ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a comparison between lifts and escalators for low rise buildings. It examines, during uppeak, whether lifts or escalators provide the fastest travel time, when serving a high density, low rise building. Calculations show that three lifts are required to serve a single floor above ground, four lifts to serve two floors above ground, five lifts to serve three floors above ground, and six lifts to serve four floors above ground. For calculation purposes, it is assumed that the escalator passengers stand and do not walk on the escalator, and that the escalators are arranged in either a parallel or a cross-over configuration. Escalators are quickest when there is only one floor above, equal for two floors above, but slower thereafter. Lifts may occupy more space for the low rise scenarios and less for the high rise. The escalator option is cheaper for the low rise scenario.
