Your building has a floor that some people simply can’t reach. Maybe it’s the fellowship hall under the sanctuary, a classroom wing up a flight of stairs, or offices above a storefront. A full-size commercial elevator sounds like a huge construction project. Then someone at the table mentions a LU/LA elevator.
So what is a LU/LA elevator, and could one work for you? This guide explains the term in plain English. Then it walks through the Savaria Orion LU/LA elevator: what it carries, what your building needs and who it suits.
What Is a LU/LA Elevator?
LU/LA stands for Limited Use/Limited Application. It’s a class of commercial elevator that is fully automatic and rides like a regular passenger elevator. It is limited in capacity, speed and travel. In exchange, it needs a much shallower pit, lower overhead and a smaller footprint than a full-size commercial elevator.
You’ll often see it written as LULA elevator, without the slash. It means the same thing. Savaria builds the Orion to meet ASME A17.1/CSA B44, Section 5.2, the section of the elevator code that covers LU/LA elevators.
Here’s an everyday way to picture it. A LU/LA elevator is a scaled-down cousin of the elevator you ride in a hotel. You still get sliding doors, call buttons at each floor and a finished cab. It’s just sized for a low-rise building instead of a tower.
For a building owner, that trade-off is the whole appeal. The Orion gives your building the look and feel of a full-sized passenger elevator. But it fits into a smaller footprint with far less construction work. Savaria calls the hydraulic Orion its best-selling LU/LA elevator.
Savaria Orion LU/LA at a Glance
- Capacity: 1,400 pounds
- Speed: 30 feet per minute
- Travel: up to 25 feet and up to 6 stops, subject to local code
- Pit: as shallow as 14 inches
- Doors: two-speed automatic sliding doors with infrared closing sensors
- Drive: 1:2 cable hydraulic with a 5 hp submersed motor; a machine room is required
- Emergency power: battery backup lowers the cab to a specific floor and keeps the lights on
- Warranty: Savaria’s 36-month limited parts warranty, plus our 6-month workmanship warranty
LULA Elevator Requirements: Pit, Overhead and Power
Every elevator needs a few things from the building around it. Here’s what the Orion asks for, in plain terms.
- A shallow pit. The pit is a recess in the floor at the bottom of the elevator shaft. The Orion needs one as shallow as 14 inches.
- Overhead room. Overhead is the clear height the shaft needs above the top floor. In an existing building, the Orion needs as little as 108 inches. That becomes 120 inches with an overspeed governor, or 110 inches with the Orion 17 cab. New construction requires 134 inches, per code.
- A machine room. This model requires one.
- Power. Either 208-volt three-phase at 30 amps or 240-volt single-phase at 40 amps, 60 Hz. It also needs a 120-volt, 15-amp lighting supply.
- Travel and stops. Up to 25 feet with up to six stops, subject to local code, and at least 18 inches between landings.
- Hoistway finish. Door packages are available for drywall or masonry hoistways.
Is your pit likely to take on water, or is the machine space somewhere cold? An optional flood switch and hydraulic tank heater protect the equipment year-round. Your architect or contractor will want the Orion LU/LA planning guide, which covers hoistway drawings and pit and overhead requirements. It’s in the documents section of the product page.
LULA Elevator Dimensions, Doors and Safety
The Orion comes in four cab sizes: 48 by 54, 42 by 60, 42 by 54 and 51 by 51 inches. All four have an 84-inch ceiling.
Entrances can be same-side, straight-through or 90-degree. Straight-through means riders walk in one side and out the other. With 90-degree access, the exit is around the corner from the entrance.
The classic cab has black or architectural white painted steel walls and a white steel ceiling with four pot lights. The handrail, cab operating panel and hall call buttons are stainless steel. You can add fire-rated laminate overlay panels or step up to a stainless steel cab.
The optional Orion 17 cab uses laminate panels framed in stainless steel, in Reclaimed Wood, Gray or Walnut, with six LED lights in a dropped ceiling. Glass cab elements are possible with approval from your local code authority.
