When considering installing an elevator (whether in an existing residential building, a new construction site, or a single-family home), the first big question is always the same: do we have enough space?
Understanding how the space available for an elevator is calculated does not require being an architect or engineer. In this article we explain in a simple and clear way everything you need to know about elevator shaft measurements, what current regulations require and what solutions exist when square meters are scarce.
What is an elevator shaft and what dimensions define it
The elevator shaft It is the closed or partially closed vertical space through which the cabin moves and, if any, the counterweight. In simple terms, it is the conduit that protects and guides the elevator's path.
To determine if an elevator fits in a certain location, it is not enough to measure the width and bottom of the shaft. There are four fundamental dimensions that define technical feasibility:
- Width of the gap: The distance from side to side in the horizontal plane (from wall to inner wall).
- Bottom of the hole: The distance from the front (where the doors are located) to the back wall of the enclosure.
- Pit: The vertical space located below the level of the lowest stop. It is the area of the floor where shock absorbers and safety elements are installed.
- Escape: The free vertical distance remaining between the ground level of the last stop (the highest) and the ceiling of the gap. This area guarantees a safety volume for the technician during maintenance work.
Minimum gap measurements according to regulations (UNE-EN 81-20 and CTE DB-SUA)
The installation of elevators in Spain is mainly regulated by two regulatory frameworks:
- UNE-EN 81-20 and UNE-EN 81-50: European standards that establish safety rules for the construction and installation of elevators, defining safety distances in the pit and escape to protect maintenance personnel and users.
- Technical Building Code (CTE DB-SUA): In its Safety of Use and Accessibility document, it sets the minimum dimensions to guarantee autonomous use by people with reduced mobility or in wheelchairs.
According to the CTE DB-SUA, a accessible elevator Type 1 (wheelchair suitable) must have a cabin of at least 1000 mm wide by 1250 mm deep. To accommodate that cabin, the minimum space required in new buildings is usually around 1400 mm wide by 1600 mm deep, although these figures vary depending on the type of doors and the traction system.
Measures of the gap in housing efficiencies
In the neighborhood communitiesThe size of the elevator is determined by the number of homes, the expected flow of people and accessibility criteria.
Standard dimensions: width, bottom, pit and escape
In a residential building As usual, the volume of use requires larger cabins and robust mechanisms.
- Width and Background: The venue usually ranges between 1500 mm and 2000 mm per side.
- Standard pit: In new construction buildings, the depth of the pit ranges between 1000 mm and 1200 mm.
- Standard escape: The height of the escape on the upper roof usually requires between 3400 mm and 3700 mm.
Table of dimensions according to load capacity (4, 6 and 8 people)
The following measures serve as guidance for conventional residential buildings:
| Capacity | Kg payload | Recommended cabin measurements (width x depth) (mm) | Minimum gap measurements (width x bottom) (mm) | Usual pit (mm) | Habitual flight (mm) |
| 4 people | 300-320 | 900×1000 | 1350×1400 | 1000-1200 | 3400 |
| 6 people | 450-480 | 1000×1250 | 1450×1650 | 1100-1200 | 3500 |
| 8 people | 630 | 1100×1400 | 1600×1800 | 1200 | 3600 |
Note: The exact dimensions of the opening depend on whether the boarding gates are telescopic, central, or semi-automatic.
Space measurements in single-family homes
In a single-family home (chalet, townhouse or bi-family home), traffic flow is very low and speed requirements are lower. This allows installation single-family elevators or lifts (also known as lifting platforms) in much smaller dimensions.
Standard dimensions: width, bottom, pit and escape
For typical single-family use (2 or 3 people):
- Width and bottom of the gap: It is common to work with gaps from 1100 mm × 1200 mm for compact individual cabins.
- Reduced pit: Unlike a public building, a single-family home does not require a deep grave. A moat is usually enough 150 mm to 300 mm (sometimes it is even resolved with a small access ramp without penetrating the ground).
- Reduced escape: The necessary height on the top floor is usually between 2400 mm and 2600 mm, which fits with the standard height of a home's ceilings.
Solutions for gaps
When the The house wasn't designed with an elevator in mindThere are alternatives to integrate it:
- Staircase hole: Take advantage of the free space in the center of the main staircase.
