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In your home a doorless lift is safer and more convenient than a lift with doors. Safer because you can’t ever get trapped inside and more convenient, because you don’t have to fuss with opening or closing the door. This is a big advantage to those with limited mobility. Let’s face it, you are only travelling 2 meters and it is a controlled environment.

Like all machinery there are precautions you need to take when using a doorless lift and the RESiLIFT® has many features to make it easy for you to operate it safely.

Advantages to a doorless entrance

1. Maximum accessibility:  RESiLIFT® was specifically designed for people with limited mobility. It hard to appreciate the inconvenience of a door when you can easily run up the stairs.  But when you have bad knees, a walking frame or need to carry something awkward having a door just impedes your transfer unnecessarily.  If you have electronic doors, then by the time you have waited for the lift to come, the doors to open, close and open again you have doubled the time taken to travel. If you have a manual door you need a free hand to operate them. Many homes do not have the extra room for the doors so this could mean the difference of not being able to have a lift and continuing to use old, often quite dangerous stairs.

2. Greater reliability: Elevator doors are creditted with causing up to 90% of break downs. Apart from the cost of having to call a service person to your home, if there is any issue with the door, such as misalignment, the lift will not operate until it is fixed. When you rely heavily on your lift to get around your home this could be more than inconvenient.

By removing the door, we have removed the number one cause of expensive maintenance calls.  Having doors has allowed the lift industry to force people into expensive maintenance contracts.  Whereas the RESiLIFT® is almost maintenance free.

3. Improves safety: There is also NO possibility of becoming trapped inside a RESiLIFT®.  Unlike a lift in the city where there are people around if you get stuck when you use your lift at home, there may be no one else around.  If the power goes off when using a RESiLIFT®, you can easily evacuate using the lowering device and step out of the lift and continue your day.  If you are stuck behind a door, you will also need a phone and the person you call will need to get to your house and get into your house. When someone collapses in a lift with a door, it can be quite difficult to get the door open in order to get them out.

For some people the thought of a doorless lift is a different paradigm but customers with moblity issues and claustrophobia continually praise this invention.  Remember, the lift is only travelling 1 meter before starting to become enclosed.  When your feet are more than one meter off the ground the safety shield (which is attached to the ceiling of the lower level) provides a barrier in front of you.

The RESiLIFT® requires competent operator and continuous pressure. So if you stop pressing the button it will not move. There is a hand rail to hold near the control panel. And if you have any concerns about people misusing the lift, then you can lock it out by removing the key.

Aesthetics:  Some customers are concerned about people seeing their lift.  Where the lift is installed in a new home or near the entry, customers often choose to have an internal cavity slider so that when they have guests, they can hide it away but still have the advantage of a doorless lift when the guests are gone.  Many customers love the extra space that is visually around their RESiLIFT® and some even use the walls behind the lift to create a gallery.

By not having a door the versatility of where a RESiLIFT® can be positioned is maximised. This is very important when trying to find a suitable location in an existing home. Sometimes the only place that there is alignment from lower level to upper level may mean that the lift is going to be in front of a window and a door would just add more bulk.

Check out the latest Home Design magazine featuring RESiLIFT®.  Here’s the article originally published in Home Design Spring 2018.

Why should homeowners consider a home elevator?

Initially associated with the aging population, residential elevators are fast becoming a lifestyle inclusion for all multi level homes. As souring land prices force developers upwards, elevators prove a safer alternative to stairs.

Residential lifts are now replacing the dumb waiters being installed to take groceries from the garage to the pantry and laundry chutes previously included in luxury homes.  Many people use their elevators for commuting items that are difficult on stairs such as luggage and furniture.  Some use them for their sick/older pets, although this is rarely the primary reason for installation.

Many people do not want to purchase double storey homes but with land prices cannot afford to have single storey, so installing an elevator resolves that problem.

Who benefits from installing a home elevator?

Nowadays architects will typically suggest at least a provision for a future lift in new build designs.    There are also a number of lifts that can be installed for existing homes, such as the RESiLIFT®.

It is not just the homeowner who benefits. Because people do not have to move home, they retain their family memories and community connections.  It is much harder for older people to re-establish friendships in a new area than continue in their current neighbourhood. Installing a lift allows people with mobility issues to age in place and to enjoy the benefits of double storey living.

Peter van Emmerik, the designer of RESiLIFT®, says that “often people who install lifts are fully capable, but want to future-proof their home, but when you get to know them, they have a relative or a friend who is struggling on the stairs and they want that person to be able to visit freely”.

The trend towards reverse living, where the main living areas are upstairs, is another reason why people are including elevators. The upper level has better views so why limit it to bedrooms.  When the kitchen and lounge are upstairs, you don’t want to leave anyone on the lower level just because stairs are a challenge.

In retro-fit situations, the addition of an elevator often creates internal access.  Many homes built in 1960s and 70s have the garage underneath, with only external stairs into the home.  By adding a ResiLift from the garage, the homeowner no longer needs to climb stairs in the dark or the rain to get inside.  This adds real value to the property and makes it safer for everyone.

