Tag Archive for: aging in place

Elevator Service Company, Inc. Receives Approval for Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator in Massachusetts

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March 29, 2018 Cambridge, MA— As of 12:00 pm March 29, 2018, in Cambridge, MA, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has fully approved the use of the PVE 30, 37, and 52 models for residential use.
The PVE is an eco-friendly elevator, powered by air. The elevator comes in three models, including a wheelchair-accessible model. PVE has been a manufacturer in the US since 2002 and is approved in 49 states.
“PVE is thrilled with the recent outcome of the first unit inspected and approved in Massachusetts. It has been a long journey to get to this point, but with the team efforts of PVE and Elevator Service Company, we have successfully accomplished out goal. We look forward to operating in Massachusetts without any restrictions moving forward”
-Stephan Gruber, PVE

After working closely with the Board of Elevator Regulations and the Office of Public Safety & Inspections-Division of Professional Licensure, Elevator Service Company was granted exclusive approval to install the first PVE. Elevator Service Company, Inc.’s President, Steven Roth remarked: “Upon the elevator’s successful installation, the PVE is now formally approved, and is available to consumers, by the Massachusetts Board of Elevator Regulators. We look forward to providing the best products and services our industry has to offer.”
Elevator Service Company, Inc. furnishes and installs Pneumatic Vacuum elevator in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, and Eastern New York.
For more information on the Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator, please visit www.ElevatorServiceCo.com or www.vacuumelevators.com

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home elevator safety

Home Elevator Safety-Are Home Elevators Safe?

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Elevators in the home are highly beneficial as well as safe. Residential elevators provide ease of access to other floors in the home, provide a safer route for carrying things from floor to floor, and adds significant value to your house.

Are Home Elevators Safe?

Yes they are. Aside from the best quality and durability of our manufacturers’ products, they’re equipped with features that prevent injury and misuse. Home elevator regulations cover everything from the construction of the elevator shaftway, weight limit, speed, and travel distance.

Safety Features of a Residential Elevator

While each state has different rules and regulations, they all require safety mechanisms and codes to meet in order to pass inspection.

Door Interlocks

Many states including Connecticut require door interlocks at each landing to prevent any door accessing the elevator from being open if the cab is not at that particular landing.

Safety Sensors

There are two main types of safety sensors for home elevators: door sensors and pit sensors.

Door Sensor

Door sensors prevent the elevator doors from closing if an object is detected. They use infrared or LED lighting to create a curtain of sorts, illuminating the entry way to the elevator cab at the landing.

Pit Sensor

Elevator pit sensors detect anything that might be in the pit and if something is detected, the elevator will not operate.

Fire Alarm

Fire alarms are required for operation. They must be installed in the shaftway.

3″ Rule

The 3″ rule as it applies to home elevators refers to the space at the footing between the elevator and the landing. The rule says that the space cannot exceed 3″. This ensures that people and small pets do not fall through and trap them.

Elevator Phone

A landline must be active and connected to the cab phone inside the elevator.

Emergency Backup

An uninterruptible power supply is required for home elevators and is located inside the machine room. In the event of a power failure (power outage or shortage), the battery backup activates and lowers the cab to the first stop so you can exit safely.

 

Applicable Elevator Codes:

The Uniform Building Code (UBC) references the IBC (International Building Code) which references ASME A17.1.

Residential elevators are addressed in Part 5.3 of the ASME A17.1 code.

  • 5.3.1 Private Residence Electric Elevators
  • 5.3.2 Private Residence Hydraulic Elevators

This 2012 edition provides updated cross-references and additional guidelines to coordinate with A17.1-2007.  It also features new guidelines on machine room-less (MRL) configurations.

Local jurisdictions need to be reviewed for additional compliance items and local regulations.

Example : California has its own set of Safety orders for elevators.

  • Division of Occupational Safety and Health – Title 8 regulations
  • Division 1. Department of Industrial Relations
  • Chapter 4. Division of Industrial Safety
  • Subchapter 6. Elevator Safety Orders
  • Group 4
  • Article 41
senior falls statistics

Elevators Can Help Prevent Falls for Seniors

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Senior Falls and Costs

When it comes to getting older, one thing that every senior will be at risk of is suffering from a fall. In the milder cases, falls can result in bruises, scuffs, and a new-found fear of the stairs. In more severe cases, broken bones, concussion (TBI), and even death. Every year 25% of all people over the age of 65 will have a fall. Every 19 seconds, a death occurs from a fall (National Council on Aging). According to the Center for Disease Control, the average cost for a fall injury is $30,000 and in 2015, costs to Medicare, alone, totaled over $31 billion.

If you or your loved one has a fall and is severely injured, the cost of living could go up significantly. In Connecticut, the cost of assisted living ranges from $4,950-$11,000/month, or $439/day on average.

Adding a conventional residential elevator or a pneumatic vacuum elevator to your home is less than half of the cost of 6 months of assisted living.

When to Install an Elevator

A home elevator has numerous benefits regardless of age or disposition. A home elevator increases home value, provides a safer route to stairs for reaching multiple stories in the home, and provides a sense of luxury. Millennials  are starting to plan for their futures sooner than previous generations. Aging in place/thriving in place is preferred to nursing homes for most. The best time to install an elevator is when one is planning their future or if aging in place is already happening. A safer option for accessing floors in the home can save money and prevent severe injuries. Click here for elevator pricing.

 

architecture

Benefits of a Home Elevator

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Benefits of a Home Elevator

 

As times change and people live longer, more and more homeowners are installing elevators in their homes. Having a home elevator is an affordable solution for many needs and purposes. Whether you need to negotiate different levels of your home, looking to increase your home value or simply planning for the future, a home elevator is a wise investment.

 

Home Elevators Increase Home Value

Many home flippers are taking advantage of the instant dollar signs that come with putting an elevator in a house. Not only does it appeal to a larger home buying market, it can add $150,000 instantly to your home’s price.

Aging in Place

Aging in place is what everyone wants. When we are young and able, we don’t anticipate the effects of getting older. After age 65, many people have trouble getting up and down stair cases, in and out of bathtubs, etc. These situations can be a deal breaker for living in your own home- causing you to sell your home to live in a home that wasn’t originally your dream home, assisted living, or forced to move in with a family member or loved one. With the growing rates of assisted living and nursing homes, one could reason that the price of an elevator would cost less than three to four months of living in assisted/retirement communities.

stair chair for aging in place

Home Elevator is a Luxury

Home elevators are helpful in many ways, but also a luxury item. In larger homes, they certainly make life easier when traveling between floors. Home elevators can be customized with elaborate materials such as high end woods, marble, custom glass shaftways, and even gold.

Home Elevators Save Space

In the state of Connecticut, if you build a ramp, you must have 12 inches of length for every inch of rise (1:12). This can take up a great deal of space, very quickly. A home elevator takes up no more than 18 square feet in the home, saving far more space than that of a ramp.

ramp vs home elevator

Elevator Warranty

One of the best parts of having an elevator is being covered by warranty. Most manufacturers offer a standard 2-3 year warranty that will protect the home owner. Please note that regular service must be part of maintenance required for coverage under warranty. Elevator Service Company, Inc. has monthly, quarterly, biannual, and annual maintenance contracts that save time, money, and repairs.