MRL Elevator Installation Timeline in Nigeria – From Order to Handover

“How long will it take?” is the first question developers ask. The answer depends on whether you have a ready‑to‑use shaft or need to build one. Here is a realistic timeline for an MRL elevator installation in Lagos or Abuja, based on our actual project data.

[Image: A Dove Lifts installation team aligning guide rails inside an existing shaft in a commercial building in Ikeja, with laser level visible.]

Timeline with Existing Shaft (8‑12 Weeks Total)

If your building already has a properly sized hoistway, an MRL elevator installation takes 8 to 12 weeks from order to handover. The process includes technical drawings, permits, equipment delivery, physical installation, and final testing. With stock in Lagos, we can reduce this to 6 to 8 weeks.

Week one and two are for design and permits. Our engineers take precise site measurements of your hoistway. We prepare fabrication drawings and submit the SON Conformity Assessment Programme (CAP) application. A hard fact: The SON CAP process requires a factory test certificate and load calculation report, as mandated by NIS 326:2017. We handle this paperwork for you. Simultaneously, we begin the LASG building control permit if required. Permits typically take two weeks when all documents are ready.

Weeks three to six cover equipment delivery. If the lift system is imported from our factory, shipping and clearing take four weeks. However, we keep selected MRL models in our Lagos warehouse. For a standard 5‑stop gearless traction drive unit with 630 kg capacity, we can deliver within 2 weeks after the drawings are signed. This fast‑track option is available for buildings in Ikeja, Victoria Island, and Lekki. The controller, motor, car panels, and landing doors are pre‑packaged. This reduces the total timeline to as low as 6 weeks.

Weeks seven and eight are the installation phase. Our team mounts the guide rails first. A hard fact: EN 81‑20 allows a rail alignment tolerance of only ±1 mm over 5 metres. We use a self‑levelling laser to achieve this. Then we install the landing doors, the car frame, and the electrical trunking. All wiring is routed through galvanized conduits to protect against Lagos humidity and rodent damage. The motor is mounted on the rail near the top of the hoistway. The controller cabinet is fixed on the top floor lobby wall, accessible via a lockable panel.

Weeks nine and ten are for testing and inspection. We conduct a full load test with 125% of rated load capacity. The overspeed governor is tripped manually. The automatic rescue device (ARD) is tested under simulated power failure. A SON‑accredited inspector then visits the site. We coordinate the inspection date and provide all documentation. After a successful inspection, we train your facility manager on daily checks and emergency procedures. The final week is for punch‑list items and handover. The entire journey from payment to passenger ride can be as short as 6 weeks with stock.

Timeline with New Shaft Construction (12‑16 Weeks Total)

If you need to build a new shaft, the MRL elevator installation timeline extends to 12 to 16 weeks. The extra 4 to 6 weeks cover shaft construction before the elevator work begins. Order the lift when the foundation is poured so everything arrives just as the shaft is ready.

The shaft construction phase begins with a structural engineer’s design. A hard fact: The Lagos State Building Control Law requires a COREN‑registered engineer to design any new elevator shaft, whether it is a concrete block structure or a steel frame. The shaft must have a pit depth of at least 1.2 metres and overhead clearance of 3.8 metres for a standard MRL traction drive. We provide the exact shaft dimensions in our shop drawings. The contractor builds the pit with waterproofed concrete. In coastal Lekki, where groundwater is high, we recommend a pit waterproofing membrane and a sump pump. The shaft walls rise using reinforced concrete blocks or a bolted steel structure. For a steel shaft, we can prefabricate sections off‑site and assemble them in one week.

While the shaft is under construction, we process the permits. The SON CAP application runs in parallel. We also prepare the lift equipment. If the building is in Abuja, where dry harmattan dust is a concern, we specify sealed door tracks and dust‑proof limit switches. The goal is to have the elevator equipment delivered the week after the shaft is complete. The moment the shaft roof slab cures and the internal plaster dries, our installation team starts.

The physical installation inside a new shaft follows the same steps as an existing shaft. It takes about two weeks. Testing and inspection add another two weeks. By planning ahead, the entire project can finish in 12 weeks. If you start late, you might lose months. We often see developers in Lagos order the lift only after the shaft is built. That adds an unnecessary 4‑week wait for import. Avoid this by placing the order early.

For budget details, read our pillar post on MRL Elevator Cost Nigeria. For a broader view of the whole process, see Elevator Installation Process Nigeria.

Need a lift urgently? We keep select MRL models in Lagos stock – ask about our “fast‑track” installation service (delivery in 2 weeks).