Best Lift for a Shophouse?
Shophouse elevator are usually terrible difficult for architects. They tend to be very tall (4 floors up) and really NEED a lift. However their miniature size and inability to do structural adjustments makes it almost impossible to use traditional traction / conventional lifts.
Enter Cibes Lift.
Their lifts are actually specialized for townhouses and shophouses. Since 1947, they have installed hundreds of lifts in shophouses and townhouses, especially in South East Asia. From the super tall and narrow Vietnamese townhouses to the ubiquitous Indonesian rukos, we have made it our business to provide lifting solutions to the toughest situations. In fact, you could go as far as saying that their lifts are designed for townhouses and shophouses.
Here are 3 reasons why:
Reason #1: Super Space Saving Lifts
It’s not just that their lifts are small (although they are, with their smallest being under 1m2 in total area!). It’s that they also provide a much bigger ratio of standing space to total lift space. As much as 73% of their lift is standing space, while that ratio is usually only 30-40 for traditional lifts. See below how they compare:
This is a perfect combination for size-sensitive townhouses and shophouses. Their lifts are small, but maximize standing space, allowing you to fit in a wheelchair lift in a space which can barely fit a wheelchair to begin with!
Reason #2: Shophouse Elevator Needs to be Pitless
A big concern of clients in townhouses and shophouses is their inability to make a pit – often a clear rule from the property management.
The good news, of course, is that Cibes Lifts are pitless. While they still recommend a 50 mm pit to be level with the floor, they can do ZERO PIT. Simply install a 50 mm ramp.
Needless to say, this is a welcome innovation for lifts in shophouses and townhouses.
Reason #3: Low Weight and Minimal Forces on Walls
Let’s face it, one of the problems with shophouses and townhouses is that the common walls are not always the strongest. This means that a giant concern during lift installation is that your neighbor will suddenly start complaining about vibrations!
Thankfully, this is not a problem for Cibes at all. Even if you were to fix the fixing points of their lift directly on the shared wall, they only use a force of 25 kg. This means that their lift is essentially vibration proof when it comes to shared walls!
Did you ever have to install a lift in a townhouse or a shophouse? What was your experience like?
Richard Hale is the founder of Cambodia Elevator, the most trusted online resource for elevators in Cambodia. Drawing on over 25 years of international experience in the elevator and lift industry, Richard built the platform to provide homeowners, developers, and businesses with clear, reliable, and unbiased information about home elevators, residential lifts, and commercial lift solutions in Cambodia. His blog has become the go-to destination for understanding elevator prices, safety standards, and installation requirements, making it an essential guide for anyone considering a home lift or commercial elevator project. With a mission to raise awareness about safety and quality in Cambodia’s rapidly developing real estate sector, Richard has positioned Cambodia Elevator as both an educational hub and an industry watchdog. Before establishing Cambodia Elevator, Richard spent 25 years leading and supporting elevator projects across the UK and Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia. This hands-on regional experience gave him deep insights into how local regulations, building codes, and cultural expectations influence elevator design and adoption. By combining global expertise with local knowledge, Richard offers unique authority on the Cambodian elevator market—helping families choose safe home lifts, guiding developers through complex installation decisions, and promoting international safety standards. His commitment to transparency and consumer education continues to make Cambodia Elevator the most authoritative voice on elevators in Cambodia.
