Elevators speed

The elevator is the most comfortable vertical displacement method. Especially when a building develops considerably in height, its presence can represent a benefit not just, allowing you to reach the upper floors saving not only time, but also a considerable dose of fatigue, especially when they bring with them extra weights, such as for example, shopping bags.

Among the features that diversify platforms for vertical transport, there is also speed. In fact, between one model and another there may be considerable differences in terms of speed, also because one thing is having to serve maybe a four-story building and much more is having to do with a building that in turn goes to touch a dozen and well.

To better understand what differences can exist in terms of speed, just remember that the fastest elevators currently existing are considered those of Taipei 101 (the third highest skyscraper in the world), which can reach a speed of 60.6 km time and allow you to reach the roof of the building, located on the 89th floor at an altitude of 382 meters, in a time frame of about 40 seconds. A record made by Toshiba that has been questioned by the announcement of Mitsubishi Electric, which in turn intends to build the fastest elevator in the world for the Shanghai Tower that stands in the heart of Pudong (the financial district of the city) for effect of a height of 632 meters. In this case, the three main elevators will travel at a speed of 18 meters per second, in order to reach the 119th floor, where the panoramic terrace is located. In this case the speed reached will be of 1080 meters per minute, or almost 65 kilometers per hour.

Of course, such a speed could be a major problem for users, for example in the form of annoyances in the ears. To avoid them is a system of regulation of atmospheric pressure, similar to that of aircraft.

In normal buildings, regardless of their height, these speeds are not naturally necessary, but they can also differ considerably, precisely in consideration of the context that each of them is called to serve. What does the existing legislation say about it?

Presidential Decree 214 of 2010

The speed of the lifts is in fact the theme addressed by Presidential Decree 214 issued during 2010, in particular Chapter II. Used to implement the amendments to Directive 95/16 / EC, it goes in practice to divide the elevator family into two very specific categories:

1) the “fast elevators”, whose speed exceeds 0.15 m / s, which fall under the Lift Directive;

2) “slow elevators”, whose speed is less than or equal to 0.15 m / s, which instead fall within the Machinery Directive.

It should also be noted that within the scope of application of Chapter II of the Decree appear to fall both the lifts for the disabled and the rides with the user on board who are equipped with load support and not necessarily cabin and that go to move at a lower speed or equal to 0.15 meters per second on a path also inclined with a stroke greater than or equal to 2 meters (without prejudice to the other requirements that are proper in defining an elevator).