Elevator Shaft Preparation Challenge

The most important challenge in elevator design, as well as its installation and commissioning, is the elevator shaft preparation challenge. The importance of elevators in urban life has become evident with the high-rise construction of buildings due to population growth and space constraints, especially in large cities, as high-rise construction would not be practically feasible without elevators. An elevator is the only moving machine in the heart of a building, acting as its beating heart, facilitating smooth movement, reducing travel time, and providing a pleasant and safe experience for its passengers.

In this article, we discuss the challenges that elevator designers face in preparing the installation site for elevators. To understand the elevator shaft preparation challenge, it is necessary to know what factors determine the location selection or elevator shaft preparation.

The First Challenge: Elevator Shaft Layout

Elevator shaft layout is the first and most important challenge in the path of elevator shaft preparation. The architect must determine the number of elevators, the nominal capacity of each one, and the types of elevators (passenger, freight, etc.) in a building, and then, based on their knowledge and regulations regarding elevator shaft layout, taking into account the climatic conditions of the region, proceed with the elevator shaft layout.

But what parameters determine elevator shaft layout? These parameters include the following:

1. Elevator Traffic Position
2. Distance of the elevator location from rest rooms
3. Elevator shaft dimensions

Elevator Traffic Position:

The elevator installation location should be in the central and traffic-oriented area of the building, so that accessing the elevator requires the least movement and displacement for passengers or goods. There are regulations in place that the designer must adhere to in this regard.

Regulations for Determining Elevator Traffic Position:

Regarding elevator shaft layout and determining elevator traffic position, there are regulations in the 15th section of the 1392 edition of the National Building Regulations that must be followed. Some of these regulations are as follows:

- The distance from the entrance door of elevators or apartments to the elevator entrance on each floor should be a maximum of 40 meters.
- Elevator entrances should be accessible from the main staircase by individuals with disabilities, and in buildings with more than one entrance, elevator access must be provided for each entrance.
- Entry and exit of individuals from the elevator should be in an organized manner, and the flow of traffic should be regulated, with appropriate signage at entrances and exits to guide movement.
- There is a table in this section that determines the depth of the corridor in front of the elevator cabin entrance based on the type of building and the depth of the elevator cabin, which is provided below:

Table 15-2-2-1-4: Depth (width or length along the depth of the cabin) of the corridor in front of elevator entrances
 

Distance of Elevator Location from Rest Rooms:

The distance of the elevator location from rest rooms and hospital ward rooms should be such that the sound of elevator cabin movement and equipment is not audible. In this regard, another regulation of the National Building Regulations regarding elevator shaft layout is related to the distance of the elevator location from rest rooms as follows:

In hotels, hospitals, and public buildings, it is necessary to provide a sufficient distance between the elevator shaft and rest rooms and to isolate elevator shafts from adjacent rooms to prevent the transmission of sound. Therefore, building plans must be designed from the outset in a way that the elevator installation location is both centrally located within the building's traffic hub and distant from rest rooms. However, if the shaft layout has already been completed or elevator installation is planned in an old building, sound insulation must be applied in a manner that prevents the sound of elevator movement from being heard in rest rooms.

Elevator Shaft Dimensions:

Elevator shaft dimensions vary based on building codes, regulations, and elevator shaft layout requirements. By referring to the tables available in the 15th section of the National Building Regulations, you will observe a proportional relationship between the cabin area and its nominal capacity (based on weight or number of passengers). Therefore, as the nominal capacity of the cabin increases, the dimensions of the elevator cabin and consequently the elevator shaft should also be larger. However, there is also a table for maximum cabin area per weight or passenger to prevent additional loads from entering the building.

One of the challenges of elevator shaft preparation is determining the optimal dimensions for the elevator installation location or elevator shaft. To determine elevator shaft dimensions, two simultaneous considerations must be taken into account:

1. Efficient movement of more people or heavier loads in the shortest possible time, in the safest possible condition.
2. Elevator dimension constraints, both due to building design and plans, and due to national regulations to prevent additional loads from entering the building.

Therefore, the designer must utilize their knowledge and experience, along with the building's characteristics, to achieve the most optimal design that maximizes efficiency while using the least possible space.

