Which is better hydraulic lift or MRL lift?

Some may argue with me at this point and suggest that the debate will most likely be traction elevator vs. hydraulic , but I disagree. To prepare for your inevitable holiday debate, this article will compare and contrast traditional hydraulic elevators to the relatively new technology of hydraulic MRL (HMRL).

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As the holidays quickly approach this year, we have more to be thankful for than ever. Soon enough, millions of families across the United States will sit down at the table and engage in healthy conversation. Other than football, perhaps the most common topic of debate will undoubtably be about which hydraulic elevator to use, traditional or machine room-less.

If you’ve ridden an elevator in a two to five-story building, there is a very good chance that it was hydraulic. Instead of relying on a set of cables and pulleys to hoist the elevator from above, a hydraulic elevator relies on an in-ground jack or a set of above-ground jacks to lift the car from below.

Hydraulic elevators are used in low-rise applications because they are more affordable on the front-end (compared with traction) as well as cheaper to service. For decades, hydraulic elevators primarily consisted of an in-ground jack and a power unit located in a nearby machine room. This is known as a traditional hydraulic.

Modern traditional hydraulic elevators may now utilize a set of twin-post, above-ground jacks. In recent years, elevator companies have started to offer a hydraulic elevator with the equipment housed within the elevator shaft; this is known as a Hydraulic MRL, or HMRL. The question now is which one do you choose, traditional or HMRL?

Pros and Cons of Traditional Hydraulic Elevators

The traditional hydraulic elevator does have certain advantages over a Hydraulic MRL. Since the equipment for an HMRL must fit within the elevator shaft, the potential size of the equipment is limited. This puts restrictions on the machine or pump unit for the elevator which in turn limits the weight capacity and speed of the elevator. Since a traditional hydraulic relies on a machine room, if one wants to use a larger machine, simply build a larger machine room.

If you are looking for a high-weight-capacity elevator (such as a service or freight), a traditional hydraulic elevator may be the choice for you.

However, traditional hydraulics that rely on an in-ground jack can be expensive to install due to the need to drill a jack hole as deep as the overall net travel of the elevator. In other words, you will have to dig a hole as deep as the max height of the elevator. That cost can add up.

This also requires coordination of drilling before the building is built and craning in the jack before building the roof. Traditional hydraulics have been around for decades and are reliable and easy to service, but… they require that pesky old machine room.

Pros and Cons of Hydraulic MRL Elevators

The biggest selling factor for an Hydraulic MRL is that it does not require a machine room. This gives the building owner the option to use the space for something other than servicing the elevator, which can be a deciding factor when space is critical.

In retail settings, space = money.

In an HMRL, the power unit and jacks are contained above ground in the shaft, and as such, there’s no need to drill a jack hole. This makes an HMRL the obvious choice for existing buildings that are being renovated or adding an elevator. Since HMRL elevators rely upon twin-post, above-ground jacks, replacing the jacks is much simpler if needed down the road.

There is also no need to run hydraulic pipe from the machine room to the jacks, which removes additional equipment that may be difficult to service or replace.

But HMRL elevators are relatively new technology. As with any newer technology, technical and functional problems may arise until the technology is vetted by time. TKE’s hydraulic MRL technology has been around long enough to flush out and correct issues, but the “newness” has other cons.

In certain jurisdictions, HMRL technology is still not incorporated into elevator code. In Indiana — for example — in order to install an HMRL, the installing company must apply for variance to the elevator code that does not yet recognize HMRL technology.

This adds additional cost for permitting and can be a pain point for elevator inspectors who may differ on their interpretation of what is considered machine space or controller space. Since the equipment is contained in the shaft, some inspectors consider the entire shaft to be “machine space.” This interpretation now changes the lighting and smoke detection requirements in the shaft compared to a traditional hydraulic.

If you have made it to this point of the article, you must really like elevators. More importantly, you have all of the information to hold your own during your holiday debate.

To recap, if you are looking for an elevator to service up to five landings, a hydraulic elevator is most likely your most cost-efficient option. If you are looking for high weight capacity and higher speed options, a traditional hydraulic is the clear choice.

