Hospital elevators are a vital component of medical infrastructure, helping to transport patients, medical equipment, and staff quickly and safely between floors. Because hospital environments require strict standards, the design of elevator cabins differs from that of conventional elevators in towers or malls.
What are hospital elevator cabins?
The hospital elevator cabin is the interior space that receives patients, whether in a hospital bed or wheelchair, as well as their attendants and medical staff. It features a spacious, sterile design to suit the nature of use in a healthcare environment.
Basic specifications for hospital elevator cabins
1. Dimensions and area
● The cabin width is usually between 1100 to 1600 mm, and the length is between 2100 to 2400 mm.
● Dimensions must be sufficient to accommodate a medical bed with attendants, without any obstruction to movement.
2. Flooring
● Antibacterial and easy-to-clean materials such as stain-resistant vinyl or stainless steel are used.
● Floors must withstand the heavy weights of medical equipment carts.
3. Walls and ceilings
● Made of stainless steel to facilitate sterilization processes.
● They often have rounded edges to reduce dust and bacteria buildup.
4. Doors
● Automatic sliding doors are wide (usually 1100 mm and above) to facilitate the entry of beds and wheelchairs.
● It is preferable for doors to have a double-sided opening system to facilitate movement in narrow hospital corridors.
5. Ventilation and sterilization systems
● The cabin includes high-efficiency ventilation fans.
● In some advanced hospitals, ultraviolet (UV) sterilization systems are installed inside the cabin.
Technical standards for hospital elevators
1. Payload
● The load capacity of hospital elevator cabins typically ranges from 1600 kg to 2000 kg, to accommodate the weight of the medical bed, equipment and attendants.
2. Speed
● The elevator speed ranges from 1 to 1.6 meters per second, ensuring rapid transport of patients, especially in emergency situations, while maintaining smooth movement to avoid vibrations that may harm patients.
3. Security systems
● Equipped with high security systems including:
○ Parachute blocks to prevent falls.
○ Sensors on doors to avoid closing while devices or people pass through.
○ Emergency interruption systems to ensure business continuity during power outages.
Why are hospital elevator cabins different from others?
● Transporting patients requires very smooth movement, unlike commercial elevators that may withstand slight vibrations.
● Larger dimensions are necessary to accommodate medical beds.
● Hygiene and sterilization requirements are higher, so special materials are used that are not available in regular elevators.
● Priority movement is available, as some elevators are connected to emergency systems to always be ready to transport critical cases.
a summary
Hospital elevator cabins are subject to strict standards for space, capacity, cleanliness, and safety, making them an indispensable element in ensuring the quality of medical services and patient safety. Therefore, it is always recommended to adhere to international standards such as EN81-70 and ISO 4190 when designing and installing these elevators.
If you're an engineer or someone responsible for furnishing a new hospital, be sure to choose specialized companies like Primo, which offer medical elevators to the highest international standards.
Read also: The benefits of panoramic elevators and why mall and hotel owners prefer them.
