Coloria's Elevators for Hospitals: Aligned with Saudi Green Building Standards

The Critical Role of Elevators in Modern Healthcare Facilities

Hospitals are complex ecosystems where every second counts. From transporting emergency patients on stretchers to moving heavy medical equipment between floors, elevators are the unsung heroes that ensure seamless operations. But in a healthcare setting, "good enough" isn't enough. Elevators must prioritize safety, reliability, and hygiene—all while minimizing energy consumption to align with global sustainability goals. For Saudi Arabia, which is rapidly advancing its healthcare infrastructure under the Vision 2030 agenda, these elevators also need to reflect the kingdom's commitment to green building practices, which focus on reducing carbon footprints and enhancing long-term environmental resilience.

Why Hospital Elevators Can't Be "One-Size-Fits-All"

Unlike commercial or residential elevators, hospital elevators face unique challenges: they must accommodate stretchers, wheelchairs, and bulky medical devices (like MRI machines or ventilators) without compromising on speed. They need to operate quietly to avoid disturbing patients. Their interiors must be easy to sanitize to prevent the spread of infections. And in a country like Saudi Arabia, where temperatures soar, they must function efficiently even in harsh climatic conditions. Coloria's team, with its deep roots in the Saudi market, has spent years engineering elevators that don't just meet these needs—they exceed them.

Coloria's Hospital Elevators: Engineered for Safety, Hygiene, and Sustainability

At Coloria, we don't just supply elevators—we deliver solutions tailored to the nuances of healthcare. Our hospital elevators are the result of collaboration between engineers, healthcare professionals, and sustainability experts, ensuring they check every box for Saudi Arabia's green building standards and medical facility requirements.

1. Safety: Built to Protect What Matters Most

Patient safety is non-negotiable. Coloria's elevators are equipped with features that prioritize security in critical situations:

• Stretcher-Friendly Design: Spacious cabins (minimum 1.6m x 2.4m) with wide doors (1.4m) to easily accommodate stretchers, wheelchairs, and medical teams. The smooth acceleration and deceleration systems prevent jostling, ensuring patient comfort during transport.
• Emergency Backup Systems: Dual power supplies and battery backups guarantee operation even during power outages—a critical feature in emergency care scenarios. The elevators automatically descend to the nearest floor and open doors if power is lost, preventing entrapment.
• Advanced Safety Sensors: Infrared door sensors detect obstacles (like a patient's arm or medical equipment) and reverse door movement instantly, reducing the risk of accidents. Overload protection systems prevent operation if weight limits are exceeded, ensuring structural integrity.

2. Hygiene: Designed for Sterile Environments

Hospitals are breeding grounds for bacteria, making hygiene a top priority. Coloria's elevators are built with materials and features that minimize contamination risks:

• Antimicrobial Surfaces: Cabin walls and handrails are coated with silver-ion antimicrobial paint, which inhibits the growth of bacteria (like E. coli and Staphylococcus) by up to 99.9%. This reduces the need for frequent deep cleaning, saving time for hospital staff.
• Seamless Interiors: No crevices or joints where dirt and germs can hide. The floors are made of non-porous, scratch-resistant materials (like polished stainless steel or vinyl composite tiles) that can withstand harsh disinfectants without fading or warping.
• Touchless Controls: Optional touchless buttons and motion-sensor operation reduce surface contact, a small but impactful step in preventing the spread of infections—especially crucial during flu seasons or pandemics.

3. Sustainability: Aligned with Saudi Green Building Standards

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 places sustainability at the forefront of development, and Coloria's elevators are engineered to support this vision. Here's how they align with key green building criteria:

These features don't just make Coloria's elevators compliant with Saudi Green Building Standards (SGBS)—they position them as leaders in sustainable healthcare infrastructure. For example, a recent project in Riyadh, where Coloria supplied 12 hospital elevators, resulted in the facility achieving a 28% reduction in energy costs for vertical transportation, helping it earn a 4-star rating under SGBS.

Coloria's Edge: Why Saudi Healthcare Projects Choose Our Elevators

As a Saudi Arabia building materials supplier with a global reach, Coloria brings unique advantages to the table—advantages that make our hospital elevators the preferred choice for healthcare developers and contractors across the kingdom.

1. Local Expertise, Global Quality

With a dedicated (representative office) in Saudi Arabia and over 30 years of experience in the Middle East, Coloria understands the local market like no other. Our team includes Saudi engineers and technicians who are familiar with local regulations, climate challenges, and cultural preferences. This means faster approvals, smoother installations, and post-sales support that's available 24/7—critical for healthcare facilities that can't afford downtime.

But local expertise doesn't mean compromising on global standards. Coloria's elevators are manufactured in ISO 9001-certified facilities and undergo rigorous testing to meet international safety norms (EN 81-20/50 for hospital elevators) and Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO) requirements.