Often customers may have arthritis or replacement knees.  They function perfectly well until it comes to the stairs.

First time enquiries often assume if they are going to have an elevator it will be for people in wheelchairs, but most people with mobility issues will not become wheelchair bound.  Not all homes are able to fit a wheelchair sized lift and not all residential elevators are large enough to accommodate a wheelchair. If people want to cater for wheelchair access in their home, they will need to make other adjustments such as the width of door and hallways and bathroom and kitchen design.

The RESiLIFT® is fully made in Australia so purchasing a RESiLIFT® benefits all Australians by employing Australian workers and using Australian products.  The other advantage to consumers is that there are no risks of not being able to get replacement parts.  Because it is made in Australia, RESiLIFT® is able to be customised to fit in tight spaces.

Depending on the elevator chosen, the cost of a residential lift can be cheaper than paying for another home with its consequent legal, loan and stamp duty fees.  The homeowner can stay in their home where they know their neighbours, have back-up facilities and have developed their own living style.  The Residential Lift Company’s five lift models, suit most places and only take up a small amount of room (less than a square meter).  The clear sides allow the RESiLIFT® to blend in with the decor of the home so that it can be incorporated into existing living spaces

What types of elevators are available to homeowners?

There are different types of elevators: hydraulic, electric, vacuum. Each have advantages and disadvantages. The more elaborate models are small commercial style lifts with all the features you expect in a motel lobby.

The beauty of the RESiLIFT® is in its simplicity.  The RESiLIFT® was invented specifically for the residential market.  Rather than taking a small bedroom of space, the RESiLIFT® has a minimal visual impact so can be placed almost anywhere in the home and still blend into your existing décor.  The Residential Lift Company offer 3 different models of RESiLIFT®.  All allow for 2 people and 200 kgs capacity.  The smallest, the Mirage is only 700mm front to back.  There are larger models to accommodate a walker and wheelchair, which come with one or two entrances depending on if someone needs to exit in a different direction.

Being electric, the RESiLIFT® is quiet and very reliable.  RESiLIFT® runs off the standard domestic power which keeps its cost effective to install and to operate.

How cost effective is it?

Installing a RESiLIFT® is significantly cheaper than moving house considering agent fees and stamp duty.  The RESiLIFT® is the most cost-effective home elevator on the market.  Apart from its entry level price tag, the building works required are also minimal.  It is possible for customers to have a RESiLIFT® fully installed for under $30,000 including building modifications.

What do homeowners need to know before installing a home elevator?

When a lift is being installed in an existing home, the trick is to find a location that makes sense on both levels.  Ideally, this would be a central point so that the lift is also convenient to use in the future.  The lift consultant can help with this.

Peter van Emmerik said “we try to find a few different potential locations so that the homeowner and the builder have some options.  Many clients have installed RESiLIFT® in their hallway cupboard as it often lines up with another hallway upstairs”.  One of the easiest locations for a RESiLIFT® is off the landing because it does not sacrifice any existing floor space.

The cost of building modifications can vary depending on the structure of the home and the specific location of the lift.

When choosing a residential elevator, you need to determine

• The basic specifications – the space it requires, load capacity, number of people, power supply, etc
• Their needs – what is the main reason they want a lift and what are the main things they expect to carry in it.
• The process and timing of installation
• Costs: the price for residential lifts varies from $27,000 – $80,000 plus the building works. When installed retrospectively, the building modifications can be as low as $3,000 for a through floor design to $40,000 for the larger, commercial style lifts.
• How long it will take to supply – some lifts can take up to 6 months from when you decide until it is installed, so this is not a decision to leave until it’s urgent. Being Australian made, RESiLIFT® can be installed within a few weeks, provided the builders are available to cut the penetration.
• What ongoing maintenance will be required and what is it likely to cost. RESiLIFT® claims to be virtually maintenance free.  Some of the larger commercial style elevators require customers to sign into a maintenance contract of $2,000 per year.

A home elevator is a significant investment.  Make sure you test drive the one you want before purchasing it.

Other interesting things you might like to know

The RESiLIFT® invented by Peter van Emmerik was the first of its kind.  Specifically designed for installation in existing homes, RESiLIFT® is self-supporting with a very compact design requiring no lift shaft.  Since then the concept has been copied by other manufacturers and it is now referred to as a “through floor” design.   In the case of RESiLIFT®, the motor travels with the lift so no penetration is required in the upper ceiling.

Few lift companies will organise the building works.  These are organised separately with builders. When asking for a quote, you need to also anticipate the cost of the building modifications.

Elevators cannot entirely replace staircases. There must be an alternative method of evacuation from the upper level.  This could be an eternal staircase or, in a split level home it could be an upper level exit, but if possible it is better to retain internal stairs as well.

By law, all elevators need to be inspected annually. 

