An elevator car in which one or more walls are constructed from structural glass, providing passengers with a view of the building atrium, exterior facade, or surroundings during travel.
Full Definition
A panoramic elevator cabin (observation lift, scenic lift) uses laminated safety glass or tempered glass panels as the structural enclosure of the car walls, complying with EN 81-20 §5.3.3 for glass-walled cars. Glass specification: minimum 10 mm toughened glass (EN 12150-1) or 8.8 mm laminated safety glass (EN ISO 12543-2); U-value ≤ 1.0 W/m²K for climate-controlled buildings; surface treatment with low-reflection or self-cleaning coatings optional. Structural design: glass panels are retained in stainless steel or aluminium frames; each panel independently supports the horizontal design load (min. 0.3 kN/m² per EN 81-20 §5.3.10); panel fixing brackets are accessible for glass replacement without disturbing the sling. Applicable where minimum interior height ≥ 2.0 m and the glass surface is ≥ 50 % of a car wall. Ventilation via perforated stainless grilles at low and high positions. Night illumination using concealed LED strips in the sill and canopy creates an aesthetic halo effect. Panoramic cabs are common in shopping malls, hotels, and residential towers and require EN 81-20 §5.3.3 compliance for glass car walls and shaft enclosure visibility.