2. One-Stop Convenience for Healthcare Projects

Healthcare construction is complex, with dozens of moving parts. As a one-stop architectural solution provider, Coloria simplifies the process by offering not just elevators, but all the building materials needed for a hospital—from solar panels and wall materials to electrical and lighting. This integration means:

• Coordinated Design: Our elevators are designed to work seamlessly with other systems, like emergency lighting and fire safety equipment, reducing compatibility issues.
• Streamlined Procurement: Instead of managing multiple suppliers, contractors can order elevators, electrical cables, and even ceiling tiles from a single partner—saving time and reducing administrative hassle.
• Cost Savings: Bulk ordering and integrated logistics lead to lower overall project costs. For example, a hospital in Jeddah that sourced elevators, electrical, and from Coloria reported a 12% reduction in procurement expenses compared to working with separate suppliers.

3. Commitment to Saudi Vision 2030

Coloria isn't just building elevators—we're building a sustainable future for Saudi Arabia. Our hospital elevators align with two key pillars of Vision 2030: localization and sustainability .

On localization: We invest in training Saudi engineers and technicians, with over 60% of our installation and maintenance team being Saudi nationals. This not only creates jobs but also ensures that healthcare facilities have access to local expertise for long-term maintenance.

On sustainability: Our elevators are part of Coloria's broader green building materials portfolio, which includes solar panels, energy-efficient lighting, and low-carbon wall materials. Together, these products help healthcare projects meet Vision 2030's target of reducing carbon emissions by 40% by 2030.

Case Study: Transforming Riyadh's New Medical City

To see Coloria's hospital elevators in action, look no further than the King Salman Medical City (KSMC) in Riyadh—a state-of-the-art healthcare complex set to become one of the largest in the Middle East. As the lead supplier for vertical transportation, Coloria delivered 28 custom elevators tailored to KSMC's diverse needs: 16 for patient transport, 8 for medical staff, and 4 for heavy equipment.

Key Challenges and Solutions

KSMC faced three main challenges: meeting strict green building standards, accommodating high traffic volumes, and ensuring compatibility with the facility's smart healthcare systems. Coloria addressed each with targeted solutions:

• Green Compliance: All elevators were equipped with regenerative drives and LED lighting, contributing to KSMC's LEED Gold certification bid. The energy feedback systems alone are projected to save the facility over 150,000 kWh annually—enough to power 12 average Saudi homes for a year.
• High Traffic Handling: With over 10,000 visitors daily, KSMC needed elevators that could keep up. Coloria's elevators feature destination dispatch technology, which groups passengers by floor to reduce wait times (from an average of 45 seconds to 20 seconds) and minimize empty trips.
• Smart Integration: The elevators are connected to KSMC's building management system (BMS), allowing real-time monitoring of performance, energy use, and maintenance needs. Alerts are sent automatically if an elevator deviates from normal operation, enabling proactive repairs and reducing downtime.

Dr. Amal Al-Mansoori, KSMC's Project Director, praised the partnership: "Coloria didn't just deliver elevators—they delivered a complete vertical transportation strategy. Their understanding of both healthcare needs and Saudi green standards made them an invaluable partner in bringing our vision to life."

Looking Ahead: Innovations in Sustainable Hospital Elevators

The future of hospital elevators is bright, and Coloria is leading the charge. As Saudi Arabia continues to invest in healthcare infrastructure (with over $60 billion allocated to medical projects under Vision 2030), we're already developing next-generation solutions:

• Solar-Powered Elevators: Integrating our own solar panels to power elevator systems, reducing reliance on the grid and further lowering carbon footprints.
• AI-Driven Predictive Maintenance: Using artificial intelligence to analyze elevator data and predict failures before they happen—minimizing downtime and extending equipment life.
• Zero-Emission Hydraulic Systems: Developing hydraulic elevators that use biodegradable fluids and energy-efficient pumps, eliminating the environmental impact of traditional hydraulic systems.

These innovations reflect Coloria's belief that sustainability and functionality can—and must—go hand in hand. In a world where healthcare facilities are under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact, our elevators are more than a convenience—they're a commitment to a healthier planet and healthier communities.

Conclusion: Elevating Saudi Healthcare, Sustainably

Coloria's hospital elevators are more than just machines—they're a testament to what happens when local expertise, global quality, and sustainability intersect. For Saudi Arabia's healthcare projects, they offer a clear choice: elevators that prioritize patient safety, reduce operational costs, and align with the kingdom's green building standards. As we move closer to Vision 2030, Coloria remains dedicated to elevating not just people, but the future of healthcare infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.

Whether you're building a small clinic in Dammam or a sprawling medical city in Riyadh, Coloria is ready to be your partner. Because in healthcare, every detail counts—and we don't just meet standards; we set them.