How to Choose the Right Lift Installation for Your Business

Choosing the right lift installation is more than a question of convenience – it’s about efficiency, safety, and compliance. Whether you’re managing a hospitality venue, commercial kitchen, office block or warehouse, selecting the most appropriate lift system will enhance the day-to-day operation of your business.

At Eternal Elevators, we specialise in the design, supply, installation and servicing of a wide range of commercial lifts across Scotland. From compact dumbwaiter lift installations to high-capacity passenger lifts, our expert lift service engineers tailor every solution to meet your building and business requirements.

In this guide, we’ll help you identify the key questions to ask when selecting a lift and walk you through the various lift types available.

Understand Your Business Needs

Before choosing a lift, it’s important to assess how it will be used and what role it needs to fulfil within your premises. Start with the following questions:

Is the Lift for People or Goods?

The first consideration is whether your lift will transport people, goods, or both. If it’s for staff, customers or clients, then a passenger lift – which complies with stringent safety and accessibility regulations – is essential. These lifts are engineered for frequent use and are available in various sizes and finishes to suit your premises.

If you're transporting stock or catering equipment, a service lift installation or dumbwaiter lift may be more appropriate. Goods lifts are designed to handle heavy loads and can improve workflow in environments such as warehouses, restaurants and hotels.

Eternal Elevators provides both passenger and goods lift solutions, ensuring full compliance with the UK’s Lifts Regulations 2016 and LOLER standards.

How Many Floors Will It Serve?

The number of stops your lift must make will influence the lift mechanism required and its overall design. A small café with a basement kitchen may only need a short-travel lift, while a multi-storey office block requires a high-performance passenger lift.

Our team at Eternal Elevators will recommend the ideal lift system depending on your floor levels, footfall, and energy requirements.

Who Will Be Using the Lift?

Accessibility is another vital consideration. Will the lift be used by employees only, or will it need to be suitable for the general public or wheelchair users?

Under the Equality Act 2010, businesses have a legal obligation to ensure reasonable access for all. Platform lifts and wheelchair lifts can provide safe and dignified access to all areas of your building – ideal for public-facing businesses or premises without full passenger lift access.

Assess the Physical Space You Have

Lift installation isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your choice may be constrained or influenced by the layout and size of your premises. Some questions to consider:

●      Do you have a lift shaft or space to build one?

●      How wide are your entryways and corridors?

●      What floor structure and load-bearing capabilities does your building have?

For smaller businesses or buildings with restricted space, a dumbwaiter lift installation is often the perfect solution. These compact lifts are ideal for transferring items like food, documents or stock between floors without requiring full passenger capacity.

At Eternal Elevators, our expert lift service engineers conduct a full site survey to evaluate your space and recommend the most efficient and cost-effective lift for your layout.

Determine Capacity and Frequency of Use

Different lifts serve different usage levels. Understanding how often and by whom the lift will be used helps define your system’s required size, durability, and motor type.

●      High traffic areas (e.g. hotels, shopping centres, offices) benefit from robust, high-capacity passenger lifts with fast travel speeds and durability.

●      Light use (e.g. boutique retailers, private practices) may only require a smaller lift or platform system.

●      Specialised environments (e.g. commercial kitchens, archives) may benefit most from dumbwaiter lifts to reduce foot traffic and improve efficiency.

Eternal Elevators works closely with clients to calculate the correct load rating and usage cycle, ensuring the lift we install is compliant with EN 81-20 and EN 81-50 safety standards.

Know Your Legal and Safety Obligations

In the UK, lift installation is governed by several important regulations, including:

●      The Lifts Regulations 2016 – covering design, installation and CE marking

●      LOLER 1998 – ensuring regular inspections and safe usage

●      EN81 Standards – providing European benchmarks for safety and accessibility

It’s essential that your lift installation meets all these standards, not just for legal compliance but also to protect the safety of your employees and customers.

Our qualified lift service engineers at Eternal Elevators are fully trained in all relevant UK legislation and safety procedures. We guide businesses from planning to installation, then support with servicing and maintenance to keep lifts legally compliant and functioning efficiently.

Choose the Right Lift Type for Your Business

Eternal Elevators offers a comprehensive range of lift systems for commercial use. Here’s a breakdown of each type and the environments they suit best:

Passenger Lifts

Ideal for commercial buildings, hotels, and offices with multiple storeys. These lifts are built for regular use and can be finished to match your interior aesthetic.

Goods Lifts / Service Lifts

Perfect for warehouses, manufacturing sites, and commercial kitchens. Designed to transport goods, trolleys, or equipment across floors.

Dumbwaiter Lifts

Small but mighty, these are ideal for restaurants, hotels, and healthcare facilities. They improve workflow by safely transporting food, documents, or stock between levels.

Platform Lifts

A great solution for buildings needing improved accessibility but with space limitations. Suitable for retail units, surgeries, and schools.

Wheelchair Lifts

Designed specifically to meet the needs of wheelchair users, these lifts offer smooth, reliable access for those with limited mobility.

To help you decide on the ideal lift installation for your business, here’s a quick comparison of the different lift types we offer. This table highlights the key features and benefits of each lift to make your decision easier.

Not sure which lift suits your environment? Our team can help assess your business type, user requirements, and layout to provide a recommendation.

Work with an Expert Installation Partner

A successful lift installation begins with expert consultation. At Eternal Elevators, we pride ourselves on providing personalised service, from initial site survey through to long-term servicing. Operating across Scotland, our team of experienced lift service engineers works with you to develop bespoke solutions that align with your operations and building structure.

We don’t just install lifts – we maintain them. Our responsive maintenance packages ensure your system runs smoothly, with minimal disruption and maximum safety. Whether you're upgrading an old system or planning a new build, Eternal Elevators brings local knowledge, technical expertise and friendly service to every project.

Get the Right Lift, Installed by Experts

The right lift installation can improve your business's functionality, customer experience, and accessibility – all while ensuring safety and legal compliance. By asking the right questions about your needs, usage, and space, you can choose a system that’s efficient, reliable, and future-proof.

Whether you need a service lift for your kitchen, a reliable passenger lift for your premises, or a compact dumbwaiter to streamline your operations, Eternal Elevators can help. Get in touch with our expert lift service engineers today to book a free consultation or site survey. Let us help you find the right lift installation solution for your business across Scotland.