Elevators; we’ve all been in them. While some are fancy glass elevators allowing you to see the outside world, the majority are small, enclosed boxes with mirrors placed on the walls. But why is that?
It turns out that there are a few reasons why manufacturers place mirrors inside, largely relating to safety and user experience.
One reason why lift manufacturers do so is to relieve the feelings of being trapped in a small box, as it hurls you up to the sky or down towards the Earth.
“Getting claustrophobic in a lift is a very common problem for many people. The small space, the lack of air, the inability to see what’s happening in the mechanism are all factors that contribute to the kind of anxiety in small spaces that gives us sweaty palms and a raised heartbeat,” UK lift (elevator) supplier Gartec explains. “Having a mirror in a lift helps to reduce this anxiety. It adds a sense of more space to an elevator, making it feel less cramped and small and helping to avoid feelings of being trapped.”
Another reason is for safety. Having a mirror allows you to see the whole of the elevator, meaning you have a better chance of spotting any signs of theft or assault. But they are to help the safety and accessibility of wheelchair users too, especially in elevators too small to maneuver in.
“A wheelchair user will need to see the space behind them, enabling them to turn around within the lift car,” Stannah Lifts explains, “so mirrors at the rear of the lift facilitate this.”
Finally, mirrors are pretty good for a little distraction as you ride them, whilst also giving people somewhere to look other than at the floor, or making dead eye contact with a stranger.
“Mirrors also serve as a useful distraction to pass the time in a lift,” Simplex Elevators explains, “making the ride feel shorter and minimising feelings of boredom and claustrophobia.”
And that’s pretty much it. Something to think about on your next trip in one of those horrible, reflective boxes.
Source Link: Why Do Elevators Have Mirrors Inside Them?
