Many elevator installation technicians, whether new to the profession or with several years of experience, may still have questions:

Standard elevator installation process

Elevator mechanical installation process

Step 1 – Preparation

Read the installation drawings and inspect elevator equipment to prepare suitable tools, machinery and personal protective equipment, such as safety harnesses, helmets and protective clothing. Thorough preparation ensures a smooth, safe and effective installation process.

Step 2 – Plumb-line setting

Calculate the upper plumb-line frame according to the installation drawings. Drop the plumb line for the landing doors to check the elevator shaft. If the shaft is out of plumb beyond the permitted tolerance, notify the owner so the construction team can correct it. Correct plumb-line setting is especially important because shafts are often not built exactly to the technical drawings.

Step 3 – Installing the plumb-line frames

Install the upper and lower plumb-line frames to the dimensions shown in the installation drawings. The permitted tolerance is ±0.5 mm. Install a lifeline from the machine room or top of the hoistway to ensure safety. Temporarily or permanently install the governor according to the drawings for elevators with a machine room, helping prevent free fall of the car frame.

Step 4 – Installing the base rails

Install the base guide rails (the first rail block). Carefully check the rail-head dimensions, the distance from the car rail head to the counterweight rail (CC), and the distance from the landing-door plumb line to the car rail head (EE). Then install the car frame and counterweight frame. Ensure all connecting bolts are tightened, rail clips grip the rails firmly and squarely, and welded joints meet the required standards.

Installing the base rails

Step 5 – Building the working platform

Build a working platform above the car frame for installation work. The platform must be secure and fitted with 1-metre-high guardrails to prevent falls.

Step 6 – Continuing guide-rail installation

Install the second rail block from the bottom upward until the full travel height is completed. When working above 2 metres, all technicians in the hoistway must wear safety harnesses. Check car-rail and counterweight-rail head dimensions and ensure every rail fixing point aligns with the beams in the drawings, with a permitted tolerance of ±0.5 mm.

Step 7 – Installing the doors

Install landing doors from the top floor downward. Door frames must be vertical, landing sills must follow the drawings, and the clearance between door panels, sills and frames must be 5 mm, with a permitted tolerance of ±0.5 mm. This ensures level door panels, even gaps, a clean appearance and smooth elevator operation to the manufacturer’s standards.

Step 8 – Installing the traction machine

Install the elevator traction machine according to the supplied drawings. Tighten and secure all connecting bolts so that the I-beam and machine base cannot move. Raise the car to the top floor, allowing for the cable stretch specified by the manufacturer. Then suspend the suspension ropes, taking great care to prevent twisting or crossing that could cause the ropes to enter incorrect grooves on the traction sheave or deflector sheave.

Step 9 – UD running

Manually turn the traction machine, or run UD for high-rise elevators, to lower the car frame to the lower floor. During this operation, technicians must check all rail joints for misalignment or unevenness and remove burrs with specialist tools such as planers, grinders and files. Re-align the car frame so it is level and square, using tools such as spirit levels and water levels.

Tighten the bolts connecting the uprights and the upper and lower beams of the car frame. Install the car platform, adjust it to the dimensions in the installation drawings, then install the car walls and align the car drive mechanism according to the drawings and manufacturer’s standards.

Step 10 – Adjustment

Adjust and install the governor and pit buffers to the manufacturer’s standards. Complete the machine room and cover construction openings with sheet metal. Although adjustment is not the core step, it is essential to ensure every elevator component has been installed correctly and works together properly.

Step 11 – Cleaning

Clean the elevator system from top to bottom and apply anti-rust paint to welded joints.

Elevator electrical installation process (testing and commissioning)

Step 1 – Preparation

Prepare materials, machinery, safety equipment such as protective clothing, safety shoes, helmets and harnesses, as well as electrical-installation tools including wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, electrical meters, drills, cutting machines and screw guns.

Step 2 – Electrical inspection

Inspect the construction power supply. Ensure the voltage and supply cables meet standards and that cable trays and the control cabinet are installed in the correct locations.

Step 3 – Preparing the installation plan

Assess the overall mechanical installation to prepare the electrical installation plan. If mechanical installation issues remain, require the installation team to resolve them completely before testing to safeguard product quality.

Step 4 – UD running

Complete manual-operation wiring (UD running) and the connections at the machine location needed to install electrical equipment.

Step 5 – Wiring and connections

Connect safety circuits, door circuits, travelling cables, hoistway wiring, travel limits and landing-stop flags. Complete all wiring of equipment in the hoistway and elevator car in accordance with the manufacturer’s standards.

Step 6 – Checking connections

After wiring is complete, use an electrical meter at the control cabinet to check every safety-switch and travel-switch connection. If an error occurs, use the factory drawings supplied to authorised dealers for inspection. Serious wiring errors compared with the drawings may require returning to Step 5.

Step 7 – Trial run

Set the elevator to automatic operation for a trial run. If faults remain, contact the manufacturer’s online troubleshooting team for support and use the diagnostic equipment and software provided by the manufacturer to identify and rectify faults, ensuring elevator quality and safety.

Step 8 – Load balancing

Load the counterweight fully and run the elevator in accordance with factory standards.

Step 9 – Completion

Complete the landing call panels, telephone, fire-service switch and overall automatic operation.

Step 10 – Inspection

Perform the elevator safety inspection before putting it into service. If the elevator meets all inspection standards, the installation process has been followed rigorously and effectively.

Step 11 – Final cleaning

Remove protective tape, clean the elevator and instruct the customer on how to use it.

Step 12 – Handover

Viet Chao’s testing engineers strictly follow this elevator testing process to ensure installation safety and product quality.

A professional elevator contractor will always follow the mechanical and electrical installation process above. Please contact Viet Chao’s technical hotline 0906 007 700 for answers to any questions about this elevator installation process.

Viet Chao – Authorised dealer of imported Shanghai Mitsubishi elevators

Viet Chao focuses its resources and specialist expertise on Shanghai Mitsubishi elevators, a globally renowned elevator brand. We do more than supply imported elevators: we provide comprehensive technical solutions for customers in Vietnam.

• Trusted through thousands of projects: As SMEC’s largest authorised dealer since 2009, Viet Chao has extensive practical experience with shopping centres, office buildings, hospitals and private homes nationwide.
• Optimised pricing: As a leading strategic partner, we provide highly competitive pricing and market-leading offers for genuine SMEC elevators.
• Risk insurance of up to VND 1 billion: Our insurance package provides up to VND 1 billion per claim, giving customers peace of mind that few providers can match.
• End-to-end service and deep technical expertise: Our manufacturer-trained engineers deliver comprehensive solutions from design consultation and installation to professional maintenance under international standards.
• Nationwide offices, 24/7 support and on-site response within 20 minutes of receiving a report.

With more than 22 years of industry experience, Viet Chao is proud to be an authorised distributor of premium imported elevators from leading global brands, including Shanghai Mitsubishi, Xiolift and European manufacturers such as MP Lifts. We provide fully imported elevator cabins with refined finishes, meeting every aesthetic requirement from modern styles to luxurious designs. At Viet Chao, every product combines internationally proven safety technology with dedicated, professional after-sales service.

Contact Viet Chao today via hotline 0898 552 888 for advice on the best elevator solutions.

Viet Chao maintains elevators at projects after installation

Read more about the general elevator supply and installation process