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JAFITA — Elevator Addition for Existing Buildings
Existing city buildings that were not originally designed around a later elevator addition

01 · Elevator Addition for Existing Buildings

Add Vertical Access Without Rebuilding the Entire Property

Installing an elevator in an existing building is fundamentally different from specifying one for a new development. The shaft, entrances and construction limits are already set — the equipment has to be selected around the building.

02 · Start with the Existing Conditions

The Available Space Defines What Is Possible

For a new building, the elevator shaft can often be planned around the selected equipment. For an existing building, the process usually works in reverse.

The first questions are:

  • Where can the elevator be installed?
  • How much space is available?
  • Which floors need to be served?
  • Where can passengers enter and exit?
  • What construction work is practical?
  • What level of accessibility is required?

Only after these conditions are understood should the elevator configuration be discussed. A product selected before the site is reviewed may later conflict with the available shaft, entrance or structural conditions.

Floor-plan review used to test where an elevator can be added to an existing building
Read the building first. Then discuss the equipment.

03 · Typical Existing-Building Applications

Properties That Were Not Designed Around an Elevator

JAFITA’s wider project capability is supported by more than two decades of elevator industry experience and international business development since 2008. Existing-building enquiries typically fall into these applications.

Residents using a passenger elevator in an apartment building

Residential Buildings

For older apartment buildings where residents need improved vertical access between floors.

Residential or villa-style lobby where a private elevator may be added

Villas & Private Homes

For residences where accessibility, convenience or long-term mobility has become a priority.

Low-rise commercial lobby that may originally have been built without elevator access

Low-Rise Commercial Buildings

For offices, shops and other properties that were originally constructed without elevator access.

Public building concourse where circulation and accessibility may need improvement

Public Buildings

For facilities that need to improve accessibility or circulation within an existing structure.

Care staff supporting an elderly user who needs safer access between floors

Accessibility Improvement

For buildings where elderly users or people with limited mobility require safer access between floors.

First project discussion using building type, floors and available site information
08

Items that are enough to start a review

04 · What We Need to Understand First

Basic Building Information Is Enough to Start

If available, provide the following. No finalized elevator specification is required at this stage.

  1. 01

    Building Type

    Residential, commercial, public building or private home.

  2. 02

    Number of Floors

    Which floors need elevator access?

  3. 03

    Proposed Location

    Inside the building, beside it, or another available area.

  4. 04

    Available Space

    Approximate width, depth and height of the intended area.

  5. 05

    Entrance Requirements

    Which side should passengers enter from on each floor?

  6. 06

    Expected Users

    Residents, visitors, elderly or wheelchair users, or general traffic.

  7. 07

    Existing Drawings

    Floor plans, sections or site sketches if available.

  8. 08

    Site Photos

    Photographs of the proposed opening help close the drawing gap.

05 · Inside or Outside the Existing Building?

The Installation Position Changes the Solution

Depending on the property, an elevator may sit inside the existing envelope or in an external position connected to the building. Each approach creates different technical questions. The equipment should not be finalized until the installation concept is understood.

Elevator placed inside an existing building envelope

Internal installation

Inside the existing envelope

The floor opening, shaft space, circulation route and existing structure become the constraints. The equipment has to occupy space the building has already assigned to a stair well, a void, a courtyard or a service core.

Glass elevator shaft attached to the outside of an existing building

External installation

Attached beside the building

The new position must land cleanly at every served floor and coordinate with entrances, land availability and building access. An external shaft can avoid cutting a large opening inside — if the facade connection works.

Landing doors showing how hoistway, door opening and landing access must work together
Hoistway, pit and overhead reviewed together

06 · Space Matters

Hoistway, Pit and Overhead Must Be Reviewed Together

An elevator needs more than enough room for the car itself. The project also has to accommodate the complete system and required clearances.

  • Hoistway width
  • Hoistway depth
  • Pit depth
  • Overhead
  • Door opening
  • Landing access
  • Travel height
  • Number of stops

Existing buildings may have more restrictive conditions than new projects. Where space is limited, the equipment configuration must be evaluated against those restrictions before a proposal is treated as final.

Passengers using an elevator whose size and controls should match the actual users
User

Choose the elevator around the people who will use it

07 · Choose the Elevator Around the User

Accessibility Is More Than Adding a Lift

The appropriate elevator depends on who will use it and how. Understanding the user helps define the equipment more accurately.

  • Residential buildings with elderly residents

    Ease of entry, controls and daily convenience may be key priorities.

  • Wheelchair access

    The usable car space and entrance arrangement become especially important.

  • Commercial property

    Passenger flow and operating frequency may influence the configuration.

  • Private home

    Space, appearance and integration with the residence may be more important.

08 · Existing-Building Elevator Options

The Product Category Depends on the Site

Different properties may require different vertical-access solutions. The suitability of each solution must be evaluated against the actual building conditions.

Office passengers using a regular passenger elevator

Passenger Elevators

For buildings where regular passenger transportation is required.

Home or villa entrance hall suited to a residential elevator

Home Elevators

For villas, private homes and lower-rise residential applications.

Healthcare and mobility users for whom accessibility is the primary objective

Accessibility Solutions

For projects where mobility improvement is the primary objective.

Stairlift mounted along a residential staircase railing

Stairlifts

For certain staircase-based applications where a conventional elevator may not be the most practical first option.

