A lift quotation is full of short, technical words. If you do not know what they mean, you cannot compare offers or ask good questions. This glossary explains forty common lift terms in plain language, so that you can read a quotation from the best elevator company in Bangalore with confidence and notice when something important is missing. Keep it open next to any quotation you receive.
How to use this glossary
When a term appears in a quotation, find it here, understand what it does and ask the company to confirm it in writing for your lift. The best elevator company in Bangalore will happily explain any term and show where it appears in your specification. If a company avoids explaining a term, that is useful information too.
Parts of the lift, A to G
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Alarm | A bell or buzzer passengers press to call for help |
| ARD (automatic rescue device) | A system that brings the cabin to the nearest floor and opens the doors during a power failure |
| Buffer | A shock absorber at the bottom of the shaft that cushions the cabin or counterweight in extreme cases |
| Cabin (car) | The enclosed space that carries passengers or goods |
| Capacity | The maximum load the lift is designed to carry, shown in kilograms and persons |
| Controller | The electronic brain that reads calls and decides how the lift moves |
| Counterweight | A weight that balances the cabin so the motor lifts only the difference |
| Car operating panel (COP) | The button panel inside the cabin |
| Door operator | The mechanism that opens and closes the cabin door |
| Drive | The system that powers the motor and controls speed |
| Governor | A speed-sensing device that triggers the safety gear if the cabin moves too fast |
| Group control | A controller that coordinates two or more lifts to reduce waiting. See how group control works |
| Guide rails | Vertical steel tracks that keep the cabin moving straight |
Parts of the lift, H to S
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Hall call | The button on a landing used to call the lift |
| Hydraulic lift | A lift pushed up by hydraulic fluid and a piston, common for short travel |
| Interlock | A device that prevents the lift moving unless doors are closed and locked |
| Intercom | A speaker system to talk to someone outside the lift |
| Landing | The floor area outside the lift door |
| Levelling | How accurately the cabin stops flush with the floor |
| Limit switch | A switch that stops the lift at the ends of travel |
| Machine room | A room that houses the motor and controller in some lift types |
| MRL (machine-room-less) | A lift with its machine inside the shaft. See MRL lifts |
| Overhead | The headroom above the top landing needed for safe operation |
| Overload protection | A sensor that stops the lift from moving when the load is too heavy. See lift overload |
| Pit | The space below the lowest landing |
| Rated speed | The designed travel speed of the lift |
| Safety gear | A device that grips the guide rails to stop the cabin in an emergency |
| Shaft (hoistway) | The vertical space the lift travels in |
| Sill | The threshold at the bottom of a lift door |
Types and uses
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Traction lift | A lift moved by ropes or belts over a drive wheel, with a counterweight |
| Through door | A cabin with doors on opposite sides |
| Service lift | A lift used for goods, staff and housekeeping |
| Dumbwaiter | A small lift for moving food or items between floors. See dumbwaiters |
| Escalator | A moving staircase. See escalators |
| Platform lift | An open vertical platform for short rises |
Contract and service terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| AMC | Annual maintenance contract for regular servicing. See AMC guide |
| Comprehensive AMC | An AMC that includes most parts, with listed exclusions |
| Condition report | A written assessment of the lift's state |
| Commissioning | Final testing and adjustment before the lift enters service. See commissioning checklist |
| Licence | The permission to operate a lift after inspection. See inspection and licence |
| Modernization | Replacing worn or outdated parts of an existing lift. See lift modernization |
| Retrofit | Adding a lift to a building that did not have one |
| Exclusions | Items not covered by a quotation or contract |
Five terms that cause the most confusion
- Capacity in kg vs persons. The kg figure is the limit; persons is an estimate.
- Pit and overhead. They are part of the shaft and affect construction.
- AMC vs warranty. Warranty covers defects for a period; AMC covers servicing. See warranty vs AMC.
- MRL vs machine-room lifts. They differ in where the machine sits.