Second Challenge: Elevator Equipment Alignment

Based on the dimensions of the elevator shaft, all equipment placed inside and outside the elevator shaft must be properly aligned. These equipments include the motor, control panel, elevator cabin, rails, counterweight, cables, wiring equipment, sensors, floor doors, buffers, parachute, governor, and so on, each of which must be installed without obstruction and according to installation standards in their respective positions.

The alignment of equipment and the entire elevator structure is of paramount importance as it ensures the proper transfer of dynamic and static loads, facilitates smooth movement of the elevator cabin, and prevents premature wear of elevator components and equipment. Below is a table indicating the allowable misalignment of elevator shaft dimensions:

Table 15-2-2-9-2: Maximum permissible misalignment of elevator shaft dimensions.
 

As mentioned, each of the elevator equipment requires a specific space. Additionally, the elevator shaft consists of two separate spaces called the machine room and the elevator pit, where some of the equipment is located, and part of the elevator preparation challenge is related to preparing these spaces:

Machine Room:

Some of these equipment, including the motor, control panel, governor, etc., are usually located in a separate room called the machine room at the top of the elevator shaft. The machine room is where equipment related to the elevator's propulsion system is placed. The best location for the machine room is above the elevator shaft for traction elevators and at the bottom of the shaft for hydraulic elevators. Additionally, if the elevator motor is gearless, the machine room is located within the shaft, referred to as a machine room-less or MRL elevator. One of the challenges related to elevator preparation is creating a machine room, which is usually located above the roof and is not architecturally favored. However, if the elevator design permits, gearless elevators that do not require a machine room, known as machine room-less (MRL) elevators, can be used.

Elevator Pit:

Another part of the elevator equipment, including cabin buffers, counterweights, guide rail brackets, governor rope sheaves (if present), compensating chain sheaves (if present), pit lighting, ladder, and pit waterproofing, are placed in the lower part of the elevator shaft called the elevator pit. The distance between the lowest elevator landing and the pit floor, which is crucial for installing the cabin buffers to prevent the cabin from colliding with the pit floor, is important. Waterproofing the elevator pit is another challenge in elevator preparation. Since the elevator pit is located below the ground floor level of the building, during elevator preparation, attention must be paid to ensure waterproofing of the elevator pit and prevent infiltration of groundwater or sewage into the elevator pit.

Third Challenge: Elevator Safety against Fire

Another challenge in elevator preparation is elevator safety against fire. In this regard, the walls, floor, and ceiling of the elevator shaft must be made of fire-resistant materials. Additionally, considering the smoke evacuation feature of the elevator shaft during a fire, it should be designed in a way that allows simultaneous installation of the positive pressure elevator system with the positive pressure stairway system. Furthermore, the impact of climatic conditions of the region, including the air temperature range throughout the year, wind speed and direction, humidity level, and elevation above sea level, should be considered in the design.

Fourth Challenge: Cost and Quality

One of the most important challenges for elevator designers and constructors in preparing the elevator site is the challenge of cost and quality. It is certain that the most important priority is to comply with safety requirements and standards in the first place. After that, it is the skill of the elevator designer, constructor, and installer to provide the best quality in terms of design, construction, equipment, and installation within the budget and cost paid by the client, utilizing their knowledge, skills, and experience. In this regard, the customer may have certain requirements that the designer can meet while prioritizing standards and safety requirements.

Summary
This article examines the most important challenges that elevator designers, constructors, and installers face when preparing elevator sites. The first challenge is elevator layout, which includes determining the most suitable traffic location for the elevator, ensuring distance from restrooms, and elevator shaft dimensions. The second challenge is elevator equipment layout, which includes equipment inside the elevator shaft, machine room, and elevator pit. The third challenge is elevator safety against fire, which requires the highest resistance to fire and prevention of fire and smoke spread in the design. The final challenge is cost and quality, where the designer must provide the best quality while considering budget constraints, adhering to standard priorities, and considering customer requirements. For more information, contact Owjlift, which has over 20 years of experience in installing and commissioning various types of elevators and escalators.