| 1 | Machine-room-less (MRL) traction lift | Ropes or belts connect the car and counterweight, driven by a traction machine located within the shaft area. | Multi-storey houses where efficient use of floor space is important. | No separate machine room; counterweighted operation; available with automatic doors and configurable car finishes. | Requires a suitable shaft, overhead clearance, and structural support. Exact requirements depend on the lift design and local code. |
| 2 | Traction lift with a separate machine room | A motor-driven traction sheave moves the car and counterweight; the drive equipment is housed in a separate room. | New homes or renovations with space available for dedicated lift equipment. | Traction drive; equipment is accessible separately from the shaft; layouts can be selected to suit the building. | Requires space for both the shaft and machine room, plus suitable access and electrical provision. |
| 3 | Hydraulic direct-acting lift | A hydraulic power unit supplies fluid to a cylinder that raises the lift car. | Low-rise homes where a hydraulic layout is suitable for the building and project requirements. | Direct hydraulic lifting; can be designed for a range of residential layouts and entrance arrangements. | Needs space for hydraulic equipment and appropriate cylinder installation. Pit, travel, and building requirements vary by design. |
| 4 | Roped hydraulic lift | Hydraulic movement is combined with ropes and a pulley arrangement to move the car. | Homes where the selected design needs a different cylinder arrangement from a direct-acting installation. | Uses hydraulic drive equipment with a roped lifting arrangement; configuration depends on the product design. | Roping layout, travel limits, equipment location, and maintenance access should be confirmed with the installer. |
| 5 | Screw-driven home lift | An electric motor turns a screw mechanism to move the lift platform or car. | Low-rise homes, including some retrofit projects where a compact lift arrangement is desired. | Mechanical drive; some designs use a self-supporting structure and may avoid a conventional machine room. | Check the product’s rated use, travel limits, operating noise, service requirements, and applicable lift classification. |
| 6 | Winding-drum lift | A motor winds or unwinds a lifting rope on a drum to raise or lower the car. | Residential buildings suited to the specific travel and layout limits of the selected system. | Drum-based rope drive; equipment arrangement varies between designs. | Confirm the permitted travel, rated load, safety provisions, and inspection requirements for the intended use. |
| 7 | Pneumatic vacuum lift | Air pressure differences inside a sealed vertical tube move the lift car. | Some existing homes where a self-contained, limited-travel solution may be appropriate. | Tube-shaped enclosure; typically does not use conventional suspension ropes or a counterweight. | Check available car size, number of stops, travel limits, power needs, and local approval requirements before planning installation. |
| 8 | Enclosed vertical platform lift | A platform travels vertically on a guided structure; the drive system varies by product. | Accessibility improvements where a wheelchair user needs access between levels. | Designed around platform access; may have an enclosed or partially enclosed travel area. | May be regulated differently from a conventional passenger elevator. Verify accessibility, guarding, and safety rules locally. |
| 9 | Inclined platform lift | A platform travels along a rail installed beside a staircase. | Homes where a user needs stair access assistance and a vertical shaft is impractical. | Follows the stair route; can provide a platform for a wheelchair or mobility aid, depending on the model. | Stair width, landings, clear passage, and safe boarding space must be assessed. It is not a conventional vertical passenger lift. |
| 10 | Through-floor home lift | A compact car or platform passes through a floor opening; the drive system depends on the product. | Retrofitting access between two floors when a full-height conventional shaft is difficult to accommodate. | Can have a compact footprint; some designs use an integrated enclosure or require limited building work. | Floor structure, opening location, headroom, travel, and safety clearances require a site assessment. Product classifications vary. |