If you are looking for extra space or adding an elevator after a building is already constructed — an HMRL is for you.

Regardless of the outcome of your holiday debate, one thing is clear — if you are looking for an elevator, TKE has the right option for you. To learn more about our state-of-the-art hydraulic applications, take a look at the endura or endura MRL and find what best suits your needs.

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Electric MRL vs Hydraulic Elevators: What is Right for your Hotel?

In my last newsletter I answered some of the most common questions we receive regarding hotel elevators. Today I’ll discuss the two most popular types of elevators in low-rise hotels, Electric Machine Room Less (MRL) Elevators and Hydraulic Elevators.

Electric MRL Elevators

THE BASICS:

• This innovative system revolutionized the elevator industry and has since become the most popular type of elevator in low & midrise hotels.
• A traditional electric traction elevator has a dedicated machine room on the roof above the elevator shaft that houses all necessary components. A MRL electric traction elevator, on the other hand, has all necessary machinery components fit within the shaft containing the elevator car, eliminating the need for an extra mechanical space. 
• Sometimes, a control closet is needed depending on local codes. However, in many cases, you don’t even need a separate room for the controller and this can be installed within the elevator door frame on the top floor.
• MRL elevators have a maximum travel distance of up to 250 feet and can travel at speeds up to 500 feet per minute. 

See below schematic of a typical MRL elevator.

THE BENEFITS:

• Reduced Energy Use – MRL elevators use approximately 70-80% less energy than hydraulic elevators.
• Increased Usable Space – MRL elevators do not require a machine room.
• Environmentally Friendly – Does not require any oil, eliminating the possibility of groundwater contamination and the need for oil interceptors below the elevator pit.
• Faster Speeds – Can operate at faster speeds than traditional hydraulic elevators.
• Increased Acceleration/Deceleration Rates – An MRL elevator will have faster acceleration and deceleration than a hydraulic, which at low rises, makes up much of the overall time from from floor to floor. Often this feature is more important than higher speeds.

THE DRAWBACKS:

• Higher Upfront Cost – MRL elevators have a higher initial cost that is about 20% more than hydraulic elevators.
• Increased Maintenance Costs – MRLs have many moving parts and are more complex to service.

Hydraulic Elevators

THE BASICS:

• These elevators operate via a piston that is located at the bottom of the elevator that pushes the cabin up.
• The elevator shaft has space below the floor (elevator pit), which houses the retracting piston as the elevator descends. (This pit is required as a refuge space for all elevator types by code.)
• Some configurations have a telescoping piston that collapses and requires a shallower hole below the pit.
• The max travel distance is approximately 60 feet with a max speed of 150 feet per minute.
• The machine room is located at the lowest level adjacent to the elevator shaft. (Please note that some manufacturers do make MRL hydraulic elevators, but some states such as CA and WA do not allow these).

THE BENEFITS:

• Lower Price – Hydraulic elevators reduce costs approximately 20% when compared with MRL elevators.
• More Capacity – Hydraulics provide a greater lifting force than traditional electric MRL elevators. However, this is typically only relevant for heavy-duty applications such as large freight elevators.

THE DRAWBACKS:

• Lower Speeds & Acceleration/Deceleration – Hydraulic elevators can travel at maximum speeds of 150 feet per minute while MRL elevators reach 500 feet per minute. In addition, their time to get up to speed and then slow to a stop is much longer than that of a MRL. Slow elevator speed is a common reason for guest complaints.
• Environment Concerns – Hydraulic systems contain oil which requires an oil interceptor to be installed below the elevator pit.
• High Risk in Extreme Conditions – In a fire, hydraulic fluid is unreliable and can be flammable.

Here are top 5 elevator manufacturers we typically see in our hotel designs. Most of these manufacturers have options for both MRL and hydraulic elevators:

If you would like to discuss whether a particular type of elevator might be right for your next project, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you,

Blair Hildahl

Base4 Principal

608.304.5228

BlairH@base-4.com

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