Elevator (Building)
A powered car that moves people and goods between floors on guided rails.
Quick Answer
A building elevator is a powered vertical transportation system in which a car travels between floors on guide rails inside a hoistway. The main types are traction, hydraulic, and machine-room-less elevators. Installation and operation are governed by safety codes such as ASME A17.1 and by accessibility requirements, and are enforced by local authorities.
The Full Picture
An elevator system is more than a car. It includes the hoistway, guide rails, hoisting machine, controller, safety devices, doors, pit, and overhead or machine space. The system must also integrate with fire alarm recall, emergency power, and building access controls, which makes it a coordination-heavy part of the building.
Traction elevators lift the car with ropes or belts over a sheave driven by a motor, balanced by a counterweight, and are the norm for mid- and high-rise buildings. Hydraulic elevators push the car up with a piston and suit low-rise buildings with modest travel. Machine-room-less designs place the machine in the hoistway, saving space.
Design starts with traffic analysis: how many people need to move, how quickly, and with what waiting times. Those results set the number of cars, speed, and capacity. Codes then govern safety systems, firefighter recall and emergency operation, and accessible car and control dimensions.
On the construction side, elevators are typically a specialty subcontract with long lead times. The hoistway must be plumb, dimensionally accurate, and ready on schedule, and inspections and acceptance testing by the authority having jurisdiction are required before the elevator can be used by the public.
Real Examples
Common Misconceptions
People assume: Elevators are just equipment that gets dropped into a shaft.
Actually: The hoistway tolerances, pit depth, overhead clearance, power, fire alarm interface, and inspections all must be coordinated with other trades well before the equipment arrives.
People assume: Any elevator can be used for evacuation in a fire.
Actually: Standard elevators are recalled to a designated floor during a fire. Only specially designed occupant evacuation elevators or firefighters' elevators are intended for emergency use, and only where the code requires or permits them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of elevators?
The main types are traction (rope or belt driven, used in mid- and high-rise), hydraulic (piston driven, used in low-rise), and machine-room-less traction elevators that put the machine in the hoistway.
What code governs elevators in the US?
ASME A17.1, the Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, is the primary safety standard and is adopted by reference in most jurisdictions, along with the building code and accessibility requirements.
Why do elevators have long lead times?
Equipment is custom configured for each project and manufactured to order, so it is typically procured early and coordinated with hoistway construction.
Are elevators required to be accessible?
Yes. Elevators serving accessible floors must meet ADA and building code requirements for car size, door operation, controls, and signals.