Thursday, July 10, 2014

What You Should Know About Elevator ADA Compliance

By Rosella Campbell


Modern technology has brought about many good things. Majority of the population have access to gadgets and appliances that make everyday routine faster, easier and better. Entertainment is already at its best with the creation of 3D films. Transportation to almost any part of the world is also made more convenient with airplanes and other modern forms of travel. Buildings have also reach teller limits, and they are often accessible only with an elevator ADA compliance.

An elevator, also known by the British as the lift, is a type of vertical transport equipment. It efficiently transports people in between floors within the same building. It is of great use especially in structures that have ten or more floors, when climbing the stairs to get to the desired level is just too much for the legs and might even injure the knees.

These lifts are generally powered by electric motors used to drive traction cables or to pump hydraulic fluid to raise a jack. In the field of agriculture and manufacturing, elevators are also used. They come as a type of conveyor that lifts materials in an unending stream into silos.

They are powered by traction cables or by hydraulic pumps. Electric motors will the cars to work in accordance to its purpose. Elevators are made primarily for passenger travel, to bring people to varying levels where they are required to go to. The capacity of each car is in direct proportion to floor space availability.

On the average, these elevators can carry from 500 to 2700 kg. The speed of the car travel greatly depends on the height of the infrastructure. Lower ones that only have eight levels maximum can travel 200 ft per minute. Those with more than eight levels can travel 500 ft per minute or more.

Some lifts are not meant for people. These are called freight elevators and are generally bigger and wider than most residential ones. They are used to carry goods and other stuff to specific floors inside a building.

These freight ones typically bear some sort of sign or warning that inhibits people from using it. It is not illegal to use one for use by people, though. There are even some buildings that allow the dual usage of these lifts, both for passenger and cargo.

Elevators are better alternatives that taking the stairs, especially for those people with disabilities. As of late, elevators are required to follow a certain set of rules and guidelines to be able to cater to these kinds of users. The ADA compliance ensures that a lift is safe and easy for use by these people.

Following these set of rules, present elevators that are made for access by people should also have an accessible route to get to the said lift. These cars should also feature an automatic operation that allows them to bring the car to floor landings within a tolerance of about half an inch. These rules are meant to give people with disabilities a fair and easy use of these transport systems to get them from place to place.




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