Design Guidelines to Accommodate Potential Upgrading of Elevator Systems

Upgrading of elevators is carried out in the interests of maintaining building quality and attaining market rental income. Difficulties experienced in the upgrading of elevator systems indicate a need for development of guidelines to be considered in the initial design of buildings to facilitate upgrading of elevator systems in the future. The focus of this paper is on the development of design guidelines for the potential upgrading of elevator systems in high-rise buildings. A case study as to the difficulties encountered in upgrading an elevator system is included. Some types of upgrading and replacement now possible are reviewed. Responses from 92 design professionals (architects and engineers) in nine countries—namely, the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Singapore, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait—to a survey on the upgradeability of elevators have been summarized in the form of guidelines for use by building designers.