- Modular exterior structures: Install a tower or self-supporting structure on the façade or interior patio.
- Aligned wardrobes or storage rooms: Take advantage of the vertical alignment of small storage spaces on each floor.
Dimensional differences between hydraulic and electric elevators
The operating principle of the elevator directly conditions the space it needs within the premises.
MRL hydraulic elevator: advantages in small spaces
The hydraulic elevator is moved by the action of a piston fed by pressurized oil driven by a tractor unit. In the MRL (Machine Room Less or Without Machine Room) version, the maneuvering panel and the tank are located in a cabinet outside the opening.
Advantages in utilizing the gap:
-
No counterweight: By not requiring a counterweight mass to balance the load, 100% of the gap width is optimized for the cabin and its guides.
Loads in the pit: The weight effort is discharged on the base of the pit and not on the roof or upper beams of the building, which simplifies the architecture of the gap. - Ideal for tight spaces: Allows maximizing the useful cabin surface in irregularly shaped or very narrow gaps.
Electric elevator with counterweight: additional space required
The electric elevator (or traction) uses an electric motor and a pulley system assisted by a counterweight.
Space requirements:
- Space for the counterweight: The counterweight must run along the gap (usually located at the bottom or on one side). This reduces between 250 mm and 350 mm the space available for the cabin on that axis.
- Highest escape: By reaching higher speeds than hydraulic speeds, regulations require higher safety spaces at the top of the enclosure.
What happens if my space does not meet the minimum measurements?
In older buildings without elevators, it is common to find it impossible to achieve the standard measurements required by the general rule. In these cases, safety regulations (such as specification UNE-EN 81-21 for elevators in existing buildings) contemplates exceptions and special technical solutions:
- Adaptive security systems: Electromechanical devices that create temporary safety spaces in a pit or escape only when the technician goes to work, allowing pits of less than 50 cm and escapes of less than 2.80 m.
- Special doors: Use of folding bus-type doors or multi-leaf telescopic doors to reduce the required exterior width.
- Stairlift platforms: When it is physically impossible to build a venue, alternative accessibility solutions are used.
Frequently asked questions about elevator shaft measurements
What is the minimum size of an elevator shaft in a single-family home?
The minimum advisable size to have a functional cabin that can fit a person standing or a person with a companion is approximately 1000 mm wide by 1000 mm background.
Can an elevator be installed in a 1000 mm × 1000 mm shaft?
Yes, it is technically possible. With a free gap of 1000 mm × 1000 mm A single-seat elevator or platform can be installed with a usable cabin of about 700 mm × 800 mm, using manual doors and a compact hydraulic or single-phase traction system.
Is a pit necessary in all cases?
In new construction, yes. In single-family homes or renovations of old buildings, there are models that only require between 100 and 150 mm of pit, a distance that is often resolved by lowering only the flooring or by means of a small access step.
What minimum escape height is needed on the roof of the gap?
New construction with conventional elevators At least 3400 m are usually requiredm. However, in solutions for existing buildings or single-family homes with adapted regulations, there are approved models that work with escapes of 2400 to 2600 millimeters.
Literature
AENOR. UNE-EN 81-20: Safety rules for the construction and installation of elevators. Part 20: Elevators for people and people and loads. File in AENOR store (payment rule): UNE-EN 81-20:2020 — AENOR Store
AENOR. UNE-EN 81-21: Safety rules for the construction and installation of elevators. Part 21: New elevators for people and people and loads in existing buildings.
Standard is especially relevant for installations in existing buildings where the available space does not allow meeting all the requirements of UNE-EN 81-20. Edition valid in the AENOR store (payment rule): UNE-EN 81-21:2022 — AENOR Store
Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda. Technical Building Code (CTE): Basic Document DB-SUA (Security of Use and Accessibility).
The DB-SUA establishes rules and procedures to meet the basic requirements of safety of use and accessibility in buildings. Two linkable official sources: Codigotechnical
- Official CTE website with the complete document and its updates:
CTE DB-SUA — codigotecnico.org - Full text in PDF (current official version):
DB-SUA in PDF — codigotecnico.org
Postgraduate in Product management at Eada Business School. Qualification in Project Manager and Community Manager from Cecot. Responsible for Marketing and Communication at GMV Eurolift SAU since 2010.
