Elevators

What is an elevator
An elevator or lift is a vertical transport vehicle that
efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a
building.
They are generally powered by electric motors that
either drive traction cables and counterweight systems,
or pump hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical piston.
Because of wheelchair access laws, elevators are often
a legal requirement in new multi-story buildings,
especially where wheelchair ramps would be
impractical.

History of elevators
Rudimentary elevators, or hoists, were in use during the
Middle Ages and can be traced back to the third century BC.
They were operated by animal and human power or by waterdriven mechanisms.
The elevator as we know it today was first developed during
the 1800s and relied on steam or hydraulic plungers for lifting
capability. In the latter application, the cab was affixed to a
hollow plunger that lowered into an underground cylinder.

Circular Elevator
Burj Al Arab, UAE
A perfectly circular elevator car thats a thing of beauty.

Birdie Style Elevator

Core Pacific City, Taiwan
Keyhole shaped elevator designed to resemble a badminton shuttlecock.

Machine room less elevators

Classification of Elevators Based on Use

Passengers elevators
Express elevator
Freight elevators
Vehicle elevators
Boat elevators
Aircraft elevators
Residential elevator
Service lifts
Dumb waiter
Paternoster

Aircraft elevators

 Passenger lifts - Designed to carry persons

Hospital lifts used in hospitals to carry a
stretcher, with attendant
Service lifts (dumb waiter) small and used
exclusively to carry goods or food with the
serving level usually above the floor
Goods lifts serves primarily to transport
materials, but may carry an attendant
Platform lift used for transporting materials on
a platform or floor; unlike a car, it has neither
sides nor door
Firemans lifts

Classification of Elevators Based on

Mechanism
Hydraulic
Traction
Machine room-less

Machine room

Usually located at the top of the shaft

Lift machine, controller and all other apparatus and
equipment of a lift installation shall be placed in the
machine room which shall be adequately lighted, ventilated
and rendered fire-proof
The machine room shall be equipped with an insulated
portable hand lamp provided with flexible cord for
examining the machinery
Shall be provided with a direct independent and convenient
access from the topmost floor with access doors opening
outwards
Machine room floor may be provided with a trap door
All lifts shall be provided with a standard cranking system
to be used in case of power failure to bring the car to the
nearest floor. A duplicate key should be made available
near the machine room in a glass enclosure

Hoistway
The space enclosed by the fireproof walls
and elevator door for the travel of one or
more elevators, dumbwaiters or material
lifts.
It includes the pit and terminates at the
underside of the overhead machinery
space floor or grating, or at the underside
of the roof where the hoistway does not
penetrate the roof. (Hoistway is sometimes called "hatchway" .)

Guide rails
Fixed truly vertical in the shaft, made
of steel and serve to guide the
movement of both car and counter
weight
Where the nature of processes
carried on in the building give rise to
acid fumes or corrosive substances
the steel rails shall be treated for
corrosion

Car or Cage

The unit which carries the passengers and /or materials

Has a steel frame or sling which supports the floor or
platform, in addition to side and top body work and to
which the safety gear guide shoes and suspension ropes
are fixed
Any vision panel in a car door shall be fire-resisting and
shall be of safety wired or similar glass
Entrance of the lift car shall be at least 2 m in height
Roof, solid or perforated capable of supporting two persons,
that is, 2 x 68 kg shall be provided
The floor shall be of a smooth and non-slip surface
Where the lift car has solid enclosure and doors, provision
shall be made for a fan and for adequate ventilation
A suitable battery operated alarm system shall be installed
inside the lift car so as to raise an alarm

Elevator doors
Elevator doors protect riders
from falling into the shaft.
The most common
configuration is to have two
panels that meet in the middle,
and slide open laterally.
In a cascading configuration
(potentially allowing wider
entryways within limited
space), the doors run on
independent tracks so that
while open, they are tucked
behind one another, and while
closed, they form cascading
layers on one side.

Counterweight or Balance
weight
A unit consisting of steel weights, which
counter balances the weight of the car
and a portion of the load, and to which
the suspension ropes are attached
Suspension ropes :
These consists of strands of steel wire
by which the car and counter weight
are suspended

Pit
Space in the shaft below the lowest landing
served by the lift
Maintained in a dry and clean condition
Provision shall be made for permanent drainage
Where the pits exceeds 1m, suitable descending
arrangement shall be provided to reach the lift pit
Fixed ladder or other descending facility in the
form of permanent brackets grouted in the wall
extending to a height of 0.75 m above the lowest
floor level shall be provided
A light point with switch shall also be provided for
facility of maintenance and repair work

Buffer
Of oil or spring type fixed at the
bottom of the pit, one immediately in
line with the centre of the car, the
other in line with the counterweight,
their purpose being to reduce or
absorb the impact of the car or
counterweight at the extreme lower
limit of travel

STANDARDS

Occupant load
The number of persons within any floor area or the occupant load
shall be based on the actual number of occupants, but in no case
less than those specified in the table
Occupancy
Occupant load
(gross area in sq.m per person)
Residential
12.5
Educational
4
Institutional
15
Business and industrial
10
Storage
30
Hazardous
10
Assembly
with fixed or loose seats
and dance floor
0.6
without seating facilities
including dining rooms 1.5
Mercantile
street floor and
sales basement
3
upper sale floors
6

Number of lifts and capacity

Quantity of service required
passenger handling capacity of the
lifts during the peak periods
Quality of service desired waiting
time of passenger at various floors