Elevator Scope of Work: ASME A17.1 Hoistway, Pit, and GC-vs-Sub Responsibility Split
What to put in an elevator scope of work — traction vs MRL vs hydraulic, hoistway and pit prep by GC, cab finishes, machine room HVAC, and the state inspection sequence.
Elevator scopes are among the most heavily regulated and most frequently under-scoped packages in commercial construction. The elevator contractor interfaces with the structural team (hoistway, pit, machine room), the electrical sub (dedicated power feed, lighting, emergency power), the general contractor (framing, drywall, finishes in the cab), and the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) — all within one of the most inspection-intensive scopes on the project. A vague elevator scope of work leads to delays at occupancy permit and scope disputes over who finishes the cab, who provides the pit ladder, and who is responsible for the machine room HVAC. This template covers the complete scope.
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Elevator Type, Hoistway Prep, and Cab Finish Schedule
The defining decisions in an elevator buy-out — system type (traction/MRL/hydraulic), capacity and speed, hoistway and pit dimensions, and the cab finish package — must be locked in before structural drawings are sealed.
Elevator scopes must be defined by type, capacity, speed, and finish level before the RFP. Each of these variables drives the cost and lead time significantly.
Elevator Type and System Specifications
Traction elevator (machine room or machine-room-less / MRL): Standard for buildings over 5 storeys or requiring speeds above 150 FPM. Machine room required (traction) or machine room-less (drive integrated into hoistway). MRL elevators require a machine space (typically above the top floor landing) — confirm dimensions with the elevator sub before the structural design is finalized.
Hydraulic elevator: Common for low-rise applications (2–6 storeys, up to 60 FPM). Requires a below-pit hydraulic cylinder (in-ground) or a telescoping/roped hydraulic system. In-ground cylinder requires soil boring to confirm groundwater conditions — a leaking in-ground hydraulic cylinder is an environmental liability. Roped hydraulic or MRL traction is increasingly preferred.
Platform lift / vertical platform lift: ADA-compliant lift for vertical travel ≤14 ft. Not a substitute for a full elevator in multi-floor occupancies — confirm code compliance with the accessibility consultant before specifying.
Capacity and speed: Specify rated load capacity (lbs or kg), rated speed (FPM), and number of stops. For commercial office buildings, 2,500 lbs at 200 FPM is a common standard; hospitals and logistics applications require higher capacities. Traffic analysis for multi-elevator projects should be provided by the elevator sub as a deliverable.
Hoistway Requirements
Hoistway dimensions must be confirmed with the elevator sub before the structural drawings are finalized. Standard hoistway dimensions vary by manufacturer and system — do not design the hoistway to generic dimensions and assume any elevator will fit. Require the elevator sub to confirm hoistway dimensions and provide a certified hoistway drawing as a pre-NTP deliverable.
Pit depth: minimum 4'–6' depending on elevator type and speed. Pit must be waterproofed (see waterproofing scope), equipped with a pit ladder, pit lighting, GFCI outlet, and sump drain. Define who provides and installs each of these pit components — many GCs assume the elevator sub includes them; many elevator subs assume the GC includes them.
Overhead clearance: defined by the elevator type and speed. Confirm the minimum structural clearance from the top landing floor level to the underside of the overhead structure before the structural slab is designed.
Hoistway ventilation: required per ASME A17.1 (U.S.) or EN 81 (Canada/Europe). Define whether ventilation is provided by the mechanical sub's HVAC system or by a louvered vent installed by the elevator sub.
Cab Finishes and Door Equipment
Cab interior finishes are either standard (manufacturer's standard panel package) or custom. Define the cab interior package: wall panel material (stainless steel, laminate, wood veneer), flooring (granite, porcelain, rubber, carpet tile), ceiling type (fluorescent, LED, suspended ceiling), and handrail (stainless, brushed, or painted). Custom cabs require an architect's finish schedule submitted to the elevator sub with sufficient lead time.
