Home Elevator
FAQ
As the world’s only air-driven home elevators, Airlift Elevators elegantly provide accessibility and enhance the value of your home while requiring much less construction, space, energy and maintenance when compared to traditional home elevators and/or home lifts. Using Pneumatic Technology to generate lift, these self-supporting, panoramic elevators offer homeowners an eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing solution for any retro-fit or new construction project. Manufactured in Miami, Florida USA, Airlift Elevators can travel 2 – 5 stops or 50 feet (15m) in total rise and are commonly installed in as little as 2 -3 days.
Airlift Elevators are the only elevators in the world powered by the most abundant resource in the world, AIR! Resting on the existing ground floor, these plug and play elevators combine a beautiful external cylinder shaft with a fully welded and self-contained cabin on the interior that offers a 360° degree experience while traveling up and down. By manipulating air pressure, the principle of operation is based on the ascending push generated by the difference between the atmospheric pressure on top of and under the sealed car. The depression (vacuum) required to lift the car is achieved by turbines operating as exhaust fans which are located at the top of the elevator, or can also be remotely located. The descent is achieved by gravity, slowly allowing air back into the system at a controlled pace so the cabin can smoothly get to the lower level(s). Since 2002, Airlift Elevators have developed a reputation for being a safe, reliable, aesthetically pleasing elevator to accommodate accessibility and architectural needs worldwide.
All elevators generate sound while the machinery is operational and PVE has machinery options that are as quiet, if not quieter than alternative products on the market. With the machinery only activated when the elevator is in use, Airlift Elevators have a number of machinery options available for homeowners to choose from in order to fit their audio comforts and needs. View our machinery video online to learn more and to hear each machinery upgrade option available.
Fully certified home elevators are extremely safe for homeowners. PVE’s easy-to-install, self-supporting home elevators are fully certified by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in all 50 states and 90+ countries globally under the European Machinery Directive, with 18+ years of experience in the market. In the event of a power failure while in operation, gravity will slowly bring the cabin down to the ground level, at which point the passenger is able to get out. All of the PVE home elevator models are fully equipped with mechanical car locking devices on each floor and have a full set of Type A Safety Brakes, meeting the most stringent requirements in the industry. In addition, per elevator code, these fully certified home elevators come equipped with an in-cabin phone to ensure the passenger can communicate in the event of an emergency. Pneumatic Airlift Elevators, LLC has a very unique approach in the industry in that every elevator undergoes full operational testing at the factory before shipping, ensuring the highest quality standards are met.
Custom built to the height of the home, Airlift Elevators can travel up to 5 stops or 50 feet (15 m) in total rise.
While Pneumatic Elevators are panoramic, they are manufactured using Polycarbonate Panels and are not manufactured using glass. Polycarbonate panels are much lighter and stronger than glass panels, with an impact resistance approximately 200 times stronger than glass. Each one of the panels on the elevator can be replaced in the event that a panel is damaged, scratched, etc.
PVE’s self-supporting home elevators require the least the amount of space and construction needed to install a home elevator. The requirements vary depending on the Vacuum Elevator model chosen and the type of application. With three models to choose from, each Vacuum Elevator model has a different exterior diameter. With Vacuum Elevator installations, there are 2 types of applications: through-floor and balcony mounted applications. For Through-Floor Applications, where the elevator will be traveling through the floor, the through-floor hole needs to be 2” inches greater than the exterior diameter of the elevator. For balcony Mounted applications, there needs to be the clear space to accommodate the exterior diameter of the elevator, and often a landing needs to be constructed to ensure ease of entry on the top floor. Speak with a PVE Sales Representative to verify the space needed to accommodate your desired Vacuum Elevator.
With three Vacuum Elevator model to choose from, ranging from a single passenger to a three-passenger wheelchair accessible model, there is a Vacuum Elevator to meet all requirements. The Single passenger, PVE30 model has a total exterior diameter of 30” inches. The Two Passenger, PVE37 model has a total exterior diameter of 37” inches. The Three Passenger, PVE52 model has a total exterior diameter of 52” 11/16 inches
Given that every home elevator is custom built for each project, the total cost of the elevator can vary depending upon a number of factors. Those factors can include, but are not limited to: Elevator model chosen, Number of stops, Total-floor-to-floor height, Upgrades chosen, Shipping, Complexity of Installation and Taxes specific to your state. Given that each Vacuum Elevator is custom built to the home, a site-visit is often needed where a local Sales Representative will visit the residence to assist with finding an installation location and gathering all the information needed to provide a formal quotation.
Yes you can! Without the need for a shaft, pit or machine room, Airlift Elevators simply rest on the existing ground floor, offering more flexibility with where they can be installed inside the home and have fewer pre-construction requirements than traditional elevators. With three sizes to choose from, these plug & play elevators are also space saving solutions for the home. Due to these innovative features, Airlift Elevators can be installed almost anywhere inside the home as long as there is enough space to accommodate one of our three PVE models. With installations taking as little as 2 -3 days, homeowners can have a home elevator installed without all of the construction and cumbersome requirements often associated with traditional elevators. Due to its self-supporting design, Airlift Elevators are also transportable allowing the elevator to be disassembled and reinstalled in another residence if requested.