Home Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Location of machine room for hydraulic elevators

Hello,

I've usually seen and read about the location of the machine room for hydraulic elevators should be at the lowest level adjacent to the hoistway.

I wanted to inquire if there are any code-related or operational issues concerning, locating the machine room for hydraulic elevator at the 2nd level or higher. The elevator safety code does not seem to specify a requirement for the location of the machine room for hydraulic elevator.

I'd appreciate your insights on the above query.

Thank you.

In general, there is no specific place to locate the machine room. But it is most logical to place it as close to the jack as possible. Reasons? If there is a leak in the oil line, less oil to drain, reduces number of 90's, less friction, run cooler. Electrical run shorter, not so much on the second floor but other remote, yes. Cheaper to install when next to hoistway. And in general Elevator mechanics prefer it next to it on the lowest level. My opinion only.

Machine Rooms can be located away from the Hoistway, but there are some provisions that need to be met. Here are a few of them. Grooved Fittings must be accessible for maintenance and inspection. A17.1-2013-3.19.3.2, Hydraulic Lines away from the Hoistway must be clearly marked. A17.1-2013-3.19.2.6. Piping outside of MR or Hoistway has to be protected, and if buried it needs either safeties,overspeed valve, or Plunger Gripper. There may be Local Building or Elevator codes involved also. It would be in your interest to throughly check.

I agree with both. Machine rooms can be located anywhere, main reason to have adjacent at bottom is cost. If your adjacent at 2nd landing the cost diffenrence should be minimal, your elevator contractor will know the code differences. I've installed hydraulic units where the room was on top of a 5 story bldg and another that was 100 yards remote for example

Thank you very much for your thoughts on this topic. Really appreciate it.

Remote machine rooms also require intercoms. Adjacent machine rooms that are higher in the shaft generally just have nuisance issues, nothing code related. Nuisance issues can be noise, and speed, as the down can be a bit problematic when it's trying to force oil vertically over a longish span.

Think the tallest I had was a 68ft of rise 6 stop. Machine room was top floor adjacent. Just a finicky adjustment to get the valve working in a reliable way....