5th barometer "The French and the elevator" produced by Ipsos for the Federation of Elevators

“Focused on both today and tomorrow, this new survey confirms that for more than 7 out of 10 French people, the presence of an elevator before 4 floors is necessary. And for nearly 6 in 10 French people (58%), the elevator figures (with the stairlift seat or the elevator) as the leader in solutions for home care! Two strong figures which attest to the essential nature of this mobility equipment in the eyes of the French. "
Guillaume Fournier Favre, President of the Federation of Elevators

A very strong expectation of the French in 2020: the extension to vertical mobility of housing renovation aid

In connection with the news of the renovation of housing, this 5th barometer probed the opinion of the French on financial aid for this renovation. Aid which the Government makes a strong focus of the construction component of its recovery plan.

The French are unanimous in terms of extending this financial aid to equipping vertical mobility solutions: nearly 9 out of 10 French people (89%) are in favor. More than a third (38%) even consider it essential. An installation whose intervention pays for itself in a few months, which makes the housing more accessible and facilitates mobility to improve the daily life of people with reduced mobility, whether they are the elderly or everyone on certain occasions of his daily life. One of the responses to the crucial issue of home support that the Federation has supported for years.

Concretely, if they were better informed about the existing aids to equip themselves (in elevator, domestic elevator, stairlift, lifting platform ...), 6 French out of 10 declare that this would encourage them to equip their building or their house (66% of which 22% certainly).

In the case of collective housing, 7 French people out of 10% expect this information to come from their manager, landlord or trustee.

Another major contribution of vertical mobility in the eyes of the French: enabling people to stay at home

The coronavirus crisis has strongly resurfaced the desire of the French to be able to age at home. And faced with the challenges of the loss of autonomy linked to old age, the mobility of seniors needs more than ever to be facilitated to help them stay longer at home.

Let's not forget, the aging of the French population is increasing with 40% of the population expected to be over 65 in 2040^[1].

French opinion now fully integrates the importance and role that vertical mobility equipment can play.

Indeed, vertical mobility solutions (through an elevator for an apartment or a lift or stairlift for a detached house) are leaders when it comes to the 1st choice, with a total of 39%. This is followed by the adapted bathroom for 33% of French people, then the adapted toilets for 10% of them.

And what do the French think of the equipment of public places? Overall satisfactory, with 4 areas for improvement

While the elevator remains the most used means of transport with more than 100 million trips per day in France^[2], it is omnipresent in everyone's daily life and in particular in public places.

Today, the French are generally satisfied with the level of equipment in these numerous places: 81% consider the airports and (large) stations to be well equipped, 78% the offices, 75% the shopping centers, 67% the car parks, 54% the cultural places / museums / cinemas.

To live well in residential, 7 out of 10 French people consider the elevator necessary before the 4th floor

The plebiscite of the French to have an elevator in collective housing is major, the ELAN law having made compulsory at the end of 2019 the presence of elevators from the 3rd floor in the new building.

The proof with these figures which go even further: a third of French people (32%) deem the elevator necessary from the 2nd floor. Among them, 43% of women and 50% of men over 60 are of this opinion. For 43%, it is from the 3rd floor that the elevator is necessary, and finally 19% from the 4th. That is a total of 75% of the opinion for whom the elevator is necessary before the 4th floor.

And this equipment is recurrently a decisive criterion for nearly one in two French people when they choose a new home, whether for rent or for purchase. For 19% it is even a criterion systematically, for 30% most of the time.

With some form of logic, nearly 6 out of 10 French people (54%) over 60 have this decision criterion in mind, for 26% of them it is systematic.

While the confinement has forced millions of French people to spend much more time at home, their expression of a need to live well there has been even stronger since.

For this, easy access to your home by performing common daily tasks (transporting groceries, accompanying an elderly relative or their young children) requires the ability to use an elevator.

This strong expectation is certainly linked to the main situations in which the presence of an elevator may have been missed by the French in 2020.

He failed to:

• 59% for moving occasional loads (moving, bulky items, bulky items, suitcases, etc.)

53% of those aged 60 and over felt it in 2020 (vs. 59% of the whole). And 'in front of them', 7 in 10 young people (73%) between 18-24 years old had this feeling (vs 59% of the whole), probably because they often take an active part in this type. transport'.

• 56% to carry everyday loads (shopping, bags ...)

Nearly 7 in 10 young people (67%) among 25-34 year olds often have this feeling, possibly related to a family situation with young children (vs 56% of the whole)

• 53% by being accompanied by elderly relatives

Here too, this feeling is experienced by young people, by 57% of 18 to 24 year olds who support or have been called upon to support elderly parents or even their grandparents.

• 40% by being accompanied by young children

Including 45% of 25-34 year olds who say they felt the lack of a lift to get around in this case.

• 36% to get around following a life-threatening accident

One in two young people (49%) between 18 and 24 years old regretted the lack of a lift by being in this situation (vs 36% of the whole).

• 23% to leave home

Nearly one in 4 French people felt penalized in 2020 for their need to leave their home because their home is not equipped with an elevator. A need that one in three young people under 35 (29%) also felt (vs 23% of the whole).

In parallel with these proven situations of need, the French also express expectations regarding the most desired (new) services in the elevator.

Two stand out:

• For 36% of French people, a voice control system (call, closing / opening of doors ...), a novelty that takes on its full meaning in this Covid-19 period and which is already experiencing applications.
• For 31%, a folding seat or a seat, a wish in line with the aging of the population.

“More than ever, the vertical mobility allowed by elevators, escalators, elevators and platforms, stairlift seats is a social issue and a strong need among the French. While housing is engaged in a major renovation plan, the French want them to integrate vertical mobility, not only for their everyday life but also by thinking of home support where mobility must be facilitated. "

"While real estate and the French face the lack of new housing, we discover with this study that a third of the population (29%, including 41% of under 35s) is in favor of the construction of high buildings of more than 6 floors. This indicator is in line with our message, which is that reasoned and sustainable urban densification is possible with the heightening of buildings as long as vertical mobility has its place. And the elevator technician profession is ready to meet this challenge with developers and builders. "

Guillaume Fournier Favre, President of the Federation of Elevators

^[1] Source: INSEE

^[2] Source: Federation of Elevators