Machine-room-less (MRL) lifts

It is a lift whose traction machine and control cabinet are housed in the shaft itself - usually at the top or beside the guide rails. No separate room above the shaft is needed, so the building can be lower and the usable roof area stays free.

Sometimes yes, sometimes it needs rework. Three dimensions decide it: shaft width and depth, the height from the top landing level to the slab above, and pit depth. Old shafts were built for a geared machine in a machine room, and they often have less clearance at the top than an MRL requires. We come out and measure the actual shaft - we don't make decisions based on old drawings.

Using the emergency operation device: a panel with a removable key next to the landing doors lets you move the car slowly to the nearest landing and open the doors. This used to be done with a handwheel in the machine room; now it is done right from the floor. The procedure must be known not only by our emergency crew but also by the responsible member of staff on site.

The main saving comes from the gearless drive with variable frequency control: there are no gearbox losses, the starting current is lower and speed is controlled smoothly. Manufacturers claim up to 40% compared with a geared machine, but the real figure depends on the load and the number of trips. LED lighting that switches off in standby is also fitted, and energy regeneration back to the grid is available as an option.

Most often it is built into the door frame at the top landing or into a wall recess nearby - behind a panel that opens with a key. This has to be taken into account at the finishing stage: the technician needs clear working space in front of the cabinet, so furniture, cupboards or signs must not be placed there. Unfortunately, people usually remember this only after the refurbishment.

The equipment itself usually costs more. But you need to compare the full cost: a machine room means walls, a floor slab, doors, ventilation, lighting, a separate entrance and lost usable space at the top. When a developer adds it all up, the difference mostly disappears, and MRL also saves on building height.