Hoistway

Hoistway, or hoist way, is the vertical shaft in a building that houses an elevator car and its lifting mechanism. It provides a guided, enclosed path for the car to travel between floors and contains the car guides, hoisting ropes or hydraulic cylinder, and associated safety devices. The shaft extends from a machine room or top landing to a pit at the bottom, with landing doors installed on each floor.

Construction and layout: Hoistways are typically built as reinforced concrete shafts with a lining of steel or concrete panels to resist fire and moisture. They accommodate guide rails, electrical conduits, braking assemblies, buffers in the pit, and in many installations, the drive machinery at the top. Modern configurations may be machine-room-less, placing drive equipment within the hoistway or in a dedicated room above the shaft.

Operation and drive types: Traction elevators use ropes and a counterweight inside the hoistway; hydraulic elevators operate with a piston and cylinder in the shaft. The hoistway is designed to support precise alignment of the car with landing doors on multiple floors and to accommodate the required travel distance and loading conditions.

Safety, standards, and maintenance: Hoistways must meet applicable elevator-safety codes and fire-resistance requirements. Regular maintenance includes inspecting guide rails, door interlocks, governors, and safety devices, and ensuring proper sealing of the shaft to prevent water intrusion and dust ingress.