- Comprehensive vs non-comprehensive. The difference is mostly parts.
Questions to ask using these terms
- What is the pit depth and overhead height required for this lift?
- Does the quotation include an ARD or another rescue method?
- Which parts are excluded from the AMC?
- Who handles licence and commissioning?
The best elevator company in Bangalore answers each of these in writing.
Your glossary partner
About Eider Elevators
Eider Elevators Pvt. Ltd. is a lift and elevator company in Bangalore, based in Battarahalli on Old Madras Road. We install lifts and elevators for homes, villas, apartments, hospitals and commercial buildings, and we provide service, repair, modernization and AMC across Bengaluru. We are an installation and service company and we do not describe ourselves as a manufacturer. Every project starts with a site survey and a written quotation. If a term in any quotation is unclear, send it to us and we will explain it. Call +91-8861475111 or request a site visit. You can judge whether we are the best elevator company in Bangalore for your building by asking us the questions in this guide.
See the main guide to the best elevator company in Bangalore and how to read a lift quotation.
Key takeaways
- Forty plain-language terms to help you read any lift quotation.
- Ask the best elevator company in Bangalore to confirm each term for your lift in writing.
- AMC, warranty, pit, overhead and ARD cause the most confusion.
More guides on choosing the best elevator company in Bangalore
This article is part of a series that helps you choose the best elevator company in Bangalore. Continue with these guides, or open the main guide to the best elevator company in Bangalore.
- Best Elevator Company in Bangalore Step by Step Timeline
- Best Elevator Company in Bangalore 10 Year Budget Worksheet
- Best Elevator Company in Bangalore for Warehouses
- Best Elevator Company in Bangalore for Senior Living
- Best Elevator Company in Bangalore Self Safety Check
- Best Elevator Company in Bangalore Myths and Facts
- Best Elevator Company in Bangalore for Car Lifts
- Best Elevator Company in Bangalore Documents Checklist
Where we work: Lift Glossary and more
For lift glossary, Eider Elevators visits sites across Bengaluru, including Jayanagar, JP Nagar, Banashankari, Bannerghatta Road, Electronic City, Sarjapur Road, Bommanahalli, Rajajinagar, Malleshwaram, Yeshwanthpur, Peenya, Vijayanagar, Nagarbhavi and Kengeri. If your area is not listed, call us and we will confirm coverage. Our team is based in Battarahalli on Old Madras Road, which gives quick access to east, north and central Bangalore, and we travel to south and west Bangalore for surveys and service. See the full areas we serve page, or read the local guides for Whitefield, North Bangalore, HSR and Koramangala, Jayanagar and JP Nagar, Electronic City and Rajajinagar.
What to keep ready before you call
A short checklist makes the first conversation faster and the site visit more useful:
- Your location and the type of building (house, apartment, hospital, office, warehouse).
- The number of floors you want to serve and whether a shaft already exists.
- Drawings or photographs of the staircase, shaft area or existing lift, if you have them.
- The number of daily users and any wheelchair, stretcher or goods needs.
- Your timeline, budget range and any finish preferences for the cabin and doors.
- The current AMC or warranty papers if you already have a lift.
Eider Elevators at a glance
| Service | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Lift and elevator installation | Site survey, recommendation, written quotation, installation, testing and handover for homes, villas, apartments, hospitals and commercial buildings |
| Service and repair | Fault diagnosis, repair and scheduled servicing. See lift repair and service |
| AMC | Annual maintenance contracts with written scope. See lift AMC companies in Bangalore |
| Modernization | Controller, drive, door and cabin upgrades. See lift modernization |
| Contact | +91-8861475111, +91-8884455178, info@eiderelevators.com |
Popular searches in Bangalore
People looking for lifts and elevators in Bangalore often search for the phrases below. Each one opens a detailed guide from Eider Elevators, a lift company and elevator company near you in Bangalore.