The idea of the lift was conceived when it was proposed to Peter Van Emmerik by his son Andrew, that in view of the ageing population and the absence of a lift suitable for residential use, a market for this product would emerge and that it would provide Peter with a challenging retirement project at age 67.

The options were evaluated and it was concluded that to make the lift economic and blend in with the home decor as a retro fit was to make it free standing by eliminating the enclosures and enclosure doors.

It was discovered that the Australian Standards Commission had also foreseen the emerging need and had composed and issued a Standard AS 1735 part 15 to meet this need.  The “thru lift” concept was birthed at this very time.

The next challenge was to have the entire lift motor, wire rope system, control boards etc. within the 300 mm high space between the cabin ceiling and the home ceiling to avoid penetrating the upper floor ceiling into the roof space.

Peter set out drafting the lift on a drafting board he had purchased at a Hydro fire sale!  The prototype unit was then produced on the disused eight ball table behind the house.  Jim Hursey, his electrical engineer University buddy would discuss electrical circuitry over morning tea on the veranda.

One aspect of the design that the motor travelled with the unit circumvented the need for the sensitive trailing control cable.  Andrew organised to have the lift certified with both S.E.M.F and Work Place Standards Tasmania who fully inspected the unit and awarded it a design compliant certificate; still current and accepted by the relevant authorities in other states.

A paraplegic friend had a ride in the lift and commented, “A lift without doors, that is what we always dreamt of.”

It was decided to apply for a Patent.  After 21 challenges this was accepted and no previous designer had managed to have all the equipment for driving, control and safety mechanisms together in the lift capsule.  It is to be noted that only 2 – 4% of Patent applications are commercialised.

To defray the cost of prototyping it was decided to go commercial and sell production prototypes, assuring our customers of free service and the commitment to restore their home if the lift proved unsatisfactory!  One of our first sales was to a client who uses the lift approximately 20 times per day.  The lift efficiently and faultlessly performed this service over a period of 12 years.

Manufacturing proved a problem as factories are not geared up for small numbers so after Peter’s open heart surgery, Homelift Elevators in Sydney became the manufacturer and were given a licence to market in other Australian states.  This agreement fell apart when the company collapsed.   The fact that we hold the Patent proves the Residential Lift Company Pty. Ltd. are the original designers, manufacturers and marketers of the thru lift product.

Other manufacturers were found in Tasmania and it is with the support of these companies that we are where we are today.  Independent Contractor Distributors have also been a boon to the Company to sell and install the product Australia wide.

The History of The Residential Lift Company

One could hardly imagine that the prototype RESiLIFT® would birth an Australia-wide company leading the way in simplicity, cost effectiveness, easy installation  and maintenance.  Nor could one imagine that the heritage of each of the players contributed to the design and inspiration of the project.

Rosemary Murphy born 1936 came from a long line of Engineers beginning with her grandfather, Joseph Francies, who  became a Professor of Engineering in India and her father, Frank Murphy, obtained a degree of Science Engineering at the University of London.

Peter van Emmerik, Rosemary’s husband, has a Diploma of Mechanical Engineering, Hobart.  Peter was to become the designer of the lift.  Their son, Andy, has a Degree in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.  Peter’s family moved from Holland to Java and his grandparents formed the White Cross Colony to address the problem of the aftermath of a volcano in mid Java.  At its heyday the White Cross Colony housed over 1,000 people and provided shelter, food and work on the coffee plantation ,dairy, weaving and an orphanage.

The 2nd World War resulted in the family being sent to concentration camp and the Colony falling into disrepair.  Peter’s Father, migrated to Australia under sponsorship, with the family and were relieved to make Australia “home.”  All eight children completed University and higher education.

In 1942 Rosemary’s parents were positioned in Malaya  and her father was a Civil Engineer in charge of supplying water to Singapore and worked on infrastructure in Malaya.  The war took its toll on them too when Frank entered the army and the ship he was on was bombed by the Japanese.

Peter’s career of 40 years with the Hydro-Electric Commission where he designed mechanical answers to civil problems as Construction Equipment Design Engineer+.  At the conclusion of this he gained a contract with a German Company in Indonesia where Rosemary and he stayed for 5 years.  On his return, Andrew suggested he address the niche market for residential lifts to help those who were having access problems.

Peter took up the challenge and designed the RESiLIFT®. Sales of the “Mirage” model for 2 people,  were slow until years later when the market was ready and models were increased to three.  The lift was launched in 2005 and has since experienced phenomenal growth extending to other parts of the world.

The lift was launched in 2005 at the Grand Chancellor, Hobart.  Certification was given by the Company, Scientists, Engineers, Managers and Facilitators (S.E.M.F.) and design registration with Workplace Standards Tasmania.  A Patent was taken out in 2004.  The Institute of Engineers also highly commended the product in 2009.

The “Lift Adventure” has been a rewarding experience not only for the designer but for all the people who helped to make it become what it is.  Our thanks go out to the many people have willingly tried it and now enjoy the benefit of a lift in their home.