifts

Passenger lifts are the most widely installed lift type in the UK. Used to transport people through a building, passenger elevators come in many different sizes and speeds, depending on the population of the building they are used in.

Take a look at a recent case study, where we fitted a new passenger lift for Mitford Court
 

Platform Lifts

Platform lifts are mainly used for disabled access and only travel a few floors. These lifts are also very slow, as they fall under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, rather than regular lift regulations.

Allied Lifts can help you with all of your lift needs, from repairs to lift testing. Browse our full list of services.
 

Lifts for Business

You more commonly see lifts in commercial properties, helping workers, visitors and customers get to where they need to go. Find out the types of lifts that could be found:
 

Service Lift

Service lifts are where the target user shifts. Whilst people do still use service lifts, they are a type of lift specifically tailored to the goods that they will be transporting. For example:

Location Target User Specialised Features
Hospitals Patient Transportation Increased depth to make room for hospital beds
Retail Stock replenishment High capacity, damage-resistant materials
Hotels Trolley carts, luggage transportation High-capacity and efficiency to avoid disrupting guests, with damage-resistant materials used.

Service lifts are also used to keep things out of sight, for example, to prevent crates of goods from being seen in a retail store when restocking, or removing rubbish from hotel rooms, to prevent this from being seen by guests.

Service lifts also have a higher weight limit, of up to 4,000-5,000 pounds.
 

Freight Lifts

Freight Lifts are for the heaviest of goods, including:

– Cars
– Machinery
– Cargo

Their weight limit often is as high as 100,000 lbs!

Freight lifts are often confused with service lifts, so what is the difference between a Service lift and a Freight lift?

Freight Lifts Service Lifts
Much larger, with dimensions reaching 15 ft x 20 ft Smaller, with dimensions reaching 6.5 ft x 10 ft
Slower movement More versatile
Mainly used in manufacturing settings More commonly seen in commercial buildings

 
 

Dumbwaiter

A dumbwaiter is a smaller version of a freight/service lift, and transports goods only. Common uses of Dumbwaiters include:
– Restaurants to transport food and dishes
– Hotels/care homes to transport laundry
– Libraries to transport books between floors or archives

Types of Lift Mechanisms

Types of Lift Mechanisms

Lifts, as much as their uses categorise them, fundamentally have mechanical differences that make them fit for their purpose.

 

Hydraulic Lifting Mechanisms

One of the most popular lift types due to its efficiency, hydraulic lifts use electric pumps to push hydraulic fluid into a cylinder, forcing a piston to move upward due to the increased pressure.

Hydraulic lifting mechanisms are mainly used in low-rise buildings, including:
– Passenger lifts
– Platform lifts
– Service lifts
– Freight lifts

According to the Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA), hydraulic systems remain among the most common choices for buildings under five storeys in the UK.

Arrange your lift installation today with Allied Lifts

 

Traction Lifting Mechanisms

Traction lifting mechanisms are well-suited to high-rise buildings, and work by using a motor attached to a pulley, with a rope or cable looped over it. A counterweight is then connected to the rope or cable, and the lift car to the other end. When the motor is activated, the car is either lifted or lowered, therefore allowing for high-speed travel.

Use cases of a traction lifting mechanism include:
– High-rise passenger lifts
– High-rise service lifts
– High-rise freight lifts

Why not take a look at our recent case study where we fitted a traction lifting mechanism in Preston Hospital?

 

Machine-Room-Less Lifting Mechanisms

A space-saving option. Machine-room-less lifting mechanisms operate within the hoistway itself, meaning there is no need for a control room. Therefore, these mechanisms are well-suited to small, low to mid-rise buildings.

The MRL mechanisms can be applied to many other lift mechanisms to provide a more compact lifting solution, such as:
– Hydraulic lifting mechanisms
– Compact service/freight lifts
– Traction passenger lifting mechanisms

 

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Post FAQs

How Do I Know Which Type of Lift I Need?

Knowing what lift type you need is simple. Ask yourself the following questions to guide you towards your perfect model:

Frequently
Asked Questions

If the lift will be used in your home, perhaps as a mobility aid, refer to our “lifts for homes” section.
Commercial or manufacturing? This has a large impact on the weight and size of lift required
Will you need damage-resistant materials? Or perhaps increased car depth?
People-only use points toward a passenger or platform lift. Mixed or goods-only use will require a service lift, freight lift or dumbwaiter depending on load size.
Heavy industrial loads, such as vehicles or machinery require freight lifts with significantly higher capacities than standard service lifts.
Low-rise buildings are typically well-served by hydraulic systems. For mid-to-high-rise buildings, traction mechanisms are more appropriate.
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Why Choose Allied Lifts?

Why Choose Allied Lifts?

Allied Lifts has been installing, maintaining and modernising lifts across the UK since 2002.

Over more than two decades in the industry, we’ve built a portfolio that spans small independent contracts through to large multi-site operations — including NHS Trusts, Local Authorities, Housing Associations, HM Prisons, Football Stadiums and specialist manufacturing plants.

Read reviews from our valued customers

Our wide range of services caters to all of our clients’ needs, from call-out services to passenger release training; we’re on hand to help.

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FAQs About Different Types of Lifts

FAQs About Different Types of Lifts

Frequently
Asked Questions

Passenger lifts are seen everywhere, as they are installed specifically to improve efficiency in everyday life.

Each time you leave your apartment in the morning, go to a shopping centre, or even commute to your workplace, you will most likely have the option to use a passenger lift.

Contact Allied Lifts for passenger lift installation

In commercial buildings, large weight limits aren’t necessarily required; therefore, the following lift types are most commonly found:
- Traction Lifting Mechanisms
- Hydraulic Lifting Mechanisms
- Machine-Room-Less Lifting Mechanisms

Browse our case studies to see how Allied Lifts could help you today

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