Technical planning guides for elevators, lifts, and accessibility equipment.
Specs. Code. Cost. Timelines.
elevatorguide.com is a working technical reference for architects, engineers, contractors, and homeowners planning vertical-mobility projects. Each guide covers structural and electrical requirements, code compliance, real project costs, and installation timelines — written by people who actually install these systems.
01 / Categories
What's covered on elevatorguide.com
We publish technical planning guides across the major categories of vertical mobility equipment. Each category page lists the models we cover and links to detailed planning guides.
01 / 05LiveMost planning questionsVertical Platform Lifts
Open and enclosed VPLs for homes and public buildings.
Vertical platform lifts (VPLs) move a wheelchair user up a short distance — typically 14 feet or less — without the cost or complexity of a full elevator. Common in residential porches, light commercial entrances, and public buildings under ICC A117.1 / ASME A18.1.
- Standard
- ASME A18.1
- Typical travel
- Up to 14 ft
- Drive types
- Hydraulic, screw, chain
- 02 / 05In progress
Home Elevators
Private residence elevators — shaft, shaftless, and panoramic.
Residential elevators governed under ASME A17.1 Part 5.3 (private residence). Includes traditional shaft elevators, shaftless self-contained units, and panoramic glass models. Permit, structural, and inspection requirements vary by state.
- Standard
- ASME A17.1 Part 5.3
- Typical travel
- Up to 50 ft (6 stops)
- Drive types
- Hydraulic, winding drum, MRL traction
- 03 / 05In progress
Stairlifts
Straight, curved, and outdoor stairlifts.
Stairlifts attach to the staircase rather than the wall, with battery backup and weight capacities up to 600 lbs on heavy-duty models. Curved stairlifts require on-site rail measurement and 4–8 weeks lead time. Outdoor models add weather sealing.
- Standard
- ASME A18.1 (passenger lifts)
- Typical capacity
- 300–600 lbs
- Configurations
- Straight, curved, outdoor
- 04 / 05Planned
Dumbwaiters
Residential and commercial material lifts.
Small platform lifts for materials, not people. Common applications: residential kitchen-to-pantry, restaurant prep-to-dining, and commercial mailroom transfer. Code is distinct from passenger elevators (ASME A17.1 Part 7).
- Standard
- ASME A17.1 Part 7
- Typical capacity
- 75–750 lbs
- Configurations
- Floor-loading, counter-loading
- 05 / 05Planned
Commercial Elevators
LU/LA, MRL, and limited-use commercial elevators.
LU/LA (limited use, limited application) elevators sit between platform lifts and full commercial passenger elevators. Common in churches, small offices, and low-rise public buildings under ASME A17.1 Section 5.2. Inspection and licensing differ meaningfully from residential.
- Standard
- ASME A17.1 Section 5.2 (LU/LA)
- Typical travel
- Up to 25 ft
- Drive types
- Hydraulic, MRL traction
Need help selecting
Not sure which category fits your project?
Tell us the floors, the user, and the building type — we'll point you to the right guide and, if it's an NJ project, give you a working scope.
02 / Latest
Recently published & in progress
Each guide is reviewed by NJ-licensed elevator mechanics and dated. Linkable, citable, and updated as code and models change.
- M123-WCL-002Live
Cibes Primo & Cibes Air® Vertical Platform Lifts — Technical Planning Guide
Wheelchair LiftsSpecs, structural and electrical requirements, code compliance, real NJ project considerations, and installation timelines for the Cibes Primo (indoor/outdoor), Cibes Air® (indoor, design-forward), and Cibes Primo Outdoor screw-driven platform lifts. Swedish engineering, U.S. distribution. Written for the architects, engineers, and contractors specifying Cibes platform lifts into New Jersey projects.
Published 2026-05-08
- M123-WCL-001Live
Symmetry Vertical Platform Lifts — Technical Planning Guide
Wheelchair LiftsSpecs, structural and electrical requirements, code compliance, project costs, and installation timelines — written for the architects, engineers, and contractors specifying Symmetry VPLs into New Jersey projects. Mobility123 has installed hundreds of these. We wrote this so you can plan yours faster.
Published 2026-05-08
- M123-HE-001In progress
Stiltz Duo Alta Home Elevator — Technical Planning Guide
Home ElevatorsStiltz Duo Alta is a 2-person, self-contained home elevator with a small footprint and no separate machine room. This guide will cover ceiling-height tolerances, floor-cut planning, drive-tube routing, electrical service, ASME A17.1 §5.3 conformance, and real NJ project cost ranges across new-build and retrofit installations.
Published 2026-05-07
- M123-HE-002In progress
Stiltz Trio Alta Home Elevator — Technical Planning Guide
Home ElevatorsStiltz Trio Alta is the 3-person Stiltz model with a footprint sized for wheelchair use. This guide will cover when Trio Alta is the right call vs. Duo Alta, ceiling-height tolerances, floor-cut planning, accessibility door clearances, drive-tube routing, electrical service, and NJ project cost ranges.
Published 2026-05-07
- M123-WCL-002In progress
Savaria V-1504 Vertical Platform Lift — Technical Planning Guide
Wheelchair LiftsSavaria's V-1504 is a workhorse residential and light-commercial VPL — straight-rail screw drive, indoor or outdoor configurations, ASME A18.1. This guide will cover structural prep, electrical service, weatherproofing for outdoor runs, and the real NJ project cost range across porch retrofit, split-level, and garage-to-foyer applications.
Published 2026-05-07
03 / Project Quote
Have an NJ or eastern-PA project? We'll scope it.
Tell us about the project — building type, floors, user, and any constraints you've already identified. We respond within one business day with a working scope or a written turnkey quote, depending on how far along you are.
- Working scope or turnkey quote within 1 business day
- Includes structural, electrical, permit, and final inspection
- NJ elevator permit handled in-house
- Zero obligation, zero pressure