Safety equipment comes standard. Each Orion includes:
- Emergency battery backup that lowers the cab to a specific floor and keeps the interior lights on
- An alarm button and emergency stop key switch in the cab
- An overspeed valve with safety brakes and a manual-reset slack rope safety switch
- A manual lowering device and an anti-creep device
- Magnetic floor selection with automatic stopping and re-levelling, so the cab lands precisely at floor level
A few options matter to many building owners. Keyed hall call stations let you control who can call the elevator. Signal packages add directional arrows and voice announcements at the landings. Savaria Link remote monitoring keeps tabs on the elevator’s status.
Who a LU/LA Elevator Is a Good Fit For
The Orion is made for low-rise commercial buildings, including:
- Churches and other places of worship
- Schools
- Offices
- Restaurants and retail shops
- Hospitality spaces
It’s a good match when you need real elevator service for up to six stops and 25 feet of travel. It makes the most sense where a full-sized commercial elevator would be impractical to build. Savaria also lists the Orion for residential use where code permits. Either way, it’s an indoor unit.
It isn’t the right tool for every job. Need to rise only a short distance, like a stage or a few entry steps? A vertical platform lift such as the Savaria V-1504 may be simpler. It needs only a 3-inch pit and houses its drive in its own tower, with no machine room.
Planning for a house rather than a commercial building? Start with our Savaria home elevators.
Planning, Permits and Installation
The first step is a free assessment at your building. We measure, ask how the building is used day to day, and follow up with a written quote. We can’t give an exact, foolproof figure over the phone, since every building is different.
From there, we help you pick the right cab style and entrance configuration. We walk the project through planning and permits with your local inspector. Local code or your inspector may require certain options, so we go over what applies to your building. Any job in Wichita needs a permit, and that part is on us.
Our owner is a licensed elevator mechanic, and we install and service what we sell. The Orion carries Savaria’s 36-month limited parts warranty, which starts on the date the unit ships from Savaria. It requires regular inspection and maintenance, applies only when an authorized dealer sells, installs and services the elevator, and doesn’t cover labor. We add our own 6-month workmanship warranty on the installation.
Want the cab sizes, finishes and planning documents in one place? See the full specs and options for the Savaria Orion, or browse all of our commercial elevators.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a LU/LA elevator used for?
It gives a low-rise building fully automatic elevator service with far less construction than a full-sized commercial elevator. The Orion is made for places like churches, schools, offices, restaurants, retail shops and hospitality spaces. It serves up to six stops and 25 feet of travel.
How much does a LU/LA elevator cost?
It depends on your building. Building the hoistway, pit and machine room is a big part of it. The power supply, cab size, finishes and any options your inspector requires also shape the total. We can put an exact figure in writing after a free assessment.
How deep is a LULA elevator pit?
The Savaria Orion needs a pit as shallow as 14 inches. In an existing building, it also needs as little as 108 inches of overhead. New construction requires 134 inches of overhead, per code.
What happens to a LU/LA elevator in a power outage?
The Orion’s emergency battery backup lowers the cab to a specific floor and keeps the interior lights on. Two 12-volt sealed, maintenance-free batteries with a smart charger come standard. There’s also a manual lowering device.
Is a LU/LA elevator allowed in my building?
That’s up to your local authority. Travel, stops and some options are all subject to local code. We confirm the requirements with your local building official and walk the project through permits with your inspector.
Serving Wichita and Beyond
Home Accessibility Solutions is family-owned and has been based in Wichita since 2017. We install and service the Orion across Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas. From our base, we serve buildings throughout our Wichita service area and in Tulsa. We’ll walk the space with you and give you a straight answer.
Our office is at 306 North Saint Clair Street in Wichita, and real people answer the phone.
Find out if a LU/LA elevator fits your building.
We’ll walk the building with you, check the pit, overhead and power needs, and follow up with a written quote. Book your free assessment or call (316) 361-6220.