Installing elevators for existing buildings

It is necessary to install elevators in buildings with more than three floors, according to the latest construction rules and regulations. However, this requirement is not followed in old buildings and no space is considered for this in their plots. Sometimes, there is a demand to install an elevator in existing buildings, considering the needs of residents or changes in its application. Normally, this question arises for the owners of existing buildings if it is possible. Where should we install the elevator or what are the legal challenges and procedures to do so?
In the following lines, we try to explain all the information you require to install elevators in old buildings to help building owners install elevators in their buildings with the minimum challenge possible. It is worth noting that this is a very complicated and technical task and you need to consult with Owjlift elevator experts before making any effort. 

Possibility of installing elevator in old buildings

To determine if it is possible to install elevators in old buildings, you need to ask an elevator expert to visit the building. This person can provide you with all the necessary planning, recommendations, and designs to install the elevator. Therefore, you should let expert people or elevator companies run a feasibility analysis to see if it is possible to install an elevator in your existing company. 

The best place to install elevator:

To install elevators in existing buildings, a minimum of 0.6 to 1 square meter space is needed. With respect to the fact that no space is specified to install an elevator, the best challenge would be to run a feasibility analysis and find the proper place to install an elevator.
To install a 3-person-elevator a 0.6 square meter space, a 4-person-elevator a 0.8 square meter space, and a 5-person-elevator a 1 square meter space is needed. Normally, it is not possible to install elevators in spaces smaller than 120*120.
This required space is usually chosen in the middle of the stairs and in the vicinity of the entrance door of the units, in the roof light or yard.
In addition to that, if there is more than one staircase in the building, you can destroy one of the staircases to provide the necessary space for elevator installation. This is a very costly, complicated, and challenging solution, but this method can be employed if there is no way to install an elevator outside of the building. As a result, they destroyed a part of the building to make the necessary space for installing the device.
If there is enough space available in backyards, the elevator can be installed there. Sometimes, it is possible to install an elevator outside the building (in the building façade). However, you should check if those are common areas or not. In this case, you are required to obtain the necessary licenses or even purchase the land or pay a municipality penalty fee. 
Another option is to install elevators inside houses and it is implementable when there is only one unit on each building floor. 
To determine the proper place for installing an elevator, it is necessary to ask an elevator expert to visit and check its possibility.

The cost of installing elevator in existing buildings 2023

To install elevators in such buildings, it is necessary to get the satisfaction of all residents. Concerning rule No.23 of apartment ownership, the owners and floor residents of the building, even the ground and first floor, should share the cost of elevator installation. Of course, these costs are the same for all residents. 
As below, the most important factors determining the cost of elevators in these buildings are:
•    The number of floors
•    Type and price of elevator
•    The wage of the installer company
•    The costs of building destruction to provide the necessary space
•    Installation space
•    The costs of buying the land or municipality penalty fee if it is installed in common areas of the apartment or in the street
•    Expert analysis fee
•    Unpredicted costs or predicted ones such as Moving meters, pipes, and fittings
•    License fees 
•    Etc. 

There are rules and regulations determining the share of the installation costs between floor residents. Generally, the owners of each floor must pay twice the amount of payment compared to the floor below them.
 

Tips for installing elevators in existing buildings

When deciding to install an elevator in existing buildings, you need to pay attention to the below-mentioned tips:

Possibility of installing elevators in these buildings:

An elevator expert must visit the building, and find a proper place to install where future maintenance services can be provided easily. When choosing the space, you need to pay attention to capacity, building traffic, and type of usage.

Construction rules and safety issues:

For this purpose, national construction rules and building standards must be taken into account.

Elevator well space and its dimension:

You need to make sure that the elevator well and its dimension is appropriate for placing elevator equipment in.

Electrical and power supply issues

Before installing the elevator, please make sure that the elevator can supply the required electricity power to run the elevator. 
To install elevators in these buildings, you need three-phase electricity power. Yet, you can run the elevator with single-phase electricity, if hydraulic elevators are used for any reason.

Elevator capacity

The elevator capacity is determined with respect to building facilities, type of usage, traffic, and similar concerns. 
 

Type of elevator:

You need to choose the type of elevator after consulting with a technical elevator expert.

Elevator system: 

The elevator system including the type of doors, type of motor, safety control issues, and other elevator equipment should be chosen by the elevator expert.

Estimating costs before the implementation phase

Elevator Implementation operations in existing buildings are costly, complicated, and challenging. Please make sure that you have predicted the costs, and designated some budget for unpredicted issues, before the decision-making and implementation phase.

The elevator installation challenges in existing buildings:

The following lines explain the type of issues that arises for existing buildings:

Challenge over agreement between neighbors and residents of the building

Usually, one of the main problems that postpone setting up an elevator in old buildings is the lack of agreement among the residents of the building and discussions about common areas, the location of the elevator well, and changes in parts of the building or houses on different floors. You need to reach an agreement, before making any decision and implementing the project, over related issues with the residents.

The time-consuming process of expert approval, map preparation, and obtaining the necessary permits

Normally, the procedure for visiting the building, supply, and design of the required plot to add an elevator to an existing company is complicated and time-consuming. In addition to the above, you need to consider obtaining approval from the engineering system organization. If you are going to use the street or yard space to install an elevator, probably you should add the municipality fee to this list.

Sharing the costs of elevator installation

The National Regulatory Organization has devised measures for this issue and has introduced a fair method for dividing elevator costs. However, the first and ground-floor residents are not willing to pay the costs of installing an elevator as they do not use it. Yet, they need to pay attention to the fact that installing an elevator will finally result in an increase in the property's total worth.

Legal procedures for installing elevators in old buildings

After reaching an agreement to install an elevator, a technical expert visits the building determines the installation space, and provides its plot. In the next step, you need to obtain the required licenses from the engineering system office. 
According to municipality regulations for installing elevators in old buildings, the building owners, who have not gone through the legal procedures to install an elevator and have not obtained the municipality licenses for this purpose, will face problems when selling the property. Moreover, these elevators are not covered under accident insurance.
The municipality licenses to install an elevator in existing buildings is only required when the elevator is not placed in the inner space (outside the building, for example in the yard or in the façade). Otherwise, it is not necessary to obtain municipality licenses.
If the elevator is installed inside the building, the required steps should be taken to add this facility to the building documents.

Installing elevators in existing buildings in Mashhad

To determine if it is possible to install elevators in old buildings, you need to ask an elevator expert to visit the building. This is possible in some existing companies, while it is impossible in others.

Owjlift Company provides elevator installation consultation for existing buildings, relying on long years of experience and gaining the trust of clients in terms of installing elevators in all types of buildings. If you intend to add an elevator device to your existing building, please contact our technical experts. Of course, the services of this company are not specific to Mashhad and we have done multiple projects in other Iranian cities and neighboring countries such as Iraq and Oman.