Cab lighting: confirm whether emergency cab lighting (battery-backed) is the elevator sub's responsibility or the electrical sub's. ASME A17.1 requires emergency lighting in the cab — define who supplies and installs.
Entrance (door) equipment: specify door type (center-opening, side-opening, two-speed), door width and height, finish (stainless, painted, bronze), and sill type. Sill nosing that matches the floor finish at each landing is critical for a quality appearance — define who supplies and installs the floor sill.
Tip for PMs: The most common elevator scope gap is the machine room or machine space. If the elevator requires a dedicated machine room, define exactly who provides: room lighting, HVAC (temperature control is required by ASME A17.1 — typically 55°F–90°F), power disconnect, and housekeeping pad. These items appear in no sub's scope unless explicitly assigned.
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Common Elevator Scope Gaps at Buy-Out
Items routinely missing from elevator bids — pit equipment, machine room HVAC, permits and inspections, emergency power tie-in, and temporary construction use — that drive late-stage GC absorption.
Elevator lead times are among the longest in construction — 16–28 weeks for custom cabs is not unusual. Begin the NTP and shop drawing process as early as the project schedule will allow.
Required Submittals
Certified hoistway and pit drawings — required before structural drawings are finalized
Electrical load requirements: dedicated power feed voltage, amperage, and disconnect requirements for elevator sub to provide to electrical sub
Machine room/space requirements: floor loading, temperature range, ventilation, and clearance dimensions
Cab finish schedule and sample submittals for owner/architect approval
Product data: controller, drive system, motor, and safety devices per ASME A17.1
Traffic analysis report (for multi-elevator buildings): handling capacity, average waiting time, and interval data
Permits, Inspections, and Code Compliance
Elevator permits are issued by the local elevator inspection authority (separate from the building permit in most jurisdictions). The elevator sub is typically responsible for obtaining the elevator permit, scheduling all code inspections, and obtaining the certificate of operation before the elevator can be used for occupancy.
Define the number of inspection visits included in the elevator sub's scope and who pays for re-inspections after failed tests.
ADA compliance (28 CFR Part 36, ASME A17.1): confirm call button height, landing signal devices, interior control panel layout, and door timing are compliant with the current ADA Standards for Accessible Design and local amendments.
Best Practices from Leading GCs
Issue the elevator NTP as early as possible — ideally immediately after structural drawings are finalized. A 20-week elevator lead time on a 14-month project means the elevator is on the critical path from day one.
Assign a GC-side point of contact to manage the elevator sub interface. Elevator subs coordinate with structural, electrical, and mechanical simultaneously — gaps in information flow are a leading cause of elevator delay.
Confirm temporary elevator use during construction: most elevator subs allow construction use of the elevator after initial inspection and before final finish installation. Define the construction use protocol and who is responsible for protecting the cab interior during construction use.
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Elevator Coordination with Structural, Electrical, and Mechanical
Interface items between the elevator sub and the structural, electrical, mechanical, and waterproofing teams — the handoffs that determine whether the certificate of operation arrives in time for occupancy.
Elevator coordination spans the entire construction schedule — from hoistway structural design through the final certificate of operation.
Structural and Civil Coordination
Confirm hoistway dimensions, pit depth, and overhead clearance with the structural engineer of record before permit documents are finalized. Late hoistway changes require structural re-design and re-permit — budget and schedule impact is significant.
Machine room floor loading must be confirmed with the structural engineer and communicated to the elevator sub before equipment selection is final.
Pit waterproofing must be complete before the elevator sub mobilizes to install pit equipment. Pit ladders, lighting, and sump pumps must be in place before pit work begins.
Electrical Coordination
Dedicated power feed: the electrical sub must provide a dedicated service (voltage and amperage per elevator sub's requirements) to the elevator machine room or machine space. This feed is typically on the project's critical path — a late power feed delays elevator installation.
Emergency power connection: elevators in buildings with emergency power requirements must be connected to the emergency distribution system. Confirm the emergency power requirements with the elevator sub and include them in the electrical scope.
