How do traction lifts work?

Traction lifts require more height on the top floor to accommodate the lifting mechanism. Typically, on a rope and drum drive, the lifting mechanism is incorporated into the lift car which can make the top of the lift look very bulky and can be noisy.

Having the lifting mechanism incorporated into the car also reduces the internal headroom of the lift in addition to requiring additional external headroom. This can also mean that where ceilings are low in an upstairs room there may be a requirement to cut into the loft space to accommodate the lift.

Hydraulic lifts also require less headroom and allow the quiet drive mechanism to be placed up to 10 metres away from the lift, in a cupboard or even outside, maximising space on the floor, cabin space and further minimising noise.

Some people are concerned that hydraulic lifts may come with a risk of leaking hydraulic fluid, often oil, which can be detrimental to the environment. Indeed, there is a theoretical risk but in reality, it is very rare and only as likely as rust or corroded cables on a traction lift.

The speed of domestic lifts is regulated under BS5900:2012 to 0.06m per second and both traction and hydraulic lifts can easily match regulated maximums.

Hydraulic lifts can be remarkably quiet depending on the placement of the pump unit. Sensible placement of the pump will allow the lift to operate almost silently, especially on the downward journey. Noise levels on traction lifts can vary depending on the mechanism used and condition of motor, rope and gear mechanism.

The remote placement of a hydraulic pump also allows for ease of access for servicing.

All homelifts must have some sort of safety mechanism in the very rare event that a lift free falls. Hydraulic lifts have a safety valve that regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid in the down direction. If, for instance, a pipe were to be cut, the fast flow of hydraulic oil would be stopped by the safety valve stopping the lift from free falling. An added safety element is that the large mass of oil flowing through a small hole is in itself a flow regulator. Traction lifts have alternative emergency breaking mechanisms.

In the event of a power cut all homelifts use a battery backup that will allow a user to descend to the ground floor but they will not be able to travel up. However even under battery power the safety edges on all our homelifts will still operate.

Hydraulic lifts also allow for easy manual release at just the flick of a switch. Manual release on traction and rope and drum lifts is operated by handles or wheels and often require assistance from a service engineer.

Both kinds of lift should offer the optional extra of uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) that will allow for travel up and down during a power cut.

BS 5900 regulations state that homelifts should be connected to a dedicated spur rather than simply plugged into a 13amp socket. Our installation service includes this as standard.

Whether a lift has a traction or hydraulic drive has no bearing on whether it is self- supporting: virtually all compact lifts are self-supporting including all Stannah compact homelifts.

In conclusion we see hydraulic lift drives as the perfect choice for compact home lifts.