Things to note when buying highrise condo (part II) - lift core

When buying highrise condo unit, it is very important to note that the unit that one is choosing does not share a wall with the lift core. Highrise condo are equipped with lift or high speed lift where the up and down movement of the lift cars are guided by rails attached to the wall of the lift core. If a condo unit has wall that share the same wall with the lift core, it is inevitably that to some extent the noise and vibration as the result of the movement of the lift car can be transmitted to the condo unit. How much noise or vibration is transmitted depend on the structural design of the condo itself, if the structure is designed with reinforced concrete or sheer wall, then the noise transmitted may only be minimal, brick wall results in more noise to be transmitted.

Ideally there should be a buffer such as staircase area or any other utility area between the condo wall and the lift core wall so that the noise from the lift car movement can be well insulated from being transmitted to the condo unit.

However, how much noise there is also depend on the type or quality of the lift and the thickness of the wall of the lift core. In the most optimistic case where the good quality lift are being used together with thick lift core wall, the noise transmitted will be very minimal.

But then again, many such information are beyond reach by ordinary buyer and it is better to play safe rather than saddled with a condo unit which are constantly being disturbed by the unwanted noise.