09 · Existing Buildings Require More Technical Coordination

New Equipment Has to Meet an Old Structure

The challenge is not only selecting the elevator. The new system also has to interface with a building that was not originally designed around that equipment.

Complete elevator system that must interface with a building not designed around it
The interface is as important as the product
  1. 01

    Shaft Arrangement

    Where the elevator can physically be located.

  2. 02

    Landing Connections

    How each floor connects with the elevator entrance.

  3. 03

    Pit and Overhead

    Whether pit and overhead space can be formed.

  4. 04

    Door Arrangement

    Which entrance works with the building circulation.

  5. 05

    Power Supply

    What electrical conditions are available on site.

  6. 06

    Structural Coordination

    How the installation relates to the existing structure.

Structural engineering and local approval remain with the responsible professionals for the actual site.

Project review that turns site information into an equipment direction
01–06

From site information to equipment proposal

10 · From Site Information to Equipment Proposal

From Site Information to Equipment Proposal

  1. 01 · Share the existing building conditions

    Send floor plans, dimensions, sketches, photographs or other available information.

  2. 02 · Define the access requirement

    Clarify the served floors, expected users and intended elevator position.

  3. 03 · Review the available space

    The main shaft, pit, overhead and entrance conditions are considered.

  4. 04 · Develop an equipment direction

    A suitable elevator category and preliminary configuration can then be evaluated.

  5. 05 · Confirm the technical interfaces

    Final equipment dimensions and building interfaces need to be coordinated before supply.

  6. 06 · Prepare the project documentation

    Relevant elevator drawings and technical information can be coordinated according to the approved solution.

Existing staircase and structure where an elevator must fit without creating new construction conflicts
Feasibility and interfaces first. Finishes later.

11 · Fit Comes First

A New Elevator Should Fit the Building—not Create New Problems

Poor early coordination can lead to problems that appear only after the equipment has already been selected. The first stage should focus on feasibility and interface conditions rather than appearance or cabin finishes.

Finishes matter later. Fit comes first.

  1. 01 Insufficient shaft space
  2. 02 Inadequate pit conditions
  3. 03 Limited overhead
  4. 04 Entrance conflicts
  5. 05 Incorrect floor alignment
  6. 06 Unsuitable car dimensions
  7. 07 Construction changes after selection
Overseas city where an existing-building elevator project may be evaluated from another country
Clear visuals matter when the site is in another country

12 · Existing-Building Projects for Overseas Customers

Existing-Building Projects for Overseas Customers

JAFITA has been engaged in international elevator business since 2008 and has developed experience communicating with customers across different markets.

For overseas existing-building projects, it is particularly useful to provide clear visual and dimensional information because the customer, installation site and equipment supply team may be in different countries.

  • Floor plans
  • Building elevations
  • Section drawings
  • Measured dimensions
  • Site photographs
  • Short videos of the location
  • Project country
  • Required number of stops

The more clearly the existing conditions are shown, the easier it is to identify the technical questions that must be resolved.

13 · What JAFITA Helps Coordinate

From Equipment Choice Through International Supply

Depending on the project scope, our role may involve the items below. Final structural design, building modification, installation approval and local regulatory compliance remain with the responsible local professionals.

Showroom review of elevator equipment that may suit an existing-building addition 01

Equipment Selection

Evaluating suitable elevator or accessibility equipment against the actual building conditions.

Specified elevator lobby showing load, speed and entrance parameters to be coordinated 02

Technical Parameters

Coordinating rated load, speed, stops, travel and entrance requirements.

Technical drawings reviewed before elevator equipment drawings are issued 03

Elevator Drawings

Providing or coordinating equipment-related drawings according to the confirmed configuration.

Manufacturing of elevator structure that must later meet the existing building interfaces 04

Product Configuration

Confirming the selected elevator equipment, finishes and relevant technical options.

Team coordinating technical documentation for supplied elevator equipment 05

Documentation

Coordinating applicable technical information for the supplied equipment.

Export logistics supporting international supply of addition-project equipment 06

International Supply

Supporting export-oriented communication and delivery coordination for overseas projects.

14 · Why JAFITA for an Existing-Building Project?

Selected Around the Building You Already Have

We begin with the existing conditions instead of assuming that a standard model will fit every building.

Existing city buildings that were not originally planned around a later elevator addition
The building comes first. The equipment follows the site.
  1. 2001

    Industry Experience

    Two decades of elevator-sector work support the technical discussion behind equipment selection.

  2. OEM

    Manufacturing Understanding

    Freight-elevator and OEM work gives practical knowledge of structures and components.

  3. 20+

    Broader Product Resources

    Long-term industry relationships expand access to different elevator products.

  4. 2008

    International Communication

    Export experience supports customers whose projects are outside China.

  5. Site

    Project-Based Selection

    The equipment follows the building you already have, not a catalogue default.

Existing multi-storey building that may need an elevator added without a complete specification

15 · Have an Existing Building That Needs an Elevator?

You Do Not Need a Complete Specification to Contact Us

If architectural drawings are available, send them as well. We will review the information and help identify the technical conditions that need to be confirmed next.

  • 01 Project country
  • 02 Number of floors
  • 03 Proposed elevator location
  • 04 Photos or approximate dimensions
Send Your Building Information