What is Elevator Pit?
Definition of Elevator Pit in Construction
The majority of elevators require an elevator pit below the first floor landing. This pit is constructed to house the base of the elevator rails, the jack hole and the piston, as well as the impact equipment for the cab. In most cases there is required a small ladder to access the bottom of the pit, a light fixture in the pit for illumination, as well as a sump pit for pumping the bottom of the elevator pit. The construction of the elevator pit occurs during the initial construction of the building. In many cases the elevator pit, due to its location on the bottom of the structure, will fall below the water table. If this is the case, a sophisticated water proofing scheme for the pit walls is specified, as well as a pumping system, to ensure that the elevator pit does not become full of water.