Many of Utah’s churches, small office buildings, clinics and historic downtown properties have two or three floors and no elevator. Their owners want everyone to be able to reach every level, and need a solution in proportion to the building. That is the purpose of a LULA elevator.
The name
LULA is short for Limited Use, Limited Application. It is a type of passenger elevator defined in the safety code for low-rise buildings with light use.
What riders experience
An ordinary small elevator: automatic doors, floor buttons, an enclosed cab with room for a wheelchair and a companion.
What owners gain
- A lower price than a standard commercial elevator
- A compact hoistway
- A shallow pit and low overhead, which suit existing buildings
- Lower running costs
Where it is used
- Places of worship, between the chapel level and classrooms or a cultural hall
- Professional and medical offices
- Schools and libraries
- Small hotels and event venues
- Renovated historic buildings
Is a platform lift enough?
For a few steps or a stage, a platform lift is economical and effective. For a full floor, regular use or a more finished appearance, a LULA is the better choice.
First steps
- Ask your architect and the local building official whether a LULA is permitted for your building
- Identify a location for the hoistway
- Check whether the building has historic status
Budgeting
Include building work, electrical supply, permits and annual maintenance alongside the elevator itself. Businesses should ask an accountant about tax incentives for improving access.
Talk to us
See our LULA elevators page. Call Nationwide Lifts of Utah on (801) 335-9089 or request a site visit.