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Elevator/Vertical Lift - Story Drift Accomodation 2

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Pjstol

Structural
Jan 22, 2019
11
say you have a 2 story building with an elevator in it. to design the elevator, vendor doesn't take into account the story drift due to lateral loads. they brace their rails to the supporting structure and only provide those reactions.
What is the proper way to account for story drift in an scenario like this?? '
Does the elevator (or other lift systems) need to somehow take story drift as an input in their design??

Thanks
 
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Typically, the elevator vendor will provide the maximum drift or movement that the elevator can tolerate. It is YOUR responsibly to design the supporting structure not to exceed those limits.
 
Thanks for your answer!.

Say story drift is max allowed by 12.12-1 for a 25 ft story height.. so 7.5 in of drift.

It would only make sense that elevator vendor would design for allowable drift, right??
 
7.5 inches of differential drift between storeys? Your stairs will be torn apart nevermind the lift!
 
Stairs should be designed to accommodate the drift. I don’t remember hearing of drift being a concern for elevators, just guide rail support deflection. You’d never get drift down to guide rail support deflection requirements in a high seismic area
 
what would people do in these cases then? Just expect the elevator to somehow fail and repair the damage after the event?

 
what would people do in these cases then? Just expect the elevator to somehow fail and repair the damage after the event?

Pretty much. That is if anything happens. Usually the rail is so flexible (compared to what it is attached to) it can displace without being damaged.
 
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