Lighting and GFCI outlet in the pit and machine room: define whether these are supplied by the electrical sub or the elevator sub.
Pre-Installation Coordination Checklist
Certified hoistway drawing reviewed and confirmed against structural drawings
Pit waterproofing, ladder, lighting, and sump complete
Machine room/space complete: concrete slab, lighting, HVAC, and power disconnect
Dedicated power feed to machine room confirmed live and tested
Cab finish schedule approved by owner and architect
Elevator permit obtained — inspection schedule confirmed with local authority
Temporary elevator use protocol defined
Tip for Estimators: When reviewing an elevator bid, verify that the following are explicitly included: hoistway guide rail installation, all landing door equipment, cab finishes per the finish schedule, pit equipment (ladder, lighting, GFCI), and permit and inspection fees. Elevator bids without these items — particularly the permit and inspection fees — can understate the contract value by 8–12%.
Elevator Scope of Work — FAQ
Traction, MRL, or hydraulic — what should I specify?
Hydraulic for low-rise (2–6 storeys, speeds up to 60 FPM); MRL traction for mid-rise (up to roughly 15 storeys, speeds up to 350 FPM); geared or gearless traction with a machine room for high-rise or higher-speed installations. In-ground hydraulic cylinders require soil borings to confirm groundwater conditions and create an environmental liability if they leak — roped hydraulic or MRL traction is preferred in most new commercial construction. Confirm machine space dimensions with the elevator sub before structural drawings are sealed.
What is the GC providing in the hoistway and pit vs. the elevator sub?
The default split: GC provides the hoistway shaft (structural walls, fire-rated separation, floor at each landing), waterproofed pit slab and walls, pit access ladder, pit lighting and GFCI receptacle, sump pit with cover, and machine room or machine space construction (slab, walls, ceiling, lighting, HVAC, and dedicated power disconnect). Elevator sub provides guide rails, car and counterweight, hoist ropes, controller, drive, doors at each landing, sill nosing, cab and cab finishes, and all safety devices. State the split in the scope — pit ladder and sump pump are the items most commonly missed.
Who provides machine room HVAC and at what temperature range?
ASME A17.1 requires the machine room (or machine space for MRL units) to be maintained within the controller's operating temperature range — typically 55°F to 90°F (13°C to 32°C), but check the specific controller submittal. Machine room HVAC is the GC's responsibility through the mechanical sub. The elevator sub provides the temperature operating range and heat-rejection BTU load; the mechanical sub sizes and installs the cooling and ventilation. Without explicit assignment, this item routinely falls between the elevator sub and the mechanical sub and shows up as a late change order.
How long are elevator lead times and when should NTP be issued?
16–20 weeks is typical for standard cabs; 24–28 weeks for custom cabs with non-standard finishes. NTP should be issued as soon as structural drawings are sealed — the elevator is almost always on the critical path on a 12–18 month commercial project. Hoistway dimensions, pit details, and overhead clearance must be locked in before NTP because they cannot change after the elevator is in production without significant cost and schedule impact.
Who pulls the elevator permit and handles state inspections?
The elevator sub holds the elevator contractor license, pulls the elevator permit (separate from the building permit in most jurisdictions), schedules and attends all state or jurisdictional inspections, and obtains the certificate of operation. The certificate of operation is required before the elevator can carry passengers — no certificate, no occupancy permit. Verify the number of inspection visits and re-inspection fees included in the sub's scope. Re-inspections after failed first tests are a frequent change order item.
Can the elevator be used during construction, and who is liable if it is?
After the initial state inspection and certificate of operation for construction use (a temporary certificate available in most jurisdictions), the elevator can be used for material and personnel during construction. Require a written temporary-use protocol: cab interior protection (typically pads supplied by the elevator sub), load limits, who operates the elevator, and how damage during construction use is repaired. The elevator sub usually requires the GC to indemnify them for damage during construction use — confirm insurance and indemnity terms in the subcontract.
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