The lift shaft is the vertical space in which the car and counterweight travel. Its parameters determine which lift can be installed at all, which is why every cost calculation starts with the shaft dimensions.
Three key dimensions
| Parameter | What it is |
|---|---|
| Plan dimensions | Internal width and depth of the shaft - these determine the car size |
| Pit | The recess below the lowest landing level - space for the buffers and the tensioning device |
| Headroom (top floor height) | The distance from the top landing to the ceiling slab above the shaft |
Pit
The pit depth depends on the speed and type of lift. For a 1.0 m/s passenger lift it is approximately 1200-1400 mm. For compact platform lifts the pit can be as shallow as 50-150 mm, and some models are installed with no pit at all - which is why they are often chosen for the reconstruction of existing buildings.
Headroom (top floor height)
A 1.0 m/s passenger lift needs roughly 3600-4000 mm above the top landing level. If there is not enough height, the options are models with reduced headroom or a hydraulic drive, which places lower demands on the top of the shaft.
Other considerations
- Ventilation of the shaft and machine room.
- Shaft and pit lighting, a socket outlet and switch in the pit.
- Embedded fixings in the floor slabs for mounting the guide rails.
- Pit waterproofing - especially in buildings with a high groundwater level.
- A dedicated power supply line with a circuit breaker.
What information to send the engineer
For a preliminary cost calculation, all we need is the internal plan dimensions of the shaft, the pit depth, the headroom height, the number of stops and floors, and the required rated load. If some of this information is missing, send what you have - the engineer will measure the rest on site during the survey.