The More You Know

Types of Elevators

Single Elevator Access Control

These are the elevators that are located in smaller buildings taking people up one to six floors. They tend to take a long time coming down from the 5thfloor due to being the only elevator in the building.

 Elevator Banks

In larger building, you’ll most likely have an elevator bank. They help with the wait times because there are multiple elevators. 

 Types of Elevator Configurations 

 Public Elevator with Private Access to Selected Floors. 

This type of elevator is public in the sense that anyone can call an elevator by pushing the call button. Though, once inside the elevator, passengers will need to do a card read, allowing people access to particular floors. This setup will most likely have a call button in the lobby. The elevator access control group programs certain floors to unlock based on the presented credential (card). You usually have around 10 seconds to press certain floor buttons after the card has been presented. 

 Private Elevator for General Access to Any Floor.

This is opposite then the case above. Only passengers with verified credentials will be able to call for the elevator. Once in the car, the passenger will have access to any floor. Instead of having a call button, this setup has a reader in the lobby that allows cardholders to call a private elevator. 

 Private Elevator with Private Access to Selected Floor.

This situation is a combination of the two configurations along with added security. Not only is a passenger required to use their card to call an elevator, but they will also be required to do a card read once inside the elevator. These passengers will only have access to particular floors in which they have the credentials for. This elevator requires having a reader in the lobby and an additional reader in the car. 

 Destination Control Systems (DCS)

When a traditional DCS is used, the calls are only given from the Destination Operating Panel. In these elevators, the card reader is integrated only with the DOP. Access control systems can follow pre-determined actions depending on the trigger status from external systems including fire alarm, security, emergency systems and video.