If your company has ever received the question “How fast do elevators move?” from a wary customer, you may have been unsure how to respond. Knowing the answer can help put fearful patrons’ minds at ease and provide an accurate estimate of how long it takes to go from the first to the top floor of your building.
To instill even more peace of mind, consider implementing an elevator phone monitoring service.
Average Speed of an Elevator
Elevators travel at an average speed of anywhere from 200 to 500 feet per minute (FPM), which is just over two to five miles per hour. However, some models move faster or slower than this based on several factors.
Many people are surprised to learn that the average speed is this low. Elevators often feel like they are moving faster than they are, partially because people are not used to traveling vertically.
Factors Affecting Elevator Speeds
Not all elevators travel at the exact same speed. The speed measurement for the model in your building depends on several factors:
- Building height: Buildings with dozens of floors tend to have faster elevators to minimize the time it takes to travel to the top. Meanwhile, if a building only has two or three floors, patrons won’t mind waiting a few extra seconds to reach their destinations.
- Capacity: Systems with larger capacities often travel slower to account for the extra weight in their cars.
- Type of elevator: Some models are designed to move faster. High-speed elevators can safely travel up to 40 miles per hour.
- Building and elevator age: Modern systems in high-tech buildings can travel faster than ones of decades past.
- Number of stops in a ride: When an elevator needs to make several stops before it gets to a passenger’s floor, it must spend time decelerating and then accelerating again after each stop. This adds to the overall duration of the trip.
Are Faster Elevators Inherently More Dangerous?
Your patrons may ask, “How fast do elevators move?” because they are wondering whether yours is safe and reliable. But a system’s speed doesn’t generally impact its safety. Modern elevators are very safe due to technological advancements, maintenance laws, and monitoring systems.
A building will only include a high-speed elevator if it can safely handle this type of system. Similarly, an elevator will only travel at fast speeds if its design allows this. Patrons do not need to fear traveling in a fast-moving elevator.
ELEVATE Monitoring Can Equip Your Elevators With Two-Way Monitoring
How fast do elevators move? The answer is generally a few miles per hour, but advancements may increase these speeds over time, especially as safety features become even more robust than they already are.
At ELEVATE Monitoring, we can help your business keep up with emerging elevator technologies and laws. Our 24/7 two-way monitoring service instills confidence in your patrons and keeps your business compliant.
Contact us today at 877-990-9191 to learn more about our products, then discover the different types of elevators common today.
