Following the name of Standard 81, the shaft is the space exclusively intended for the movement of the elevator and the counterweight (if it is electric), but it cannot be used for any other installation other than the elevator (such as electrical conduits, water pipes, etc.).
Features of an elevator shaft
European Directive 2006/42/EC states that lifts must be designed and constructed in such a way that access to the lift shaft is impossible, except for maintenance work and in emergencies. Ordinary use of the lift must be made impossible while a person is in the shaft.
Can there be open gaps?
Depending on the Autonomous Community, in current buildings the installation of lifts in stairwells or courtyards is not permitted. The drawback is that they must be completely closed spaces, with walls of continuous surface, and without any other openings than those required by the service of the installation. The installation of lifting equipment in special structures, such as metal towers, elevated tanks, etc. will require special authorization.
The walls of the enclosures must be made of materials that do not produce dust and have sufficient strength to withstand the reactions of the guides anchored to them, or the decentring of the loads of the cabin and above all the action of the parachute. They must resist at least a horizontal force of 3000 N on a round or square surface of 5 cm2 at any point without causing a greater elastic deformation.
They must also be non-combustible and free of coatings that could generate large volumes of gases and fumes.
Hello good morning, my question is. I have a space to install a freight elevator for use by people. My concern is that the company that is doing the masonry reform He is using the hole to install the drain pipes from the bathrooms to the pit. Can I have any problems legalizing the freight elevator? Will they be offices or otherwise, nothing will happen? Thank you.
First of all, we would like to thank you for taking us into account when resolving your query. As you have mentioned, in accordance with the regulations, you may have problems legalising the lift, as any pipe inside the pit implies a potential safety problem. We advise you to contact the company that is installing the lift and that will take care of its maintenance.
Hello, good morning. The material used to close the elevator shaft in the staircase in my community is glass, but parts of about 50 cm high on each floor have been left with plasterboard. Is that allowed? Regards.
Hello, in my community the elevator is being installed and the elevator shaft is being enclosed with normal plasterboard. We are located in Cuellar, Segovia. I would like to know if this complies with the standard.
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Thank you, this is the information I was looking for.
Hello good morning, my question is. I have a space to install a freight elevator for use by people. My concern is that the company that is doing the masonry reform
He is using the hole to install the drain pipes from the bathrooms to the pit. Can I have any problems legalizing the freight elevator? Will they be offices or otherwise, nothing will happen? Thank you.
Good morning,
First of all, we would like to thank you for taking us into account when resolving your query. As you have mentioned, in accordance with the regulations, you may have problems legalising the lift, as any pipe inside the pit implies a potential safety problem. We advise you to contact the company that is installing the lift and that will take care of its maintenance.
Hello, could you help me with some references on the construction of elevator shafts? Regards.
Hello, good morning. The material used to close the elevator shaft in the staircase in my community is glass, but parts of about 50 cm high on each floor have been left with plasterboard. Is that allowed? Regards.
Hi Mauricio, we recommend that you consult section 5 of the EN 81-20 standard. This section contains everything related to the gap.
Hello, in my community the elevator is being installed and the elevator shaft is being enclosed with normal plasterboard. We are located in Cuellar, Segovia. I would like to know if this complies with the standard.