ABSTRACT
The core is the place for vertical circulation to take place, especially around lifts/elevators and stairs. The main entry lobby is on the ground floor of the building, allowing level access to the lifts. Lift lobbies also occur on each upper floor and may be enclosed if the floor is shared by more than one tenant. The lift shaft needs to maintain a 100 per cent clear route up and down through the floor slabs: absolutely no other services in the lift shaft. A lift car’s capacity depends on its size and load; Lift shaft dimensions are clear open minimum dimensions. Despite the feeling of the lift being a strong, solid box, modern lift cars are actually very thin lightweight structures. Lifts do not always have to be solid-walled boxes travelling within solid shafts. In the same way that lifts travel in a fire-protected lift shaft, stairs need similar fire protection too.
