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Why does nobody talk about the code for elevator pit drainage slope?
I was doing an inspection in a new building downtown and the pit floor was flat, not sloped toward the drain like it should be. The super told me 'the water will find its way', but that's a code violation waiting for trouble. How do you guys handle it when the concrete guys pour the pit wrong?
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emma_ramirez1mo ago
Ugh, that's a huge red flag. The water absolutely will not just "find its way," it'll sit and rust everything out. Code is there for a reason. You have to call it out and make them fix it before the elevator gets installed, or you're just passing the problem on. A flat pit is a failed inspection, plain and simple.
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wadepalmer29d ago
Whoa, hold on. I get the worry but I've seen flat pits pass plenty of times. It's not ideal but a lot of older buildings have them and they don't always turn into a rusted mess. If the floor is sealed right or the drainage is good enough nearby, water just evaporates before it does any real damage. Plus sometimes the bid is already locked in and the cost to tear it all out is way more than a future fix. Not everything has to be perfect from day one if you plan for it later.
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phoenix8451mo ago
My first elevator pit was flat and the inspector passed it. Ten years later we had to jackhammer the whole floor to fix the rust damage. Now I never let a flat pit slide.
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